Janelle Salaun scored 20 points and tied a career high with 5 made 3-pointers as the Golden State Valkyries beat the Seattle Storm 91-80 on Friday in the season opener.
Janelle Salaun scored 20 points and tied a career high with 5 made 3-pointers as the Golden State Valkyries opened the 2026 season with a 91-80 win over the Seattle Storm on Friday at Climate Pledge Arena.
Veronica Burton added 16 points, 2 rebounds, and 6 assists. Kaitlyn Chen poured in 14 points off the bench, all in the second half, and Kayla Thornton finished with 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 made 3-pointers.
Golden State led 49-41 at halftime and pushed the lead to 69-53 entering the fourth quarter. The Valkyries shot 41.9% from the field and went 15-of-37 from 3-point range. Seven different Golden State players knocked down a 3-pointer.
Salaun finished 7-of-16 from the field and 5-of-11 from 3-point range across 27 minutes. The second-year forward also pulled down 2 rebounds and added 1 assist and 1 steal in the win.
Her 5 made 3-pointers tied a career high.
Chen was scoreless in the first half before scoring all 14 of her points after the break. She finished 5-of-10 from the field, 2-of-3 from 3-point range, and 2-of-2 at the free-throw line in 16 minutes off the bench.
Gabby Williams, Golden State's marquee offseason addition, finished with 7 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists in her return to Climate Pledge Arena. Williams played for the Storm from 2022 to 2025 before signing with the Valkyries during the offseason.
Dominique Malonga led Seattle with 21 points and 8 rebounds on 8-of-15 shooting. She added 2 blocks but committed 3 turnovers in nearly 29 minutes.
Zia Cooke added 15 points and 7 rebounds off the bench. Jade Melbourne scored 13 on 4-of-5 shooting from the floor and 2-of-3 from 3-point range.
Flau'jae Johnson, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, finished with 12 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists on 3-of-12 shooting in her WNBA debut.
Seattle shot 41.3% from the floor and 34.6% from 3-point range. The Storm committed 14 turnovers that led to 12 Golden State points.
Golden State lost two players to injuries in the first half, and neither returned. Starting guard Tiffany Hayes exited in the first quarter with a left pinky injury. Cecilia Zandalasini sustained a jaw injury in the second quarter.
Seattle is expected to be without starting forward Ezi Magbegor for six to eight weeks due to a right foot injury.
Golden State opens its home schedule Sunday against the Phoenix Mercury. Seattle travels to face the Connecticut Sun on Sunday.
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