.500 Valkyries: Steph starts 'Golden' 6-point win

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• Steph Talbot wings the battle of Australian Opals stars

Australian Opals wing Steph Talbot was inserted into the Golden State Valkyries (5-5) and was +9 in 25 minutes as the home team defeated Seattle Storm (6-5) 76-70 at Chase Center, San Francisco.

Valkyries teammate Kayla Thornton's 22-point, 12-rebound performance helped Golden State secure their third home win of their first ever season.

Talbot's Opals teammate Ezi Magbegor had 10 points in 31 minutes for the Storm on 5-from-8 from the field. She added six boards, two assists, two steals and two blocks.

Key Details

• Result: Golden State Valkyries 76 def. Seattle Storm 70
• When: June 15, 2025
• Where: Chase Center, San Francisco
• Standings: Golden State Valkyries (#8) | Seattle Storm (#6)

By the Numbers

• Kayla Thornton (Golden State) starred with 22 points, 12 rebounds, one assist and three turnovers in 36 minutes.
• Australian Ezi Magbegor (Seattle) scored 10 points, and had six rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks in 31 minutes.

What Happened

The Golden State Valkyries started strong, taking a 21-15 lead after the first quarter. They extended their advantage in the second period, outscoring the Storm 23-16 to build a comfortable 44-31 halftime lead. The home team maintained control through the third quarter, matching Seattle's 19 points to preserve their 13-point cushion heading into the final period.

Seattle mounted a late comeback attempt in the fourth quarter, outscoring Golden State 20-12, but the rally fell short as the Valkyries held on for a six-point victory. The Storm's defensive intensity improved dramatically in the final period, limiting the Valkyries to just 12 points, but the deficit proved too large to overcome.

Kayla Thornton delivered an outstanding performance for the Valkyries, recording a double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds while shooting an efficient 7-from-14 from the field. Temi Fagbenle added 16 points on 8-from-14 shooting, while Carla Leite contributed 14 points and three assists.

For Seattle, Skylar Diggins-Smith led the way with 21 points, three assists and two steals, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Valkyries' balanced attack. Australian centre Ezi Magbegor added 10 points, six rebounds and two blocks in a solid all-around effort.

Golden State's superior shooting efficiency was a key factor in their victory. The Valkyries shot 48.3% from the field (28-from-58) compared to Seattle's 40.3% (25-from-62). Their dominance on the glass was also significant, out-rebounding the Storm 33-20, including a 27-17 advantage on the defensive boards.

While Seattle forced 18 Golden State turnovers and recorded 11 steals to the Valkyries' nine, they couldn't capitalise enough on these opportunities. The Storm's 16 turnovers, including five from Nneka Ogwumike, hampered their offensive rhythm throughout the contest.

With this win, the Golden State Valkyries improved to 5-5 on the season, strengthening their position in the WNBA playoff race. The loss dropped the Seattle Storm to 6-5, ending their two-game winning streak.