Golden State Valkyries Clinch WNBA Playoffs Inaugural Season

The Golden State Valkyries made WNBA history by becoming the first expansion team to reach the playoffs in their inaugural season, clinching a spot with an 84-80 comeback win over the Dallas Wings. Janelle Salaun led the Valkyries with 19 points, while rookie Paige Bueckers scored 27 points for Dallas in a tightly contested game. The Valkyries, currently 23-18, have shown balanced team performance and strong defense under first-year head coach Natalie Nakase, who is the first Asian American coach in WNBA history. Despite missing key players like All-Star Kayla Thornton to injury, Golden State has maintained a strong home record and leads the league in average attendance, selling out all home games at Chase Center. Their success has not only set records on the court but also boosted their franchise valuation to $500 million, making them the most valuable WNBA team. The Valkyries still have three regular season games remaining, including two against the top-ranked Minnesota Lynx, and may face logistical challenges playing playoff home games due to a scheduling conflict at Chase Center.