SAN FRANCISCO — The buzzer barely finished echoing when white steam burst from the back of the backboard and purple streamers tumbled from the Chase Center rafters onto the cheering fans below.
At center court, Valkyries players leapt into each other’s arms while jumping to the beat of Rihanna’s and Calvin Harris’ disco hit “This is what you came for.”
Above them, in bold gold lettering, the jumbotron announced what an expansion dream once made improbable: Playoffs clinched.
From the nosebleeds to the court-side seats, 18,064 fans waved their black and violet rally towels and chanted “Let’s go Valkyries” until the sound rattled through the arena like a victory drumbeat.
To put it simply, the vibes were immaculate.
The Golden State Valkyries celebrate their WNBA win as they clinch a spot in the playoffs after defeating the Dallas Wings 84-80 at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, Sept 4, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
In comeback fashion, the Valkyries clinched their spot in the postseason by beating the Dallas Wings 84-80 at home on Thursday night. They became the first expansion team in league history to make the playoffs in their inaugural year.
But Thursday’s win wasn’t just about the historic playoff-clinching moment.
It was a statement.
A statement about the months of defying expectations, weathering through injuries and proving that an expansion team could do more than find its footing in its first year. The Valkyries pieced together a season defined by resiliency – one that has now landed them in the history books.
“I think a lot of people didn’t believe in us,” rookie forward Janelle Salaün said. “But it fires us up, it’s a good thing. It’s better to start as an underdog and just prove it to everyone. I feel like a lot of girls in this team have been in this position.”
Golden State Valkyries’ Veronica Burton (22), Golden State Valkyries’ Janelle Salaun (13) and Golden State Valkyries’ Carla Leite (0) celebrate the go ahead basket against the Dallas Wings towards the end of the fourth quarter of a WNBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. The Golden State Valkyries clinch a spot in the playoffs after defeating the Dallas Wings 84-80. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
At almost every turn this season, the Valkyries found themselves with an obstacle in their way.
After struggling to find wins early in the year, the Valkyries finally found their groove, only for some of their top rotation players to leave for weeks to play in the EuroBasket tournament. Just as the Valkyries were starting to turn the corner midseason, the Valkyries’ lone All-Star, Kayla Thornton, was ruled out for the rest of the year with a knee injury.
A three-game losing streak two weeks ago saw the Valkyries lose even more key players to injuries just as their quest to secure a spot in the playoffs started to heat up.
And through all that, the Valkyries persevered, preparing them for the adversity they faced on Thursday night.
Early in the third quarter, the Valkyries looked cooked.
Rookie sensation Paige Bueckers was crossing over defenders and hitting mid-range jump shots like prime Cheryl Miller. Former Archbishop Mitty and Stanford standout Haley Jones was seemingly getting whatever she wanted against the vaunted Valkyries’ defense.
It would have been easy to let the young Wings take their hearts. The Valkyries could have clinched their spot another time. Save their energy for another day. Accept that it wasn’t their night.
Golden State Valkyries’ Kate Martin (20) celebrates a three-point basket against the Dallas Wings in the fourth quarter of a WNBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. The Golden State Valkyries clinch a spot in the playoffs after defeating the Dallas Wings 84-80. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
But that’s not who this team is.
Instead, like they have done all season, Golden State rallied.
A few Carla Leite buckets here. A couple of hustle points from Monique Billings there. A string of defensive stops, and suddenly it was Dallas that was shook.
The Valkyries had them right where they wanted. A double-digit Dallas lead turned into a tense, playoff-like game in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter.
When it mattered most, Golden State found a way to pull out the win.
Leite was brilliant with her fearless drives to the rim as she created for herself and others. Salaün hit difficult, timely shots to steady the offense and quiet every Dallas run.
And who else, but starting point guard Veronica Burton to make the biggest play of the game.
Up two with just under 25 seconds left, Burton froze Bueckers with an in-and-out dribble and drew contact from the rookie star at the rim. She threw up a shot high off the glass and the ball rattled into the basket as she was fouled.
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The crowd went nuts. Burton punched the air in celebration. She received two solid chest bumps from Salaün and Leite.
“I kind of blacked out in the moment,” Burton said of the play. “I was just trying to get a bucket in crunch time.”
The comeback came as no surprise to coach Natalie Nakase. In fact, it’s what she expected.
“They like challenges. They love to be pushed. They’re not afraid of it, and I think that’s what kind of cool is, we like to be uncomfortable,” Nakase said.
Golden State Valkyries’ Tiffany Hayes (15) and Golden State Valkyries’ Veronica Burton (22) celebrate the WNBA win as they clinch a spot in the playoffs after defeating the Dallas Wings 84-80 at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, Sept 4, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
For now, the Valkyries can enjoy the win. History was made and the fans received a show.
But the next three games will be just as crucial for the Valkyries. Rest and health should be priorities, but so will seeding.
As of now, Golden State is the sixth seed with a game and half lead over the Seattle Storm. The Valkyries could still drop all the way to eighth by the end of the regular season where they would open the first round against the league-best Minnesota Lynx.
Nakase’s message for the rest of the season is clear:
“We’re not done yet. So maybe after the season, after this is all done, I’ll reflect,” Nakase said. “But right now … I’m already thinking about the next step.
“I got to stay present. I got to stay where my feet are. … I really don’t allow them to celebrate. They can. Obviously, they can enjoy this. But I also keep them humble. Like, Hey, y’all want to keep going? Y’all want to keep making great strides? Then let’s stay focused.”
The Golden State Valkyries owner Joe Lacob celebrates their WNBA win as they clinch a spot in the playoffs after defeating the Dallas Wings 84-80 at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, Sept 4, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
