The Golden State Valkyries secured a hard-fought 84-80 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks in a high-energy intra-state matchup at Chase Center on Monday, June 15, 2026. With the Sparks coming off a 43-point explosion from Kelsey Plum in her last game, the Valkyries leaned on elite defense and clutch execution to hold on for the win. Key performers included Gabby Williams and Veronica Burton for Golden State, and Plum and Dearica Hamby for Los Angeles.
Kelsey Plum, the Sparks' leading scorer at 22.8 points per game, was aggressive from the start, dropping 29 points on 11-of-20 shooting. She was joined by Dearica Hamby, who recorded a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Los Angeles' high-octane offense poured in 93 points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Valkyries’ defensive intensity.
Golden State countered with a balanced attack led by Gabby Williams, who tallied 19 points and 8 rebounds. Veronica Burton added 16 points and 10 assists, continuing her role as the team’s top facilitator. The Valkyries' defense held the Sparks to just 38 percent shooting from beyond the arc and forced 13 turnovers.
The pivotal moment came in the final three minutes when the Valkyries' defense clamped down, holding Los Angeles to just two points over that stretch. A crucial steal by Williams led to a fast break and a layup that gave Golden State a four-point lead with under a minute to play. The Sparks couldn’t respond, and the Valkyries sealed the win at the free-throw line.
With the victory, the Valkyries improve to 9-5 on the season and remain in the top half of the Western Conference. The Sparks, now 7-7, continue to search for consistency away from home. The two teams will meet again in June, with the Sparks hosting the rematch at home.
The game was streamed live on YouTube TV and drew massive viewership, with a sold-out Chase Center echoing with noise throughout the night. As the WNBA season continues to heat up, this showdown only added to the growing rivalry between California’s two newest franchises.
Next up for the Valkyries is a road game against the Seattle Storm on Wednesday, while the Sparks return home to host the Las Vegas Aces on Friday.
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