Elias burst, on the right, is waiting with other fans outside Chase Center before a WNBA basketball match between the Golden State Valkyries and the Sparks in San Francisco, Friday May 16, 2025. (AP photo / Jeff Chiu)
The fans enter Chase Center before a WNBA basketball match between the Golden State Valkyries and the Sparks in San Francisco, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP photo / Jeff Chiu)
California Women’s Basketball Coach Charmin Smith, Middle, is held outside Chase Center before a WNBA basketball match between the Golden State Valkyries and the Sparks in San Francisco, Friday May 16, 2025.
Fans are waiting outside of Chase Center before a WNBA basketball match between the Golden State Valkyries and the Sparks in San Francisco, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP photo / Jeff Chiu)
The Golden State Valkyries t-shirts are placed on seats for fans of the Chase Center before a WNBA basketball match between the Valkyries and the Sparks in San Francisco, Friday May 16, 2025.
The Golden State Valkyries t-shirts are placed on seats for fans of the Chase Center before a WNBA basketball match between the Valkyries and the Sparks in San Francisco, Friday May 16, 2025.
The players jump for the opening blow in the first half of a WNBA basketball match between the Golden State Valkyries and the Sparks in San Francisco, Friday May 16, 2025.
Guardian of the Sparks Kelsey Plum, on the right, brings the ball to the field against the Golden State Valkyries Kate Martin goalkeeper in the first half of a WNBA basketball match in San Francisco, Friday May 16, 2025. (AP photo / Jeff Chiu)
Sparks Forward Azura Stevens, below, goes to the basket against the striker of Golden State Valkyries Kayla Thornton (5) during the first half of a WNBA basketball match in San Francisco, Friday May 16, 2025. (AP photo / Jeff Chiu)
The Golden State Valkyries goalkeeper Tiffany Hayes, on the right, reached the ball next to the Dererica Hamby striker in the first half of a WNBA basketball match in San Francisco, Friday May 16, 2025. (AP photo / Jeff Chiu)
Fans of Chase Center Watch in the first half of a WNBA basketball match between the Golden State Valkyries and the Sparks in San Francisco, Friday May 16, 2025. (AP Photo / Jeff Chiu)
The Golden State Valkyries Veronica Burton goalkeeper, droit against the Sparks striker Dererica Hamby, on the left, and the guard Sarah Ashlee Barker in the first half of a WNBA basketball match in San Francisco, Friday, May 16, 2025. (Photo AP / Jeff Chiu)
The Sparks goalkeeper Kelsey Plum, in the foreground on the left, is the guardian of Golden State Valkyries Carla Leite in the first half of a WNBA basketball match in San Francisco, Friday May 16, 2025. (AP photo / Jeff Chiu)
The Golden State Valkyries goalkeeper Tiffany Hayes (15) shoots the Sparks striker Dererica Hamby, on the left, and striker Rickea Jackson in the first half of a WNBA basketball match in San Francisco, Friday May 16, 2025. (AP photo / Jeff Chiu)
The head coach of Sparks, Lynne Roberts, Foreground, reacts after a score by Julie Vanloo de Golden State Valkyries in the first half of a WNBA basketball match in San Francisco, Friday May 16, 2025. (AP photo / Jeff Chiu)
Golden State Valkyries head coach, Natalie Nakase, made gestures to the players in the first half of a WNBA basketball game against San Francisco Sparks, Friday May 16, 2025. (AP Photo / Jeff Chiu)
The Golden State Warriors striker Jonathan Kuminga, first row from left to left, and owner Joe Lacob, Middle, watch during the first half of a WNBA basketball match between the Golden State Valkyries and the Sparks in San Francisco, Friday May 16, 2025 (AP Photo / Jeff Chiu)
The Sparks goalkeeper Kelsey Plum (10) famous after having marked against the Golden State Valkyries during the second half of a WNBA basketball match in San Francisco, Friday May 16, 2025. (AP photo / Jeff Chiu)
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Elias burst, on the right, is waiting with other fans outside Chase Center before a WNBA basketball match between the Golden State Valkyries and the Sparks in San Francisco, Friday May 16, 2025. (AP photo / Jeff Chiu)
Develop
San Francisco – Kelsey Plum scored 26 of his 37 points in the second half and the Sparks spoiled the first match in the history of Golden State Valkyries with a victory of 84-67 Friday evening.
Even the loss could not alleviate the excitement of the closed -shot crowd of 18,064 to the arena which was transformed into Valkyries purple rather than by the typical court of the Golden State Warriors of the NBA.
The Valkyries have been the first WNBA extension franchise since 2008 and bring professional women’s basketball in the bay region.
Dearica Hamby added 14 points and Rickea Jackson scored 13 for the Sparks, who won their first game under the new coach Lynne Roberts.
Kayla Thornton scored the first basket in the history of Valkyries on the first possession of the team and there were quickly songs of “GSV! GSV! “
Tiffany Hayes scored 19 points to lead Golden State, Temi Fagbenle added 15 and Julie Vanloo scored 14.
After winning two titles in the last three seasons in Las Vegas, Plum has been exchanged in the offseason in Los Angeles in an agreement with three teams which also included Seattle.
She made impressive debut with her new team with the second highest score match of her career, taking over the offensive in the third quarter while Los Angeles accumulated her advance at 15 points.
But three 3 consecutive points of Vanloo reduced the six -point deficit and brought some of the largest cheers to the crowd while the Valkyries kept it near the fourth quarter.
The Sparks goalkeeper, Rae Burrell, had to be swept away by the field at the end of the first quarter after she injured herself during her creation of Carla Leite during a 3 -point attempt. Burrell was broken for a few minutes with a right leg injury.
The next
The Sparks welcome Minnesota on Sunday in her home opening match.
