Basketball in the Pacific Northwest just feels different now. If you walked into the Chase Center last June, you felt it. The air was thick. The Golden State Valkyries were making their home debut, and standing across from them wasn’t just any team. It was the Seattle Storm. A four-time champion franchise coming into the house of the league’s newest, shiniest expansion project. It was a statement game.
People expected a blowout. They really did. You’ve got the Valkyries, a roster built from an expansion draft and a few gutsy free-agent signings, going up against the "Core Four" in Seattle. We’re talking Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Ezi Magbegor, and Gabby Williams. On paper, it looks like a mismatch. But that’s why we play the games, right?
The Golden State Valkyries vs Seattle Storm matchup has quickly evolved from a curiosity into a genuine territorial feud. It’s San Francisco versus Seattle. It’s the new money, high-tech vibes of the Warriors' sister team against the deep-rooted, emerald-green legacy of the Storm. Honestly, it might be the best thing to happen to the Western Conference in a decade.
The Night Everything Changed at Chase Center
The first time these two met on June 14, 2025, the Valkyries pulled off something nobody saw coming. They won. 76-70.
It wasn't just the win, though. It was how they did it. Natalie Nakase, in her first year as a WNBA head coach, coached circles around the expectations. She had Veronica Burton—who would later be named the 2025 Most Improved Player—hounding Skylar Diggins-Smith for forty minutes. Burton was like a shadow. Every time Skylar turned a corner, Burton was there.
The Valkyries’ rookie Janelle Salaün showed everyone why she was an All-Rookie lock. She didn't look like a first-year player. She looked like a vet. She was hitting trailing threes and switching onto Nneka Ogwumike without blinking. By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the Chase Center crowd was so loud you could barely hear the whistles.
Seattle looked shell-shocked. They’re a team that prides itself on poise. They have Alysha Clark, the oldest active player in the league and a defensive mastermind. They have Erica Wheeler, an All-Star MVP. But the energy in San Francisco that night was overwhelming. It was the birth of a rivalry.
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Why the September Rematch Was Better
If the June game was the introduction, the September 9, 2025, game was the war.
This one was back in Seattle, at Climate Pledge Arena. The stakes? Everything. The Storm needed the win to clinch a playoff spot. The Valkyries were fighting for respect after a mid-season slump. This game was a 74-73 nail-biter that came down to the final seconds.
Erica Wheeler went off for 17 points, including five huge triples. She’s the heart of that Seattle secondary unit. When the starters were struggling to find a rhythm against the Valkyries' length—remember, Golden State has 6-foot-4 towers like Monique Billings and Temi Fagbenle—Wheeler just started launching.
On the other side, Janelle Salaün was a monster. She dropped 22 points. As a rookie! She was matching Nneka Ogwumike bucket for bucket. But in the end, the experience of the Storm won out. Nneka grabbed a late rebound, drew a foul, and iced it. It was a "welcome to the league" moment for the Valkyries.
- The Matchup Data: Seattle won the season series 2-1.
- The Defensive Battle: Both teams ranked in the top half of the league in defensive rating during their head-to-head games.
- The Coaching Chess Match: Nakase vs. Noelle Quinn is a battle of two of the brightest tactical minds in the W.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Valkyries
There’s this narrative that the Valkyries just "bought" a team. Sure, the Golden State Group paid a record $50 million expansion fee. And yeah, they play in a $1.4 billion arena. But the roster is actually a scrappy collection of players who were "unprotected" by their former teams.
Take Tiffany Hayes. She came out of retirement to join the Aces, then landed with the Valkyries. She’s 36. People thought she was done. Instead, she won the Seasonlong WNBA Cares Community Assist Award and provided the veteran leadership this young locker room desperately needed.
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Then you have Kate Martin. "The Glue." She came over from the Aces in the expansion draft. She isn't going to lead the league in scoring, but she’s the one diving for loose balls when the team is down ten. That’s the identity Nakase has built. It’s not "Warriors Lite." It’s something different. It's more physical. It's grittier.
Seattle’s Evolution: More Than Just Nneka
For years, the Storm was the Sue Bird show. Then it was the Breanna Stewart show. Now, it’s a collective.
The addition of Gabby Williams was the missing piece. She’s a defensive nightmare for opponents. When you watch the Golden State Valkyries vs Seattle Storm games, keep your eyes on the wing. The battle between Williams and Golden State’s Janelle Salaün or Kayla Thornton is where the game is won.
And we have to talk about Dominique Malonga. The 19-year-old center from France. At 6-foot-6, she’s the future of the Storm. She’s still learning the pace of the WNBA, but her blocks are already highlight-reel material. Seeing her go up against the Valkyries' Iliana Rupert—her teammate on the French national team—is a fascinating subplot. It’s like watching two sisters play one-on-one in the backyard, only the backyard is a pro arena and there are millions of people watching.
The Geography of the Rivalry
Seattle and San Francisco have always had a bit of a "thing." In the NFL, it's the 49ers and the Seahawks. In the WNBA, we finally have that same geographic tension. It’s only a two-hour flight. Fans are actually traveling for these games.
I talked to a fan at Climate Pledge who drove down from Vancouver just to see the Valkyries play. They weren't even Storm fans—they just wanted to see the "new team" everyone was talking about. That’s the "Valkyrie Effect." They’ve brought a new set of eyes to the league, and because Seattle is the closest neighbor, they’re the ones who get to play the "big sister" role.
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Actionable Insights for the 2026 Season
If you're planning on following this matchup in the coming months, there are a few things you should be looking for. The landscape of the WNBA is shifting fast, especially with the 2026 CBA negotiations looming.
1. Watch the Perimeter Defense
The Valkyries’ success depends entirely on whether Veronica Burton can keep elite guards like Skylar Diggins-Smith out of the paint. In their wins, Golden State kept Seattle’s paint points under 30. In their losses, they got bullied inside.
2. The Salaün Leap
Janelle Salaün is no longer a secret. Teams are going to scout her differently in 2026. If she can develop a consistent mid-range game to complement her three-ball, she becomes unguardable. Seattle usually puts Gabby Williams on her, which is the ultimate test.
3. Bench Depth Matters
The Storm has a deeper bench with Erica Wheeler and Zia Cooke. The Valkyries are still a bit top-heavy. Keep an eye on the second-quarter minutes; that’s usually where Seattle makes their runs.
4. Travel and Fatigue
Because these two are so close geographically, they often play "home and home" series or back-to-backs. Check the injury report for veteran players like Alysha Clark or Tiffany Hayes during these stretches.
The WNBA is in a golden era, and this rivalry is the centerpiece of the Western Conference's new identity. Whether you’re a die-hard Storm fan who remembers the 2004 championship or a new Valkyries supporter wearing violet and gold, this is the matchup that defines the "New W."
To stay ahead of the curve for the next meeting, track the development of the Valkyries' 2026 draft picks. With the Dallas Wings holding the #1 pick this year, the talent coming into the league is only getting better, and the Valkyries will be looking to add more size to compete with Seattle's frontline. Check the official WNBA app for the 2026 schedule release to see when these two meet next at Chase Center.