The Golden State Valkyries are heading to the postseason.
For the first time in league history, an expansion team is set to compete in the playoffs, as the Valkyries clinched a playoff berth with their 84-80 victory over the Dallas Wings on Thursday night. Golden State has now won five consecutive games, a franchise record for its longest-ever win streak, and though the Valkyries are currently the No. 6 seed in the playoffs, they could climb as high as No. 5, depending on how the New York Liberty close out the season.
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It’s been a season of firsts for the Bay Area franchise, as Golden State set a WNBA record for the most wins by an expansion team in mid-August. Forward Kayla Thornton made the July All-Star Game for the first time in her career, becoming the first player to represent an expansion team as an All-Star since 2006. Though Thornton suffered a season-ending leg injury days after the All-Star break, Golden State has remained competitive, with guard Veronica Burton emerging as a front-runner for the league’s Most Improved Player of the Year award, as well as a candidate for an All-WNBA team.
Burton, the No. 7 pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft, entered Thursday’s contest averaging 14.9 points, 8.6 assists and 5.2 rebounds over her last 10 games. She is amid the best stretch of her career, and on Aug. 19, she became the first player in league history to have 24 points, 14 assists and zero turnovers in a game. Burton is also the only player in the league this season with three games of at least 10 assists and zero turnovers.
“I couldn’t ask for a better point guard right now,” coach Natalie Nakase said last month. “I think she’s really a big part of why we’re winning, and I said she’s our heartbeat, but she’s also our leader. She is our solid leader right now.”
Earlier this week, Golden State defeated the Liberty, becoming just the second expansion team ever to defeat the reigning champions in WNBA history and the first to do so since 1999.
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The Valkyries also lead the league in home attendance and are the lone team to average more than 18,000 fans per home game, according to Across the Timeline.
Golden State finishes its inaugural regular season with two games against the Minnesota Lynx and one against the Seattle Storm. The WNBA regular season ends Sept. 11.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Dallas Wings, Golden State Valkyries, WNBA
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