Janelle Salaun propels Valkyries to opening win over Storm

Janelle Salaun came off the bench to score 20 points, making five 3-pointers, as the Golden State Valkyries earned a 91-80 victory over the host Seattle Storm on the opening night of the WNBA’s 30th season on Friday.

Veronica Burton scored 16 points and had six assists and Kayla Thornton added 13 points and eight rebounds for the second-year Valkyries, who stunned the league by making the playoffs in their inaugural season. Kaitlyn Chen scored all of her career-high 14 points in the second half.

Golden State’s Gabby Williams, making her return to Seattle, where she played the past four seasons, went 0-for-5 from the field in the first half but finished with seven points, six rebounds and four assists.

Dominique Malonga led the Storm with a game-high 21 points and eight rebounds. Zia Cooke added 15 points, and Jade Melbourne scored 13.

Rookie Flau’jae Johnson, acquired in a draft-night trade after being selected No. 8 overall by Golden State, scored 12 for the Storm.

Williams’ 3-pointer with 6:12 left in the third quarter extended Golden State’s lead to 56-46. The Valkyries took a 69-53 edge into the final quarter.

Golden State’s biggest lead was 87-67 after a 3-pointer by Salaun with 2:53 remaining.

The Valkyries shot 41.9% from the field (31 of 74), including 15 of 37 (40.5%) from 3-point range. Seattle shot 41.3% (26 of 63) and was 9 of 26 (34.6%) from long distance. The Storm held a 41-35 rebounding edge.

Seattle never trailed in the opening quarter, leading by as many as seven points, 17-10, on a Cooke 3-pointer with 4:03 left.

The Storm made eight of their first 12 field-goal attempts, including their first four 3-point tries.

The Valkyries scored the final four points of the opening quarter and first three of second, taking their first lead at 27-26 on a jumper by Cecilia Zandalasini.

A jumper by Burton followed by a 3-pointer from Kaila Charles put Golden State up 31-27. A trey by Thornton extended the lead to 37-30.

Thornton made another 3-pointer with 25.5 seconds left in the half and Burton added a free throw with four seconds to go, extending Golden State’s lead to 49-41 at the intermission. The margin equaled the largest of the half. Burton scored 14 before the break.

–Field Level Media