The Golden State Valkyries had the kind of inaugural season that set the ton for the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire, and probably every team that will come next. They ended the 2025 season on a playoffs run, Natalie Nakase was named Coach of the Year, and they ranked third in defense.
But per a new report from Mission Local, that's not good enough for the team — and neither is their performance so far in 2026.
The Valkyries are currently ranked seventh in the league and boast the fifth-best defensive rating. That's a big deal now that the WNBA has 15 teams, but Veronica Burton told the outlet that Golden State won't rest until they achieve their biggest goal: to be the best defensive team in the WNBA.
The Golden State Valkyries have the players they need
The Valkyries did a lot during the offseason, and managed to attract superstar Gabby Williams in free agency. Williams joined Golden State after playing for the Seattle Storm last year. They also have Kiah Stokes, who was named to the WNBA's All-Defensive Second Team during her rookie season in 2015, on the roster. Stokes knows what it takes to win, and has helped earn three championships—in 2022, 2023, and 2025—with the Las Vegas Aces.
But that doesn't mean the team can coast, and it also doesn't sound like they expect to. Last season the Valkyries more than proved they're not adverse to hard work, and this year they're already doing the same. Williams and Stokes are contributing to the team's overall defensive rating alongside Burton, and it's reasonable to expect the trio will continue to improve.
The Valkyries are also demonstrating they more than have the capacity to disrupt and cause problems for other teams defensively. The team regularly force turnovers (in fact, they force the fourth-most turnovers in the league). The Mission Local also noted Williams and teammate Cecilia Zandalasini are averaging at least one steal per game.
To take the next step, the Valkyries will have to continue to apply the defensive pressure they're already showing and find new ways to build upon it at the same time. Burton told the outlet that sticking to the game plan is a huge part of that challenge, as that's something that can sometimes be easier said than done.
If the Valkyries proved one thing last year, it's that they know how to win and win big — something the rest of the league can expect to keep seeing them do in 2026.
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