Kaitlyn Chen’s career night can’t power Valkyries to milestone victory

SAN FRANCISCO — For a moment, the Valkyries looked like they were going to extend their winning streak to 10. 

Golden State overcame a low-scoring first half to gain a comfortable nine-point lead midway through the fourth quarter. Second-year point guard Kaitlyn Chen gave the Valkyries a huge spark off the bench to ignite a spirited scoring attack in the second half. 

But somehow, the Valkyries fumbled away the game in front of a sold-out crowd of 18,064 at home.

Golden State collapsed in the fourth quarter, conceding a big Washington Mystics run in late in the fourth quarter as it fell 90-82

“Usually we’ve been good in those situations because we talk about time and score, but we have to talk about not fouling and not giving up threes and maintaining that lead,” Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said. “Unfortunately we just didn’t do that, so this is something we can definitely learn from.”

Chen led all scorers with 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the field

Kayla Thornton added 15 points and Veronica Burton had 12. 

Former Stanford standout Kiki Iriafen led all scorers with 23 points and added 12 rebounds for Washington. Sonia Citron had 17 points and six assists. 

“Credit to Washington … they played a great game,” Burton said. “They played until the end and we didn’t. I don’t think enough of us showed up today. I don’t think many of us did everything that we could to leave it out on the floor and secure a win, and so it’s a tough pill to swallow.”

Early in the third, the Valkyries conceded a 9-0 run to Washington as they went down 10 out of the halftime break. 

Golden State Valkyries’ Veronica Burton #22 puts up a shot past Washington Mystics’ Georgia Amoore #8 in the first quarter of their WNBA game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, July 20, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) 

The Mystics used their size inside, taking advantage of the Valkyries’ smaller frontcourt, as Iriafen and Lauren Betts were dominant down low. 

Everything flipped once Chen got hot. 

The former Connecticut standout scored nine points to open the fourth quarter, giving the Valkyries a comfortable cushion. 

Golden State went up nine with 4:44 left after Chen hit an acrobatic layup at the rim. 

“She was fearless tonight,” Nakase said. “I think I saw a step in that direction where she was attacking the rim, and then she was actually making really good rim reads when she got there.”

But that would be the last of the Ballhalla crowd’s cheers.

Washington went on a 14-3 run late in the fourth period, capped off by a Iriafen basket, giving the visitors a 82-80 lead. 

Playing from behind, the Valkyries couldn’t get clean looks fast enough to overcome a tough four minute stretch.

The Valkyries couldn’t buy a bucket from that point and Washington hit enough free throws to seal a stunning win on the road. 

“Today was just sort of a tough one,” Chen said. “I feel like we played four minutes of rough basketball at the end, which is really unfortunate, but I think we’re gonna bounce back and we’re gonna be ready next game.”

Despite the loss, the Valkyries will go into the All-Star break third in the league standings. Golden State has won nine of its last 10 games and have one of the easiest second half schedules in the league.

“I think we connected really well off the court and I think it poured into on the court,” Nakase said of her team’s performance in the first half of the season. “But for today, I have to do better. I have to figure out what and why didn’t I push their buttons correctly. … I can’t allow people to not be at their best. I can’t allow people to not execute what the game plan was coming out of timeouts. I have to know the why. I have to teach quicker, and so those are the things for me. No matter halfway or you know five games left before it doesn’t matter time. I have to be better.”

• Golden State Valkyries’ Gabby Williams #1 talks with teammates after their 90-82 WNBA loss to the Washington Mystics at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, July 20, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

• Washington Mystics celebrate their 90-82 WNBA win against the Golden State Valkyries at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, July 20, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

• Golden State Valkyries’ Gabby Williams #1 brings the ball downcourt in the first quarter of their WNBA game against the Washington Mystics at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, July 20, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

• Golden State Valkyries’ Cecilia Zandalasini #24 makes a 3-point basket as she’s guarded by Washington Mystics’ Michaela Onyenwere #12 in the first quarter of their WNBA game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, July 20, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

• Golden State Valkyries’ Kayla Thornton #5 shoots as she’s double teamed by Washington Mystics’ Georgia Amoore #8 and Kiki Iriafen #44 in the first quarter of their WNBA game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, July 20, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

• Golden State Valkyries’ Laeticia Amihere #3 blocks a shot by Washington Mystics’ Shakira Austin #0 in the second quarter of their WNBA game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, July 20, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

• Golden State Valkyries’ Veronica Burton #22 brings the ball downcourt in the first quarter of their WNBA game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, July 20, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

• Golden State Valkyries’ Kiah Stokes #41 celebrates a basket with teammate Gabby Williams #1 in the fourth quarter of their WNBA game against the Washington Mystics at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, July 20, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

• Golden State Valkyries’ Cecilia Zandalasini #24 shoots past Washington Mystics’ Michaela Onyenwere #12 in the second quarter of their WNBA game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, July 20, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

• Golden State Valkyries’ Veronica Burton #22 fights for a loose ball with Washington Mystics’ forward Kiki Iriafen #44 and Washington Mystics’ Alicia Flórez #2 in the second quarter of their WNBA game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, July 20, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

• Golden State Valkyries’ Gabby Williams #1 loses control of the ball as she’s guarded by Washington Mystics’ Georgia Amoore #8 in the second quarter of their WNBA game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, July 20, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

• Golden State Valkyries’ Kaila Charles #6 and Washington Mystics’ Nyla Harris #2 vie for a rebound in the second quarter of their WNBA game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, July 20, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

• Golden State Valkyries’ Gabby Williams #1 shoots past Washington Mystics’ Sonia Citron #22 in the third quarter of their WNBA game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, July 20, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

• Washington Mystics’ Lauren Betts #51 blocks a shot by Golden State Valkyries’ Kaila Charles #6 in the second quarter of their WNBA game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, July 20, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

• Golden State Valkyries’ Kayla Thornton #5 celebrates a basket in the third quarter of their WNBA game against the Washington Mystics at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, July 20, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

• Golden State Valkyries’ Veronica Burton #22 and Washington Mystics’ Georgia Amoore #8 scramble for a loose ball in the third quarter of their WNBA game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, July 20, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

• Golden State Valkyries’ Kayla Thornton #5 and teammate Kaitlyn Chen #2 celebrate a basket in the fourth quarter of their WNBA game against the Washington Mystics at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, July 20, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

• Washington Mystics’ Georgia Amoore #8 passes to teammate Shakira Austin #0 as she’s guarded by Golden State Valkyries’ Kaitlyn Chen #2 in the third quarter of their WNBA game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, July 20, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

• Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase reacts on the sideline in the fourth quarter of their WNBA game against the Washington Mystics at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, July 20, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

• Washington Mystics’ Sonia Citron #22 shoots past Golden State Valkyries’ Kaila Charles #6 in the third quarter of their WNBA game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, July 20, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

• Golden State Valkyries’ Janelle Salaun #13 is held back by teammate Tiffany Hayes #15 after Washington Mystics’ Cotie McMahon #23 committed a hard foul against her in the third quarter of their WNBA game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, July 20, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

• Golden State Valkyries’ Kiah Stokes #41 and Washington Mystics’ Shakira Austin #0 battle for the ball in the fourth quarter of their WNBA game at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, July 20, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

• Golden State Valkyries’ Gabby Williams, #1 center, poses with teammates before their WNBA game against the Washington Mystics at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, July 20, 2026. Williams was named an WNBA All Star starter for the first time in her career. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

• Golden State Valkyries’ Gabby Williams #1 reacts during a presentation before their WNBA game against the Washington Mystics at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, July 20, 2026. Williams was named an WNBA All Star starter for the first time in her career. To the right is Valkyries President Jess Smith and to the left is Valkyries General Manager Ohemaa Nyanin. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

• Golden State Valkyries’ Gabby Williams #1 acknowledges the crowd before their WNBA game against the Washington Mystics at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, July 20, 2026. Williams was named an WNBA All Star starter for the first time in her career. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

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Golden State Valkyries’ Gabby Williams #1 talks with teammates after their 90-82 WNBA loss to the Washington Mystics at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, July 20, 2026. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

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