When teams look at the Golden State Valkyries, they focus on big offseason additions like Gabby Williams. However, the latest win showed that the team’s true strength is something beneath the surface.

On May 25, 2026, the Valkyries defeated the Connecticut Sun in a 97-70 victory. It was the 6th game of the 2026 regular season. With the help of this win, Golden State's record improved to 4-2. The young franchise moved into 3rd place in the Western Conference. 

After the game, Williams explained the biggest weapon behind the team's success. “This is a long season, this is a real long season. And so our depth it’s gonna be our strength, knowing that these players from one to 12-13 are going have confidence throughout the whole season, and it’s gonna be huge for us.” A clip of the media session was shared on X by @madi_lanai. 

This statement validated her words. Twelve different players scored points for the team during the 97-70 win. Williams led the scoring attack with 15 points, and was supported by Kaila Charles, who added 12 points and 7 rebounds. 

No single player was dealing with the pressure to carry the offensive load. Having such roster depth creates nightmares for opponents who cannot just focus on stopping one star.

The Valkyries are only in their second year in the league after launching as an expansion team in 2025. Signing Williams, a former All-Star and All-Defensive First Team selection, was their biggest move to boost success. 

The veteran forward is helping build a culture that runs through the entire locker room.

Gabby Williams is leading the team from the front 

In the first 6 games, she is averaging 13.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists, while shooting 41.4% from three-point range. She currently leads the roster in steals. 

They hold a strong 2-1 home record. The team already has marquee wins against Seattle, Phoenix, the New York Liberty, and now the Sun. 

This development is unusual for a secondary-year franchise. Expansion teams usually struggle for years with basic court chemistry and role definition. Instead, Golden State looks organized under the current coaching system. 

There are still some areas where the team has to improve. Inconsistency in road games is one of the major issues. As seen in their losses away from home against Indiana and other venues. 

The defensive intensity has also dipped during the 2nd half of certain games this season. Improving on these factors will test them as the season moves forward. However, these issues are the main reasons why having a dependable bench becomes necessary.

Do you think their bench depth can carry them into the WNBA playoffs?

Read more at Her Sports Nation!

Written by

Utsav Sinha

Edited by

Kaamna Dwivedi