Kayla Thornton Shines as Valkyries Set Franchise Record in Victory Over Fire

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — In an electrifying performance, Kayla Thornton drained five 3-pointers, scoring 19 points and grabbing eight rebounds, leading the Golden State Valkyries to a commanding 95-77 win against the Portland Fire on Tuesday night in a Commissioner's Cup matchup. Janelle Salaun made a significant impact off the bench, contributing 18 points to help secure the victory.

The Valkyries set a new franchise benchmark with 18 3-pointers, showcasing their sharpshooting skills with a remarkable 52.2% shooting rate from beyond the arc in the first half. They established a solid lead, heading into halftime with a score of 56-36. Thornton was particularly effective, hitting four of her initial seven 3-point attempts and finishing the night with a 6 for 13 shooting performance.

Veronica Burton also played a key role for the Valkyries, adding 10 points and nine assists in nearly 23 minutes of action. She had been dealing with a bruised right quadriceps but managed to make a strong contribution following her injury in a recent loss to the defending WNBA champion Las Vegas.

Megan Gustafson led the Fire with 13 points and eight rebounds, but the team, which had won four of its last five games, fell to a 2-2 record on the road. Both teams started the game evenly, each going 10 for 20 from the field, but the Valkyries quickly gained momentum by hitting 7 of their first 13 3-pointers.

The game featured a notable moment when Bridget Carleton received a Flagrant 1 foul for her contact on Cecilia Zandalasini during a 3-point attempt, resulting in a four-point play for Portland. Carla Leite also contributed to the Fire's efforts with 10 points and seven assists, transitioning from her previous season with the Golden State franchise.

Looking ahead, the Fire will return home to face Phoenix on Friday night, while the Valkyries are set to embark on a two-game road trip, starting with a visit to Minnesota on Thursday and concluding in Las Vegas on Saturday.