Man, I don’t even know what to say. The Golden State Valkyries just saw their absolutely incredible nine-game win streak vanish into thin air, dropping a tough 90-82 game against the Washington Mystics. And you know what the craziest part is? Guard Kaitlyn Chen, coming straight off the bench, had the game of her life, putting up a career-high 20 points in that very same loss. Talk about a gut punch.
Chen’s Historic Night Just Wasn’t Enough
You gotta respect what Chen did out there. She was just locked in, totally dialed. She finished with 20 points and dished out six assists, all in a mere 24 minutes coming off the bench. That kind of efficiency is wild! She absolutely lit it up from the floor, shooting a ridiculous 61% on 8-of-13 field goal attempts. Not only that, she knocked down two huge three-pointers, grabbed two rebounds, and even snagged a steal. But here’s the stat that makes you scratch your head and ask, “how did they still lose?”: this 24-year-old, a third-round pick from UConn in the 2025 WNBA Draft, became the *first* player in the entire WNBA this season to record at least 20 points and five assists while coming off the bench. Nobody else has done that all year. That’s a historic night, folks.
The Bigger Picture for Golden State
This wasn’t just some random good game; Chen’s performance shows what she can bring. Her season averages,7.3 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists in 14.3 minutes per game,don’t even begin to tell the story of this kind of explosion. She’s been super efficient all season, though, hitting 57.1% of her field goals and a solid 40.6% from beyond the arc. The Valkyries as a squad are still crushing it overall, holding the third-best record in the WNBA at 19-8. They’re only two games back of the Minnesota Lynx, who are leading the league at 21-6, and just a half-game behind the second-place Las Vegas Aces. So, this loss, especially with Chen playing out of her mind, feels like a missed opportunity to gain some ground. You wonder if the coaching staff saw enough to give her a bigger role going forward.
What’s Next for the Valkyries?
Now, the Valkyries have a whole week off to regroup, hit the drawing board, and try to shake off this tough loss. They absolutely need to turn the page and get ready to start a whole new win streak. Their next challenge takes them on the road to face the Phoenix Mercury on July 29. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. PT at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, and you can catch all the action on CNBC and USA Network. After Chen’s record-setting night, you have to ask: will she get more minutes? Can the Valkyries bounce back and prove they’re still championship contenders, or will this loss be a sign of things to come? We’ll be watching!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply