Chen’s career-high 14 points powers Valkyries' season-opening win

Kaitlyn Chen turned a quiet second half into a breakout and gave the Golden State Valkyries something every new franchise needs in San Francisco: a face casual fans can remember. The second-year guard scored a career-high 14 points, all after halftime, in Golden State’s 91-80 season-opening win over the Seattle Storm at Climate Pledge Arena.

The game also offered the first look at several new Valkyries pieces. Gabby Williams started and made her debut with seven points, six rebounds and four assists, while Kiah Stokes, Miela Sowah and Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda also played their first game for Golden State. Janelle Salaün led the way with 20 points and Veronica Burton added 16, giving the opener the balanced scoring that has become central to the team’s identity.

Chen’s line was modest in minutes, 16 total, but it carried real weight. The 2025 third-round pick finished with 14 points, one rebound and two assists, and the production came efficiently at all three levels. For a player still trying to earn a larger role, it was the kind of burst that can shift a coach’s rotation and change the energy around a young roster.

That matters in a market where the Valkyries have already done rare things. In their inaugural 2025 regular season, they sold out all 22 home games at Chase Center, drew 397,408 fans and averaged 18,064, both WNBA records. They also became the first expansion team in league history to reach the playoffs in its first year, clinching a postseason berth on Sept. 4, 2025.

San Francisco has not had to guess whether there is interest in women’s basketball. The question now is what gives that interest staying power. A road win to open the season, a debut for Williams, and a career night from Chen offer a clear answer: depth, emerging talent and a player whose name can start to matter beyond the box score. For a city still sorting out the next chapter of its sports identity, that is how a new fan favorite begins.