Valkyries Prove Their Depth 86-69 | Game Highlights at Portland Fire | August 31, 2026

The Golden State Valkyries showcased their remarkable depth in an 86-69 win over the Portland Fire, with three starters missing from the lineup. Tiffany Hayes, Kayla Thornton, and Kaitlyn Chen combined for 50 points to carry Golden State, with Hayes leading the way at 18, Thornton adding 17, and Chen chipping in 15. Five different Valkyries scored in double figures as the team built a lead as large as 26 points.

Hayes was electric from the opening tip, scoring eight of Golden State's first 10 points and sparking a 13 0 run. She matched Portland's entire first quarter point total by herself, finishing the frame with 14 points on 6-for-7 shooting, the most she's had in a single quarter since 2023. After the Fire cut the deficit to single digits early in the second quarter, Chen led a 15 0 run that pushed the lead back to 24, scoring seven points during the surge on her way to 12 first-half points off the bench.

Veronica Burton also hit a career milestone, grabbing six rebounds to eclipse 500 for her career while finishing with 11 points, six rebounds, six assists, and two steals in a plus 27 performance. Burton has now played and started in all 84 games in franchise history. Portland struggled offensively without leading scorer Carla Leite, shooting just 38.7 percent and posting their second-lowest point total of the season.

The Valkyries now head into a two-week break for the FIBA World Cup, with four players representing their countries before returning to host Portland again on September 18.

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Golden State Valkyries | WNBA | Game Recap | Tiffany Hayes, Kayla Thornton, Kaitlyn Chen, Veronica Burton | Portland Fire | 2026