MIN

Valkyries challenge league-best Lynx in early Commissioner's Cup battle

FLM
Jun 03, 2026

The Golden State Valkyries and Minnesota Lynx look to get the upper hand in the Western Conference's Commissioner's Cup standings when they meet Thursday in Minneapolis.

Both earned impressive wins in their Cup openers to set up an early showdown between two of the top four teams in the WNBA's overall Western Conference standings.

The Valkyries (6-3) defeated the Portland Fire 95-77 on Tuesday night while setting a franchise record by hitting 18 3-point attempts.

Kayla Thornton sank five 3-pointers, one of eight Valkyries to make at least one shot from beyond the arc. She tied her season high with 19 points while Janelle Salaun came off the bench to add 18 points and three 3-pointers.

"I think when our defense kind of creates transition, then we can flow into these open threes because it's hard to match up to us when we're maintaining space," said Golden State coach Natalie Nakase. "I think our offensive rebounds also generate open threes because it's very similar to transition defense when you're matching up."

Thornton led Golden State with eight rebounds and Cecilia Zandalasini had four of the Valkyries' nine steals against Portland.

Minnesota (7-2), which boasts the league's best record, increased its winning streak to five games with a 111-77 rout of the Phoenix Mercury on Monday night. The 34-point margin ranks as the largest in the WNBA this season.

Courtney Williams scored a team-high 30 points, her most with the Lynx, while shooting 13-for-20 from the floor and making all three of her shots from 3-point range.

Rookie Olivia Miles, her backcourt partner, added 19 points on 7-for-9 shooting. Miles also delivered 10 assists, four rebounds and three steals.

Williams has relinquished most of the ball-handling duties to Miles after both competed to fill the point guard spot in preseason drills.

"She's one of the best chemistry players," Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve said of Williams. "Anybody that's ever played with her will say she's one of the best teammates they ever had."

Williams leads Minnesota in scoring with 17.8 points per game while Miles averages 15.8 points and 6.2 assists.

Their chemistry has helped Minnesota overcome the absence of All-Star forward Napheesa Collier, who underwent ankle surgery in March and is expected back on the court for workouts this month.

--Field Level Media

2nd
GS
Valkyries
22
MIN
Lynx
24

Time		Play	Score
0.0		End of the 2nd Quarter
03.8		Kayla Thornton with a defensive rebound.
03.8		Courtney Williams misses a jump shot from 15 feet out.
12.0		Kayla McBride with a defensive rebound.
12.0		Gabby Williams misses a jump shot from 8 feet out.
14.5		Gabby Williams with an offensive rebound.
14.5		Gabby Williams misses a layup.
21.0		Valkyries with an offensive rebound.
21.0		Nia Coffey blocks a Kiah Stokes layup.
37.9		Valkyries with a defensive rebound.
37.9		Courtney Williams misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out.
42.6		Kayla McBride with an offensive rebound.
42.6		Kayla McBride misses a jump shot from 11 feet out.
53.4	+2	Kayla Thornton makes a layup.	44-42
56.1		Kayla Thornton with an offensive rebound.
56.1		Cecilia Zandalasini misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out.
1:04		Gabby Williams with an offensive rebound.
1:04		Cecilia Zandalasini misses a jump shot from 14 feet out.
1:26	+1	Anastasiia Olairi Kosu makes free throw 2 of 2.	42-42
1:26	+1	Anastasiia Olairi Kosu makes free throw 1 of 2.	42-41
1:26		Shooting foul committed by Veronica Burton.
1:39		Courtney Williams with a defensive rebound.
1:39		Gabby Williams misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out.
1:58	+1	Maya Caldwell makes free throw 2 of 2.	42-40
1:58	+1	Maya Caldwell makes free throw 1 of 2.	42-39
1:58		Personal foul committed by Veronica Burton.
2:07	+2	Kayla Thornton makes a layup. Cecilia Zandalasini with the assist.	42-38
2:26		Nia Coffey with a turnover
2:26		Offensive foul committed by Nia Coffey.
2:36	+2	Kiah Stokes makes a layup. Cecilia Zandalasini with the assist.	40-38
2:46		Substitution: Anastasiia Olairi Kosu in for Natasha Howard.
2:46		Natasha Howard with a turnover
2:46		Offensive foul committed by Natasha Howard.
2:59	+3	Gabby Williams makes a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. Veronica Burton with the assist.	38-38
3:12		Kayla Thornton with an offensive rebound.
3:12		Cecilia Zandalasini misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out.
3:27		Cecilia Zandalasini steals the ball from Courtney Williams.
3:33		Nia Coffey with a defensive rebound.
3:33		Nia Coffey blocks a Kayla Thornton 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out.
3:57	+2	Natasha Howard makes a layup. Courtney Williams with the assist.	35-38
4:02		Natasha Howard steals the ball from Gabby Williams.
4:20	+3	Maya Caldwell makes a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. Kayla McBride with the assist.	35-36
4:36		Substitution: Cecilia Zandalasini in for Tiffany Hayes.
4:36		Substitution: Maya Caldwell in for Teaira McCowan.
4:36		Substitution: Natasha Howard in for Olivia Miles.
4:36		Lynx take a full timeout.
4:37	+2	Veronica Burton makes a layup. Gabby Williams with the assist.	35-33
4:45		Gabby Williams steals the ball from Kayla McBride.
4:45		Kayla McBride with an offensive rebound.
4:45		Teaira McCowan misses a jump shot from 22 feet out.
5:00	+2	Tiffany Hayes makes a layup.	33-33
5:14		Tiffany Hayes with a defensive rebound.
5:14		Olivia Miles misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out.
5:20		Teaira McCowan with an offensive rebound.
5:20		Kiah Stokes blocks a Olivia Miles layup.
5:37		Nia Coffey with a defensive rebound.
5:37		Gabby Williams misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out.
5:58	+1	Kayla McBride makes free throw 2 of 2.	31-33
5:58	+1	Kayla McBride makes free throw 1 of 2.	31-32
5:58		Lynx take a full timeout.
5:58		Personal foul committed by Tiffany Hayes.
6:07	+1	Veronica Burton makes free throw 2 of 2.	31-31
6:07	+1	Veronica Burton makes free throw 1 of 2.	30-31
6:07		Shooting foul committed by Teaira McCowan.
6:23	+3	Olivia Miles makes a 3-point jump shot from 29 feet out. Kayla McBride with the assist.	29-31
6:33		Personal foul committed by Tiffany Hayes.
6:33		Teaira McCowan with an offensive rebound.
6:33		Gabby Williams blocks a Courtney Williams jump shot from 13 feet out.
6:40		Substitution: Teaira McCowan in for Natasha Howard.
6:40		Substitution: Kiah Stokes in for Janelle Salaun.
6:40		Personal foul committed by Janelle Salaun.
6:41		Lynx with an offensive rebound.
6:41		Natasha Howard misses a layup.
6:51		Courtney Williams with a defensive rebound.
6:51		Janelle Salaun misses a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out.
6:56		Personal foul committed by Olivia Miles.
7:05	+1	Olivia Miles makes free throw 2 of 2.	29-28
7:05		Substitution: Gabby Williams in for Kaila Charles.
7:05		Substitution: Veronica Burton in for Kaitlyn Chen.
7:05	+1	Olivia Miles makes free throw 1 of 2.	29-27
7:05		Shooting foul committed by Kaila Charles.
7:11		Kayla McBride steals the ball from Kaitlyn Chen.
7:32	+3	Olivia Miles makes a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out.	29-26
7:44	+3	Janelle Salaun makes a 3-point jump shot from 29 feet out. Tiffany Hayes with the assist.	29-23
8:05		Tiffany Hayes with a defensive rebound.
8:05		Nia Coffey misses a layup.
8:19	+2	Tiffany Hayes makes a layup.	26-23
8:35	+3	Olivia Miles makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out. Nia Coffey with the assist.	24-23
8:49		Substitution: Kayla Thornton in for Juste Jocyte.
8:49		Lynx with a defensive rebound.
8:49		Olivia Miles blocks a Kaitlyn Chen layup.
8:59	+2	Natasha Howard makes a layup.	24-20
9:02		Natasha Howard with an offensive rebound.
9:02		Kayla McBride misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out.
9:08		Nia Coffey with an offensive rebound.
9:08		Natasha Howard misses a layup.
9:25	+2	Kaitlyn Chen makes a jump shot from 12 feet out. Janelle Salaun with the assist.	24-18
9:40		Kayla McBride with a turnover - Bad Pass
9:46		Personal foul committed by Juste Jocyte.
10:00		Start of the 2nd Quarter

1st
GS
Valkyries
22
MIN
Lynx
18

Time		Play	Score
0.0		End of the 1st Quarter
0.0		Lynx with an offensive rebound.
0.0		Nia Coffey misses a 3-point jump shot from 33 feet out.
10.5	+3	Tiffany Hayes makes a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. Kaitlyn Chen with the assist.	22-18
20.0		Personal foul committed by Nia Coffey.
24.0		Valkyries with an offensive rebound.
24.0		Anastasiia Olairi Kosu blocks a Kaila Charles layup.
29.3		Kaila Charles steals the ball from Maya Caldwell.
34.4		Maya Caldwell with an offensive rebound.
34.4		Nia Coffey misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out.
45.0		Substitution: Nia Coffey in for Natasha Howard.
45.0		Janelle Salaun with a turnover
45.0		Offensive foul committed by Janelle Salaun.
56.2	+2	Anastasiia Olairi Kosu makes a layup. Maya Caldwell with the assist.	19-18
1:18		Anastasiia Olairi Kosu with a defensive rebound.
1:18		Janelle Salaun misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out.
1:33		Substitution: Olivia Miles in for Courtney Williams.
1:33		Valkyries take a full timeout.
1:34	+2	Courtney Williams makes a jump shot from 19 feet out.	19-16
1:44		Anastasiia Olairi Kosu with a defensive rebound.
1:44		Tiffany Hayes misses a jump shot from 21 feet out.
1:58		Courtney Williams with a turnover - Lost Ball
2:06	+3	Kaitlyn Chen makes a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. Tiffany Hayes with the assist.	19-14
2:12		Janelle Salaun with a defensive rebound.
2:12		Janelle Salaun blocks a Natasha Howard layup.
2:19		Natasha Howard with an offensive rebound.
2:19		Natasha Howard misses a layup.
2:33		Substitution: Anastasiia Olairi Kosu in for Kayla McBride.
2:33		Substitution: Juste Jocyte in for Cecilia Zandalasini.
2:33		Substitution: Maya Caldwell in for Nia Coffey.
2:33		Personal foul committed by Kaila Charles.
2:35		Courtney Williams with a defensive rebound.
2:35		Cecilia Zandalasini misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out.
2:54		Tiffany Hayes steals the ball from Courtney Williams.
3:09	+3	Cecilia Zandalasini makes a 3-point jump shot from 25 feet out. Kaitlyn Chen with the assist.	16-14
3:16		Kaila Charles steals the ball from Antonia Delaere.
3:20		Kayla McBride steals the ball from Cecilia Zandalasini.
3:42		Substitution: Kaitlyn Chen in for Veronica Burton.
3:44		Valkyries with a defensive rebound.
3:44		Kayla McBride misses a 3-point jump shot from 29 feet out.
3:58	+3	Janelle Salaun makes a 3-point jump shot from 26 feet out. Cecilia Zandalasini with the assist.	13-14
4:11		Janelle Salaun with a defensive rebound.
4:11		Natasha Howard misses a layup.
4:27		Substitution: Antonia Delaere in for Olivia Miles.
4:27		Personal foul committed by Cecilia Zandalasini.
4:35		Olivia Miles with a defensive rebound.
4:35		Cecilia Zandalasini misses a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out.
4:49		Kaila Charles with an offensive rebound.
4:49		Janelle Salaun misses a 3-point jump shot from 29 feet out.
4:59		Substitution: Kaila Charles in for Kayla Thornton.
4:59		Substitution: Tiffany Hayes in for Gabby Williams.
4:59		Substitution: Janelle Salaun in for Kiah Stokes.
4:59		Official's timeout.
4:59		Personal foul committed by Olivia Miles.
5:06	+2	Kayla McBride makes a jump shot from 24 feet out. Courtney Williams with the assist.	10-14
5:15		Olivia Miles with a defensive rebound.
5:15		Kiah Stokes misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out.
5:19		Gabby Williams with an offensive rebound.
5:19		Gabby Williams misses a layup.
5:26		Veronica Burton with a defensive rebound.
5:26		Courtney Williams misses a jump shot from 12 feet out.
5:31		Courtney Williams with an offensive rebound.
5:31		Courtney Williams misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out.
5:41		Natasha Howard with a defensive rebound.
5:41		Gabby Williams misses a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out.
5:53	+1	Natasha Howard makes free throw 2 of 2.	10-12
5:53		Lynx with an offensive rebound.
5:53		Natasha Howard misses free throw 1 of 2.
5:53		Shooting foul committed by Cecilia Zandalasini.
6:08		Kayla McBride with a defensive rebound.
6:08		Veronica Burton misses a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out.
6:25	+3	Olivia Miles makes a 3-point jump shot from 27 feet out.	10-11
6:49	+3	Cecilia Zandalasini makes a 3-point jump shot from 30 feet out. Gabby Williams with the assist.	10-8
7:14		Kayla Thornton with a defensive rebound.
7:14		Courtney Williams misses a jump shot from 23 feet out.
7:27	+3	Kayla Thornton makes a 3-point jump shot from 24 feet out. Veronica Burton with the assist.	7-8
7:40	+3	Olivia Miles makes a 3-point jump shot from 23 feet out. Courtney Williams with the assist.	4-8
7:52		Natasha Howard with an offensive rebound.
7:52		Kayla McBride misses a jump shot from 21 feet out.
7:54		Lynx with an offensive rebound.
7:54		Kiah Stokes blocks a Natasha Howard layup.
7:59		Lynx with an offensive rebound.
7:59		Kiah Stokes blocks a Olivia Miles layup.
8:06	+2	Gabby Williams makes a layup. Kiah Stokes with the assist.	4-5
8:27	+2	Courtney Williams makes a jump shot from 20 feet out. Olivia Miles with the assist.	2-5
8:35		Olivia Miles with a defensive rebound.
8:35		Kayla Thornton misses a jump shot from 8 feet out.
8:53	+3	Kayla McBride makes a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out. Olivia Miles with the assist.	2-3
9:09	+1	Cecilia Zandalasini makes free throw 2 of 2.	2-0
9:09	+1	Cecilia Zandalasini makes free throw 1 of 2.	1-0
9:09		Shooting foul committed by Natasha Howard.
9:21		Gabby Williams with a defensive rebound.
9:21		Kayla McBride misses a jump shot from 24 feet out.
9:42		Nia Coffey with a defensive rebound.
9:42		Kayla Thornton misses a jump shot from 13 feet out.
10:00		Jump Ball: Natasha Howard vs. Kiah Stokes.
10:00		Start of the 1st Quarter

Kayla Thornton with a defensive rebound.

03.8

Courtney Williams misses a jump shot from 15 feet out.

03.8

Kayla McBride with a defensive rebound.

12.0

Gabby Williams misses a jump shot from 8 feet out.

12.0

Gabby Williams with an offensive rebound.

14.5

Gabby Williams misses a layup.

14.5

Valkyries with an offensive rebound.

21.0

Nia Coffey blocks a Kiah Stokes layup.

21.0

Valkyries with a defensive rebound.

37.9

Courtney Williams misses a 3-point jump shot from 28 feet out.

37.9

Kayla McBride with an offensive rebound.

42.6

Full Play By Play

Team Stats
Points	44	42
Field Goals	16-39 (41.0%)	13-37 (35.1%)
3-Pointers	8-21 (38.1%)	7-14 (50.0%)
Free Throws	4-4 (100.0%)	9-10 (90.0%)
Total Rebounds	18	30
Offensive	6	10
Defensive	8	14
Team	4	6
Assists	13	9
Steals	5	3
Blocks	5	4
Turnovers	4	9
Fouls	11	7
Technicals	0	0

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T. Hayes G 15

7 PTS, 2 REB, 2 AST

O. Miles G 5

17 PTS, 3 REB, 2 AST

	1	2	3	4	T
Valkyries 6-3	22	22	-	-	44
Lynx 7-2	18	24	-	-	42

Target Center Minneapolis, MN

Team Stats
Valkyries 6-3	86.8 PPG	33.8 RPG	19.4 APG
Lynx 7-2	90.9 PPG	37.3 RPG	21.9 APG

Key Players
00	C. Zandalasini F	8.0 PPG	1.6 RPG	1.8 APG	40.6 FG%
00	O. Miles G	15.8 PPG	5.0 RPG	6.3 APG	49.5 FG%

Top Scorers
24	C. Zandalasini F	8 PTS	0 REB	3 AST
5	O. Miles G	17 PTS	3 REB	2 AST

41.0	FG%	35.1
38.1	3PT FG%	50.0
100.0	FT%	90.0

Valkyries

On Court	PTS	REB	AST	FG	3PT	FT	PF	MIN	STL	BLK	TO	OREB	DREB	+/-	FPTS
C. Zandalasini	8	0	3	2/7	2/6	2/2	2	12	1	0	1	0	0	+2	14
K. Thornton	7	4	0	3/6	1/2	0/0	0	14	0	0	0	2	2	-6	11
G. Williams	5	4	2	2/8	1/4	0/0	0	12	1	1	1	3	1	-3	14
V. Burton	4	1	2	1/2	0/1	2/2	2	13	0	0	0	0	1	0	9
K. Stokes	2	0	1	1/3	0/1	0/0	0	12	0	3	0	0	0	-3	7

On Court	PTS	REB	AST	FG	3PT	FT	PF	MIN	STL	BLK	TO	OREB	DREB	+/-	FPTS
C. Zandalasini	8	0	3	2/7	2/6	2/2	2	12	1	0	1	0	0	+2	14
K. Thornton	7	4	0	3/6	1/2	0/0	0	14	0	0	0	2	2	-6	11
G. Williams	5	4	2	2/8	1/4	0/0	0	12	1	1	1	3	1	-3	14
V. Burton	4	1	2	1/2	0/1	2/2	2	13	0	0	0	0	1	0	9
K. Stokes	2	0	1	1/3	0/1	0/0	0	12	0	3	0	0	0	-3	7

On Bench	PTS	REB	AST	FG	3PT	FT	PF	MIN	STL	BLK	TO	OREB	DREB	+/-	FPTS
T. Hayes	7	2	2	3/4	1/1	0/0	2	10	1	0	0	0	2	+6	14
J. Salaun	6	2	1	2/5	2/5	0/0	2	8	0	1	1	0	2	+5	10
K. Chen	5	0	2	2/3	1/1	0/0	0	7	0	0	1	0	0	+2	8
K. Charles	0	1	0	0/1	0/0	0/0	2	8	2	0	0	1	0	+5	3
J. Jocyte	0	0	0	0/0	0/0	0/0	1	4	0	0	0	0	0	+2	0
Total	44	14	13	16/39	8/21	4/4	11	100	5	5	4	6	8	+10	-

Lynx

On Court	PTS	REB	AST	FG	3PT	FT	PF	MIN	STL	BLK	TO	OREB	DREB	+/-	FPTS
K. McBride	7	4	2	2/7	1/3	2/2	0	17	2	0	2	2	2	0	15
M. Caldwell	5	1	1	1/1	1/1	2/2	0	7	0	0	1	1	0	-2	7
C. Williams	4	4	3	2/8	0/2	0/0	0	18	0	0	3	1	3	-1	11
A. Olairi Kosu	4	2	0	1/1	0/0	2/2	0	5	0	1	0	0	2	-4	7
N. Coffey	0	4	1	0/3	0/2	0/0	2	18	0	2	1	1	3	-3	7

On Court	PTS	REB	AST	FG	3PT	FT	PF	MIN	STL	BLK	TO	OREB	DREB	+/-	FPTS
K. McBride	7	4	2	2/7	1/3	2/2	0	17	2	0	2	2	2	0	15
M. Caldwell	5	1	1	1/1	1/1	2/2	0	7	0	0	1	1	0	-2	7
C. Williams	4	4	3	2/8	0/2	0/0	0	18	0	0	3	1	3	-1	11
A. Olairi Kosu	4	2	0	1/1	0/0	2/2	0	5	0	1	0	0	2	-4	7
N. Coffey	0	4	1	0/3	0/2	0/0	2	18	0	2	1	1	3	-3	7

On Bench	PTS	REB	AST	FG	3PT	FT	PF	MIN	STL	BLK	TO	OREB	DREB	+/-	FPTS
T. McCowan	0	2	0	0/1	0/0	0/0	1	2	0	0	0	2	0	-1	2
A. Delaere	0	0	0	0/0	0/0	0/0	0	4	0	0	1	0	0	-8	-1
Total	42	24	9	13/37	7/14	9/10	7	71	3	4	9	10	14	-19	-

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	Min. Per Game
	Pts. Per Game
	Ast. Per Game
	Reb. Per Game
	Field Goal %
	Three Point %
	Free Throw %

Valkyries challenge league-best Lynx in early Commissioner's Cup battle

2nd GSValkyries22MINLynx24

1st GSValkyries22MINLynx18

2nd
GS
Valkyries
22
MIN
Lynx
24

1st
GS
Valkyries
22
MIN
Lynx
18