Make no mistake, what’s happening at Golden State is special. The first expansion franchise since 2008, which was their next opponent, the Atlanta Dream, has had a season to remember so far. The GSW is packing the stadiums and packing a punch on the court as well, with a 9-8 record. Rookie coach Natalie Nakase seems to be doing everything right. Nakase was also named the WNBA Coach of the Month for June. For context, the Atlanta Dream finished with a 4-30 record in their opening season. Of course, the circumstances were different, but the Valkyries have stretched expectations from the get-go. 

That punch was prevalent in their last game when they faced the table-toppers Minnesota Lynx. Despite falling behind in the first quarter, the team rallied to win the second. The Valkyries kept fighting till the end, but that 7-point lead from the first quarter was hard to erase, and they ended up losing 82-71. Their next opponents, the Atlanta Dream, are coming off an L too, a much closer loss. The Dream were going neck and neck with the Seattle Storm till the final seconds, when Skylar Diggins made a driving lay-up up and that was it. They seemed to be in control of the game right until that moment, and were punished for not pressing on the accelerator sooner. 

Both teams have flown under the radar this year and are quietly shaping up to be top seeds for the playoffs, but do they have all their key players available? Let’s preview the clash of two underrated teams in the WNBA.

Golden State Valkyries Vs Atlanta Dream: Injury Report

For the Dream, Rhyne Howard was active and moving well during practice despite her recent upper-body injury diagnosis. Although she remains listed as a game-time decision on the injury report, she is expected to suit up for the game.

For the Valkyries, defensive specialist Carla Leite remains questionable with her back injury. If she misses this game against Atlanta, it will be the fifth on the trot. She last played in the first half of the Indiana Fever game but did not come back on the court in the second half of that contest. The coach has said that the team is taking “everything day by day,” and that Leite is feeling better in recent days.

Predicted Lineups:

Golden State Valkyries (9-8)

Tiffany Hayes 

Veronica Burton 

Kayla Thornton 

Stephanie Talbot 

Temi Fagbenle

Atlanta Dream (11-7)

Jordin Canada

Allisha Gray 

Rhyne Howard

Brionna Jones 

Brittney Griner

Match Preview and Prediction:

The Valkyries began their seven-day road trip on a disappointing note with a loss to the Minnesota Lynx. However, there were silver linings, most notably Tiffany Hayes, who delivered a season-high 23 points, including five 3-pointers, along with four assists and three rebounds in a well-rounded performance. Kayla Thornton, the team’s first All-Star selection, added 13 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists. Thornton’s consistency on the boards has been crucial for the Valkyries, helping them secure the second-best rebounding average in the league at 37.4 per game, trailing only their upcoming opponents, the Atlanta Dream.

That sets the stage for what promises to be a physical battle on the glass. Atlanta excels at controlling the tempo and punishing teams inside, thanks to their formidable frontcourt duo of Brionna Jones and Brittney Griner. The Valkyries mirror that approach to some extent, though with a different profile. Thornton, their top rebounder, stands at just 6’1”, compared to Jones at 6’3” and Griner at 6’9”. On paper, the Dream have the edge in the paint, and Griner’s veteran savvy makes it hard to exploit her with unconventional tactics. Even in a slightly down year, she remains a threat. Along with that, they have a 1.60 assist-to-turnover ratio, which is propped up by a league-low 11.9 turnovers per game, so the Valks will need to work hard to get the ball off Griner and Co. 

To counter that size disadvantage, Coach Natalie Nakase may need to abandon a traditional approach and turn to a faster-paced offense to keep the Dream out of rhythm. The recent release of playmaker Julie Vanloo means more creative responsibility will fall on Veronica Burton and Tiffany Hayes. The Valkyries’ offensive struggles have been evident. They currently hold one of the league’s lowest offensive ratings at 99.6, and with the Dream allowing just 83.6 points per game over their last 10, this won’t be an easy challenge.

Atlanta’s Allisha Gray, a WNBA All-Star starter, will also demand attention. She’s having a career year, averaging 19.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and shooting 41.5 percent from beyond the arc. According to ESPN’s matchup predictor, the Dream are strong favorites with a 77.3 percent chance of winning. But the Valkyries have made a habit of defying expectations this season, including two wins over the Seattle Storm, where they entered as underdogs.

This upcoming game in Atlanta is shaping up to be a major test of adaptability for the Valkyries. With playoff implications looming and a tough road stretch underway, this could be a defining moment in their inaugural campaign. If they can adjust on the fly, outpace the Dream, and find enough scoring rhythm, they might just pull off another upset and continue rewriting the narrative around expansion teams in the WNBA.