The Golden State Valkyries vs New York Liberty timeline is already one of the WNBA’s most watchable rivalries — and it only started in 2025. Four games. Three Liberty wins. One Valkyrie’s statement wins. Three more matchups scheduled for 2026.
Here’s the complete picture: every score, every key moment, and what to expect when these two teams meet again.
Quick Timeline
Every Valkyries vs Liberty matchup in chronological order — 2025 results and confirmed 2026 dates.
- May 27, 2025 | NYL 95 – GSV 67 — (Winner): New York Liberty Blowout at Chase Center — Liberty led wire to wire
- May 29, 2025 | NYL 82 – GSV 77 — (Winner): New York Liberty 20 lead changes, 16 ties — instant WNBA classic
- June 25, 2025 | NYL 81 – GSV 78 — (Winner): New York Liberty Ionescu’s 7 clutch free throws in the final 2 minutes
- September 2, 2025 | GSV 66 – NYL 58 — (Winner): Golden State Valkyries Dominant second quarter — Valkyries’ first and only series win
- May 21, 2026 | TBD — Barclays Center, Brooklyn — 8:00 PM ET
- May 22, 2026 | TBD — Barclays Center, Brooklyn
- June 28, 2026 | TBD — Chase Center, San Francisco
All-time H2H (2025): New York Liberty 3 – Golden State Valkyries 1
Golden State Valkyries vs New York Liberty: Full Score History
All four 2025 WNBA matchups — locations, results, and top performers:
| Date | Location | Score | Winner | Top GSV | Top NYL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 27, 2025 | Chase Center, SF | NYL 95 – GSV 67 | New York Liberty | Salaün (team-high) | Stewart (24 pts) |
| May 29, 2025 | Barclays Center, NY | NYL 82 – GSV 77 | New York Liberty | Salaün (18 pts, 13 reb) | Stewart (27 pts) |
| June 25, 2025 | Chase Center, SF | NYL 81 – GSV 78 | New York Liberty | Salaün / Burton | Ionescu (7-for-7 FTs) |
| Sep 2, 2025 | Chase Center, SF | GSV 66 – NYL 58 | Golden State Valkyries | Charles (19 pts), Fagbenle (16 pts) | Stewart (19 pts) |
Valkyries vs Liberty: Every Game, Every Key Moment
Game 1 — May 27, 2025 | NYL 95, GSV 67 | Chase Center
The Liberty came to San Francisco and wasted no time making a point. Breanna Stewart scored 24 points. Jonquel Jones contributed 13 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists. New York jumped to a 17-point lead in the first quarter and never looked back.
For a first-year expansion team matched up against reigning WNBA champions, the margin wasn’t shocking. But it was a clear signal: the Valkyries needed a different answer for Stewart in the post.
Game 2 — May 29, 2025 | NYL 82, GSV 77 | Barclays Center
Two nights later, the same two teams produced a completely different game.
20 lead changes. 16 ties. Janelle Salaün was outstanding — 18 points and 13 rebounds, the best individual performance any Valkyrie put up across the entire series. Golden State led 55–54 in the third quarter and tied it 65–65 in the fourth.
Then Stewart put New York ahead 78–77 with two free throws and 1:35 on the clock.
The Valkyries missed three straight 3-pointers in 35 seconds. A 5-second inbound violation handed the Liberty possession. Natasha Cloud drove for a layup — 80–77. Cecilia Zandalasini’s final 3-point attempt fell short. Cloud sealed it at the free-throw line. Liberty 82, Valkyries 77. New York moved to 5–0 on the season.
Game 3 — June 25, 2025 | NYL 81, GSV 78 | Chase Center
The Liberty needed a rescue act. Sabrina Ionescu was having a nightmare shooting night — 1-of-11 from the field, 1-of-7 from three. Golden State had every reason to believe this was their game to take.
Then Ionescu went to the free-throw line. She converted all seven of her attempts in the final two minutes. With 26 seconds left, she added a steal to kill the Valkyries’ final comeback attempt. Breanna Stewart added 23 points and 10 rebounds. Final: 81–78.
The Valkyries lost another game they led late.
Game 4 — September 2, 2025 | GSV 66, NYL 58 | Chase Center
Context first: Sabrina Ionescu missed this game — her third straight absence due to a left toe injury. The Liberty arrived without one of their two best players.
That acknowledged, the Valkyries earned this win convincingly. They outscored New York 26–8 in the second quarter — the worst single period the Liberty had all season — and took a 40–26 halftime lead. Kaila Charles led Golden State with 19 points on 6-of-13 shooting. Temi Fagbenle added 16 points on efficient 7-of-10 shooting. Stewart scored 19 for New York but had little support.
The Valkyries held the Liberty to 31.6% shooting and pulled away for a 66–58 final. The win was Golden State’s fourth straight. It also extended their season record to 22–18, completing one of the more remarkable debut seasons in WNBA history.
Key Players in the Valkyries vs Liberty Rivalry
Breanna Stewart — New York Liberty
Stewart was the most consistent performer across all four games — scoring 24, 27, 23, and 19 points respectively, averaging around 23 points per game in this series alone. She scored in the post, hit mid-range jumpers, and protected the paint against every Valkyries lineup. Stewart has confirmed her return to the Liberty for 2026.
Sabrina Ionescu — New York Liberty
Two of the Liberty’s three wins came down to Ionescu’s moments. Her June 25 performance — converting all seven free-throw attempts in the final two minutes after shooting 1-of-11 from the field — was the most dramatic sequence of the entire series. Ionescu is also back for 2026.
Natasha Cloud — New York Liberty
Cloud’s role in the Game 2 finish is easy to miss in a stats line, but hard to forget if you watched it. With the Valkyries within one point and 1:35 left, she drove for the layup that made it a three-point game and then closed it out at the free-throw line. She was the player who ended Golden State’s best chance at a statement win.
Janelle Salaün — Golden State Valkyries
The French forward was the Valkyries’ standout performer across this series. Her 18-point, 13-rebound game on May 29 nearly produced a major upset. Salaün averaged 11.3 points and 5.3 rebounds across the full 2025 season and is central to Golden State’s 2026 plans.
Kaila Charles & Temi Fagbenle — Golden State Valkyries
In the only Valkyries win of the series, Charles (19 pts, 6-of-13 shooting) and Fagbenle (16 pts, 7-of-10 shooting) did the work. Fagbenle’s post-game line to the Chase Center crowd — “We’re in playoff mode right now” — captured where Golden State’s head was by September.
Veronica Burton — Golden State Valkyries
Burton emerged as one of the WNBA’s most improved players during the 2025 season, with her defensive pressure and playmaking visible in all four games of this series. As a restricted free agent heading into 2026, the Valkyries hold the right to match any offer she receives.
2026 Season Preview: What’s Next for Both Teams
New York Liberty in 2026
The Liberty’s core is intact. Stewart and Ionescu both re-signed. Jonquel Jones — who missed the May 29 game with a hamstring issue — adds another dimension when healthy. The Liberty enter 2026 as genuine title contenders, not just by reputation but by roster construction.
Golden State Valkyries in 2026
The offseason picture is more complicated. The Valkyries lost Carla Leite and María Conde in the expansion draft. Leite had been a consistent rotation contributor throughout the 2025 season. Several free agents — including Temi Fagbenle — had unresolved contracts heading into the spring.
Burton and Zandalasini hold restricted free agent status, meaning Golden State can match outside offers. Salaün and several other rotation players are under exclusive rights. Owner Joe Lacob has been direct about building this team toward a championship within five years.
The roster entering 2026 will reflect how that offseason played out.
2026 Schedule: Confirmed Matchups
| Date | Location | Tip-Off |
|---|---|---|
| May 21, 2026 | Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY | 8:00 PM ET |
| May 22, 2026 | Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY | TBA |
| June 28, 2026 | Chase Center, San Francisco, CA | TBA |
FAQs
What is the all-time head-to-head record between the Valkyries and Liberty?
New York Liberty leads 3–1 across four meetings, all played in the 2025 WNBA regular season. The Valkyries are an expansion team — 2025 was their first year in the league.
What was the highest-scoring game in the Valkyries vs Liberty series?
May 27, 2025 — New York Liberty won 95–67. The Liberty led from the opening quarter and never trailed. It was the most one-sided game of the series.
What was the closest game between the two teams?
May 29, 2025 — New York Liberty 82, Golden State Valkyries 77. The game had 20 lead changes and 16 ties, with Golden State within one point late in the fourth quarter.
Why did the Valkyries win Game 4 on September 2?
Two factors. Sabrina Ionescu was out with a toe injury, significantly weakening the Liberty. And the Valkyries had a 26–8 second quarter run that built a 40–26 halftime lead — a margin Golden State never gave back.
When do the Valkyries and Liberty next play in 2026?
May 21, 2026, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn — 8:00 PM ET. It’s the first of three scheduled meetings in the 2026 season.
Did the Golden State Valkyries make the playoffs in their first season?
Yes. The Valkyries finished 22–18 in the 2025 regular season, qualifying for the WNBA playoffs in their debut year — one of the more notable achievements by a first-year WNBA franchise.
Three more meetings scheduled for 2026 — starting May 21 at Barclays Centre. The series is still being written.
