Kayla Thornton led the Golden State Valkyries to a 95-77 win over the Portland Fire on Tuesday night.
The forward knocked down five 3-pointers in the Commissioner's Cup matchup, anchoring Golden State's perimeter attack to finish the game with 19 points and eight rebounds.
Valkyries Bury Fire Behind Record 3-Point Stats
Thornton's spacing opened up the floor, ultimately helping Golden State set a franchise record with 18 made 3-pointers. The Valkyries shot 52.2% from beyond the arc in the first half, leading by 20 at the break.
Thornton's teammates joined her on the scoreboard. French forward Janelle Salaun gave the Valkyries a lift off the bench, scoring 18 points with three 3-pointers. And WNBA vet Veronica Burton started despite a bruised right quadriceps, controlling the tempo with 10 points and nine assists.
Portland pushed back in the second half behind Megan Gustafson's 13 points. However, Golden State's prowess from beyond the arc secured the Valkyries victory.
Commissioner's Cup Scores Impact 2026 WNBA Standings
The win moves the Valkyries up the mid-season WNBA standings, as teams begin to jockey for postseason positioning.
Golden State's roster depth has kept things competitive as the schedule builds, transforming the 2025 expansion side into a Commissioner's Cup contender.
The Valkyries now open a two-game road trip, taking on No. 1 Minnesota on Thursday at 9 PM ET, live on Prime.
