On Friday night, the Golden State Valkyries beat the Los Angeles Sparks 82-73, marking their second victory in three nights.
Valkyries’ rookies followed big win with very wholesome postgame interview
Janelle Salaün and Carla Leite dominated Friday’s game against the Los Angeles Sparks — and then collectively answered postgame questions.
Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images
Noa Dalzell is a senior writer covering the WNBA and all of women’s basketball for Breakaway, SB Nation’s women’s sports vertical, as well as the Celtics for CelticsBlog.
Then, their two French standouts — rookies Carla Leite and Janelle Salaün — collaborated on a wholesome postgame television interview that punctuated another successful night for the WNBA’s newest franchise.
It was only fitting that Leite and Salaün answered questions together, as both young players were instrumental in the Valkyries’ success against the Sparks.
Salaün tallied 18 points and 8 rebounds in 30 minutes, hitting 4 of 8 three-pointers. Leite, meanwhile, ran the team’s offense, erupting for 19 points on 7-10 shooting alongside 3 assists.
Afterwards, Leite was asked what it meant to help secure the franchise’s second win.
“My English is not very good, so she will...” Leite trailed, smiling and pointing to her Valkyries teammate, who subsequently translated the reporter’s question.
“She’s super happy, and she hopes we’re going to keep playing like that,” Salaün said. “She’s happy. She’s happy.”
The Valkyries’ French standouts have been key to their early success
Carla Leite arrived in Golden State by way of December’s expansion draft; the Valkyries selected the 21-year-old Leite after she was left unprotected by the Dallas Wings, who drafted her 9th overall in 2024.
Janelle Salaün, meanwhile, signed a training camp deal with the Valkyries in February. The Valkyries are 2-0 with her in the lineup.
In addition to Leite and Salaün, Veronica Burton, who had 12 points and 5 steals, and Kayla Thornton, who had 14 points and 10 rebounds, have also been key contributors for Golden State.
Before the season, Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase told SB Nation she had high expectations for the roster.
“If you study the 11 players that I already chose, they fit all those characteristics that we really want, that are really important, in order to have a championship culture in the future,” she said.
“I want to work really, really hard — that’s just kind of how I’m built,” Nakase said. “I’m very competitive. I hate losing.”
Under her leadership, a roster that most expected to be one of the worst in the WNBA has already exceeded expectations in the early days, picking up wins against the Washington Mystics and the Sparks.
The challenge only grows from here: starting on Tuesday, they’ll visit the defending champion New York Liberty for two consecutive road games.
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