Valkyries Edge Mystics in Close Contest
Saturday, July 18, 2026, 8:30 PM ET · Chase Center
Golden State Valkyries 74, Washington Mystics 69, final. Our WNBA picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Washington Mystics vs Golden State Valkyries?
Golden State Valkyries beat Washington Mystics 74-69 at Chase Center on July 18, 2026.
Who was favored in Washington Mystics vs Golden State Valkyries?
Golden State Valkyries were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -395 (about 80% implied). The favorite won.
The Golden State Valkyries secured a narrow victory over the Washington Mystics, finishing the game with a score of 74-69. This win marks the Valkyries' third consecutive victory against the Mystics this season, having previously defeated them 62-49 earlier in July. The Valkyries now lead the season series 2-1 against the Mystics, continuing a dominant trend in their head-to-head matchups, where they have won all five encounters dating back to last season.
The Valkyries entered the game with a strong home record of 19-7 and were riding an impressive eight-game winning streak, having averaged 80.0 points while allowing only 69.2 points in their last five games. Their recent form has been characterized by solid offensive performances, highlighted by a recent victory over the Indiana Fever, where they scored 88 points. In contrast, the Mystics, with a balanced record of 12-12, have struggled lately, losing their last game against the Portland Fire and averaging 69.8 points while allowing 70.8 points in their last five outings.
Playing at the Chase Center, the Valkyries maintained a home record of 3-1 in their last four games, while the Mystics had a mixed away record of 3-3 in their last six. The game was closely contested, with both teams exchanging leads throughout. The Valkyries managed to pull ahead in the final quarter, thanks to critical three-point shots from Gabby Williams and Kayla Thornton, which helped them secure the win.
In terms of injuries, the Valkyries were missing several key players: Cecilia Zandalasini, Janelle Salaun, Gabby Williams, and Iliana Rupert were all out for reasons not related to injury. This absence could have impacted their depth but did not prevent them from achieving victory. The Mystics had no reported injuries affecting their roster for this matchup.
The betting market had the Valkyries favored by a spread of -8.5 according to DraftKings, with a total points line set at 148.5. The Valkyries were priced at -395 for the money line, while the Mystics were at 310, reflecting the Valkyries' strong performance and home advantage.
Conditions for the game were standard for a summer basketball matchup, with both teams playing in front of a home crowd that supported the Valkyries. Fans witnessed a game that showcased the Valkyries' resilience and ability to perform under pressure, particularly in the final moments when they needed to secure the win.
Viewers should have noted the significant contributions from players like Gabby Williams, who not only scored crucial points but also assisted on key plays. The Valkyries demonstrated their ability to execute in high-pressure situations, particularly in the fourth quarter, where they outscored the Mystics 22-14. The game showcased both teams' defensive capabilities, with the Valkyries managing to limit the Mystics' scoring opportunities effectively.
Overall, the matchup highlighted the Valkyries' current form and their ability to maintain composure in tight situations, while the Mystics will need to regroup and address their recent struggles as they look to improve their performance moving forward.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | GS -8.5 | 148.5 o -105 / u -115 | Washington Mystics +310 · Golden State Valkyries -395 |
Injury report
- Cecilia ZandalasiniOutNot Injury RelatedGolden State Valkyries
- Janelle SalaunOutNot Injury RelatedGolden State Valkyries
- Gabby WilliamsOutNot Injury RelatedGolden State Valkyries
- Iliana RupertOutNot Injury RelatedGolden State Valkyries
Leaders
- PointsGabby Williams18Golden State Valkyries
- AssistsVeronica Burton11Golden State Valkyries
- ReboundsVeronica Burton5Golden State Valkyries
- PointsShakira Austin18Washington Mystics
- AssistsMichaela Onyenwere5Washington Mystics
- ReboundsShakira Austin16Washington Mystics
Recent form
Golden State Valkyries
Last 10: 8-2Streak W877.9 scored · 72.7 allowed per game3-1 at home
- W88-75at Indiana FeverJul 16
- W79-64at Connecticut SunJul 10
- W83-75at Toronto TempoJul 8
- W62-49at Washington MysticsJul 6
- W88-83at Atlanta DreamJul 4
- W76-67vs New York LibertyJun 28
- W78-75vs Atlanta DreamJun 27
- W77-66vs Atlanta DreamJun 25
- L73-92at Las Vegas AcesJun 21
- L75-81vs Minnesota LynxJun 20
Washington Mystics
Last 10: 6-4Streak L177.6 scored · 78.5 allowed per game3-1 away
- L56-75vs Portland FireJul 16
- W79-62at Toronto TempoJul 14
- W84-79vs Seattle StormJul 12
- L49-62vs Golden State ValkyriesJul 6
- W81-76vs Atlanta DreamJul 2
- W124-123vs Portland FireJun 28
- L57-68at Connecticut SunJun 26
- L76-78vs Minnesota LynxJun 24
- W84-79at Minnesota LynxJun 21
- W86-83at New York LibertyJun 19
Standings
| Team | Games behind | Lost | Streak | Win % | Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | - | 14 | W1 | .650 | 26 |
| Indiana | - | 14 | W2 | .650 | 26 |
| New York | 2 | 16 | W1 | .600 | 24 |
| Washington | 2 | 16 | L1 | .600 | 24 |
| Chicago | 11 | 25 | L3 | .375 | 15 |
| Toronto | 15 | 29 | L4 | .275 | 11 |
| Connecticut | 16 | 30 | L3 | .250 | 10 |
| Minnesota | - | 9 | L2 | .775 | 31 |
| Golden State | 2 | 11 | W4 | .725 | 29 |
| Las Vegas | 4 | 13 | W3 | .675 | 27 |
| Dallas | 7 | 16 | W4 | .600 | 24 |
| Portland | 15 | 24 | L1 | .400 | 16 |
| Los Angeles | 16 | 25 | W2 | .375 | 15 |
| Phoenix | 17 | 26 | W1 | .350 | 14 |
| Seattle | 23 | 32 | L1 | .200 | 8 |
Box score
| Stat | Washington Mystics | Golden State Valkyries |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 27-60 | 24-59 |
| Field goal % | 45 | 41 |
| Three-pointers | 6-23 | 12-33 |
| Three-point % | 26 | 36 |
| Free throws | 9-11 | 14-20 |
| Free throw % | 82 | 70 |
| Rebounds | 37 | 26 |
| Offensive rebounds | 11 | 8 |
| Defensive rebounds | 26 | 18 |
| Assists | 18 | 21 |
| Steals | 5 | 8 |
| Blocks | 5 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 12 | 8 |
| Team turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 22 | 8 |
| Fast-break points | 2 | 4 |
| Points in the paint | 40 | 16 |
| Fouls | 17 | 16 |
| Largest lead | 8 | 9 |
| Lead changes | 10 | 10 |
| Time in front | 51 | 43 |
How the scoring went
- 3rd Quarter36-35Cotie McMahon makes driving layup (Michaela Onyenwere assists)
- 3rd Quarter36-37Gabby Williams makes driving layup (Veronica Burton assists)
- 3rd Quarter36-39Veronica Burton makes 14-foot pullup jump shot
- 3rd Quarter38-39Sonia Citron makes 6-foot two point shot (Cotie McMahon assists)
- 3rd Quarter38-41Gabby Williams makes driving layup (Veronica Burton assists)
- 3rd Quarter40-41Sonia Citron makes running layup (Cotie McMahon assists)
- 3rd Quarter40-43Cecilia Zandalasini makes 9-foot driving floating jump shot (Veronica Burton assists)
- 3rd Quarter42-43Cotie McMahon makes driving layup (Sonia Citron assists)
- 3rd Quarter43-43Sonia Citron makes free throw 2 of 2
- 3rd Quarter43-44Tiffany Hayes makes free throw 2 of 2
- 3rd Quarter45-44Lauren Betts makes 6-foot layup (Sonia Citron assists)
- 3rd Quarter45-45Kaila Charles makes free throw 1 of 2
- 3rd Quarter45-46Kaila Charles makes free throw 2 of 2
- 3rd Quarter48-46Sonia Citron makes 25-foot three point step back jumpshot
- 3rd Quarter48-47Janelle Salaun makes free throw 1 of 2
- 3rd Quarter50-47Shakira Austin makes 7-foot layup (Sonia Citron assists)
- 3rd Quarter50-50Kaila Charles makes 23-foot three point jumper (Kaitlyn Chen assists)
- 3rd Quarter51-50Shakira Austin makes free throw 1 of 2
- 3rd Quarter52-50Shakira Austin makes free throw 2 of 2
- 3rd Quarter52-51Kaitlyn Chen makes free throw 1 of 2
- 3rd Quarter52-52Kaitlyn Chen makes free throw 2 of 2
- 3rd Quarter55-52Michaela Onyenwere makes 24-foot three point jumper (Georgia Amoore assists)
- 3rd Quarter57-52Cotie McMahon makes 9-foot two point shot
- 4th Quarter57-54Veronica Burton makes 8-foot driving floating jump shot (Gabby Williams assists)
- 4th Quarter59-54Lauren Betts makes driving layup (Georgia Amoore assists)
- 4th Quarter59-55Kaila Charles makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter60-55Shakira Austin makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter61-55Shakira Austin makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter61-57Gabby Williams makes driving layup (Veronica Burton assists)
- 4th Quarter63-57Shakira Austin makes 6-foot turnaround jump shot
- 4th Quarter63-58Gabby Williams makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter63-59Gabby Williams makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter65-59Lauren Betts makes driving layup (Michaela Onyenwere assists)
- 4th Quarter65-62Gabby Williams makes 25-foot three pointer (Kayla Thornton assists)
- 4th Quarter65-65Kiah Stokes makes 24-foot three point jumper (Veronica Burton assists)
- 4th Quarter65-68Kayla Thornton makes 25-foot three point jumper (Gabby Williams assists)
- 4th Quarter65-71Veronica Burton makes 28-foot three point jumper (Gabby Williams assists)
- 4th Quarter67-71Shakira Austin makes 6-foot fade away jump shot (Michaela Onyenwere assists)
- 4th Quarter67-74Gabby Williams makes 25-foot three point jumper (Veronica Burton assists)
- 4th Quarter69-74Kiki Iriafen makes driving layup (Michaela Onyenwere assists)
Win probability
Above the line favours Golden State Valkyries, below favours Washington Mystics.
Venue
- Chase CenterSan Francisco, CA
- Attendance18064
- OfficialsCharles Watson, Tim Greene, Kelly Broomfield
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