On Friday evening, the Golden State Valkyries beat the Los Angeles Sparks 82-73, marking their second victory in three nights.
Then, their two French standouts — rookies Carla Leite and Janelle Salaün — collaborated on a healthful postgame tv interview that punctuated one other profitable evening for the WNBA’s latest franchise.
It was solely becoming that Leite and Salaün answered questions collectively, as each younger gamers have been instrumental within the Valkyries’ success towards the Sparks.
Salaün tallied 18 factors and eight rebounds in half-hour, hitting 4 of 8 three-pointers. Leite, in the meantime, ran the crew’s offense, erupting for 19 factors on 7-10 taking pictures alongside 3 assists.
Janelle Salaün and Carla Leite led the cost within the @valkyries win with spectacular performances
Janelle dominated along with her scoring and rebounding, whereas Carla orchestrated the offense superbly:
Salaün: 18 PTS | 8 REB
Leite: 19 PTS | 2 AST pic.twitter.com/pogo8CGipS— WNBA (@WNBA) Could 24, 2025
Afterwards, Leite was requested what it meant to assist safe the franchise’s second win.
“My English isn’t excellent, so she’s going to…” Leite trailed, smiling and pointing to her Valkyries teammate, who subsequently translated the reporter’s query.
In a heartwarming post-game second, Carla Leite admits her English isn’t nice, so teammate Janelle Salaün steps in to translate
The French duo powered the @valkyries to their second consecutive win! pic.twitter.com/ZPxGdEcm2a
— WNBA (@WNBA) Could 24, 2025
“She’s tremendous completely happy, and he or she hopes we’re going to maintain taking part in like that,” Salaün mentioned. “She’s completely happy. She’s completely happy.”
The Valkyries’ French standouts have been key to their early success
Carla Leite arrived in Golden State by means of December’s growth draft; the Valkyries chosen the 21-year-old Leite after she was left unprotected by the Dallas Wings, who drafted her ninth total in 2024.
Janelle Salaün, in the meantime, signed a coaching camp take care of the Valkyries in February. The Valkyries are 2-0 along with her within the lineup.
Along with Leite and Salaün, Veronica Burton, who had 12 factors and 5 steals, and Kayla Thornton, who had 14 factors and 10 rebounds, have additionally been key contributors for Golden State.
Earlier than the season, Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase instructed SB Nation she had excessive expectations for the roster.
“When you examine the 11 gamers that I already selected, they match all these traits that we actually need, which might be actually essential, with a view to have a championship tradition sooner or later,” she mentioned.
“I need to work actually, actually arduous — that’s simply form of how I’m constructed,” Nakase mentioned. “I’m very aggressive. I hate shedding.”
Underneath her management, a roster that almost all anticipated to be one of many worst within the WNBA has already exceeded expectations within the early days, selecting up wins towards the Washington Mystics and the Sparks.
The problem solely grows from right here: beginning on Tuesday, they’ll go to the defending champion New York Liberty for 2 consecutive street video games.
