Janelle Salan shines again as Valkyries top Tempo 96-79
Janelle Salan scored 24 points off the bench as the Golden State Valkyries beat the Toronto Tempo 96-79, ending a two-game slide. Gabby Williams added 15 in her return to the starting five, while fellow French stars Carla Leite, Leïla Lacan and Nell Angloma all fell short in separate WNBA losses.
Key Takeaways
- Janelle Salan poured in 24 points (9-of-15 shooting, four threes) in about 30 minutes as Golden State won 96-79.
- Gabby Williams returned to the starting lineup with 15 points and a perfect 3-of-3 from deep.
- Carla Leite posted 21 points and eight assists, but Portland fell 106-101 to the Los Angeles Sparks.
- Leïla Lacan (7 points) and Nell Angloma (5 points in 10 minutes) saw Connecticut lose 83-63 to Dallas.
- The Valkyries sit 20-9 after winning 10 of their last 12 games and face Toronto again next.
How did Janelle Salan and Golden State beat Toronto?
After consecutive losses to Washington and Phoenix, Golden State needed a response at home against a depleted Tempo side missing top scorer Marina Mabrey. The Valkyries controlled the night and closed 96-79, per BeBasket.
Coming off the bench, Janelle Salan finished with 24 points, three rebounds, two assists and one steal on 9-of-15 shooting, including 4-of-9 from three and 2-of-2 at the line. The outing followed her career-high 26 against the same Tempo on July 8 and keeps her Sixth Woman of the Year case alive.
Williams, recently the first French starter in All-Star history, added 15 points with three makes from beyond the arc. Veronica Burton scored 17 as Golden State hit 14 of 29 threes; Toronto managed only 7 of 30, with Julie Allemand contributing 11 points, six assists and three rebounds in 34 minutes.
Basket USA noted the contest tightened after Toronto closed the first half on a 12-0 run and briefly led in the third before Salan’s mid-range jumper and transition three tied the game, then an and-one and another triple pushed Golden State ahead for good.
Which other French players struggled on the same night?
Carla Leite again produced on offense for the Portland Fire—21 points and eight assists with two threes—but could not stop a 106-101 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks in a tight finish decided at the free-throw line. Portland’s skid reached a fifth straight defeat and a 19th loss of the season.
Connecticut’s road trip of six games ended badly: Dallas won 83-63 after the Sun trailed by 11 at halftime and collapsed in a 24-8 third quarter. Lacan shot 3-of-10 for seven points; Angloma was limited to five points in 10 minutes. The result was Connecticut’s fifth consecutive loss and 23rd of the year, leaving the Sun near the bottom of the standings.
Why does this night matter for French WNBA fans?
The split results underline how French talent is spread across contenders and rebuilding clubs. Golden State’s 20-9 record matches Las Vegas for podium positioning, while Portland and Connecticut keep searching for wins. For more sports-meets-culture coverage in our Future Tech & AI Wonders hub, follow the next Valkyries-Tempo rematch at Chase Center and Leite’s home date with Toronto.
Salaün’s back-to-back big nights against the Tempo, Williams’s clean All-Star-level return, and Leite’s playmaking despite defeat give fans clear storylines to track as the WNBA schedule tightens.