WNBA opening night rolls on this Friday with an intriguing Western Conference matchup as the Golden State Valkyries visit the Seattle Storm at Climate Pledge Arena. Golden State enters its second season with much higher expectations after a playoff appearance in its inaugural campaign, while Seattle looks to reestablish itself as a serious contender after an up-and-down 2025 season. Here, I break down this matchup and make my Valkyries vs Storm prediction for opening night.
Valkyries vs Storm Pick
Pick: Seattle Storm +4.5
Confidence: 3 out of 5
Game Snapshot
Matchup: Golden State Valkyries @ Seattle Storm
Date & Time: Friday, May 8, 2026, 10:00 PM ET
Venue: Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, Washington
Broadcast: ION
Key Storylines
Gabby Williams faces Seattle as a member of the Valkyries after leaving the Storm during free agency.
Golden State enters Year 2 after a strong inaugural season that included a playoff berth.
The Valkyries knocked off Seattle 78-76 during preseason play after drilling 15 three-pointers.
Seattle is in the middle of a transitional period after losing players like Nneka Ogwumike and the aforementioned Williams. They are also without Ezi Magbegor until June due to a foot injury.
Sonia Raman is set to make her head coaching debut with the Storm here after time as an assistant with the New York Liberty and Memphis Grizzlies. She is opposed by reigning WNBA Coach of the Year Natalie Nakase here, in a great early litmus test for Raman and her team.
Key Players
Seattle Storm
Jordan Horston is returning for the Storm at the start of this season after missing last year with a knee injury. She is incredibly tough and will make hustle plays that will keep the Storm afloat while they figure out their new-look roster.
Flau'jae Johnson is receiving some early Rookie of the Year hype in the WNBA and will try to start delivering on that hype in her regular-season debut as a pro here.
Natisha Heideman has joined the Storm after some productive time with the Minnesota Lynx and her leadership will be key to a Storm squad trying to prove itself early in the year.
Golden State Valkyries
Gabby Williams arrives after averaging 11.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and a league-leading 2.3 steals per game last season. Her versatility fits perfectly with Golden State’s fast pace and defensive pressure.
Veronica Burton showed strong form during preseason play, scoring 14 points against Seattle while knocking down four three-pointers. Her perimeter shooting opens the floor for the Valkyries' offense.
Kayla Thornton was an All-Star last season for the Valkyries before sustaining a season-ending injury. She is back on the floor and will try to pick up where she left off in the first game of this season for Golden State.
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
Golden State and Seattle split four meetings during the 2025 season.
The Storm went 25-22 against the spread last season.
Golden State was 28-17-1 against the spread a season ago.
Valkyries vs Storm Model Projection
Score Projection: Golden State Valkyries 82 - Seattle Storm 80
Win Probability: Golden State Valkyries 52%, Seattle Storm 48%
Golden State enters opening night looking like the more complete team. But Golden State was 9-13 on the road last season and I don't think this game is as straightforward as it looks on paper. I'll take the points with the Storm in a contest that I think could go either way in the Pacific Northwest.
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