A Valkyries Star Dropped 22 on Our Court, and Seattle's Not Ready For It

Alright, Emerald City, can we talk about what just went down? Because honestly, my blood pressure is still spiking from that one. The Storm were right there, *right there*, against the Golden State Valkyries, but in the end, we couldn't close it out. We lost 76-72 to Golden State on our home court yesterday, June 13th. Four points, people. Four. It stings, especially when you watch an opponent's star player just go off.

Janelle Salaun Went Full Villain Mode

Look, you gotta give credit where it's due, even if it pains me to say it. Janelle Salaun for the Valkyries just had herself a night, and it absolutely ripped the heart out of us. This woman poured in 22 points and snagged seven rebounds. Think about that, 22 points, seven boards, all against *our* Storm, right here in Seattle. That kind of performance is what swings close games, and yesterday, it swung it right into Golden State's favor. Every time it felt like the Storm were about to make that crucial push, Salaun seemed to be there, making a play, scoring a basket. It was a masterclass in how to be an absolute pain for the home team. She was relentless, and we just didn't have an answer to stop her from dictating the flow when it mattered most.

Every Point Matters Early On

This is why every single game, especially these early season battles, feels like it has so much weight. We’re in June now, and every single loss, particularly a four-point heartbreaker at home, is a missed opportunity. We know what this team is capable of, we know the fight they have, but letting a team like the Valkyries walk out of Seattle with a win, largely fueled by one dominant individual performance, just feels like a punch to the gut. The "held off" part of the news, it just tells you how close it was. They *held us off*. That means we were pushing, we were fighting, but the final edge, the crucial stops, the clutch baskets, they just weren't there when the buzzer sounded. This isn't where we want to be, letting games slip away that are *this* tight. It's about finding that extra gear, that extra bit of composure, to make sure those four points swing in *our* favor next time. So, what's next? Every game now becomes even more critical. We need to regroup, we need to focus, and we need to come out swinging next time. We are the Storm, we are Seattle, and we don't back down from a fight. This loss hurts, no doubt, but it’s still early. The season is a marathon, but we gotta start stacking those W's. Let's see how they respond. Our Emerald City pride demands it. Come on, Storm, let's turn this around!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.