Do it for the Bay: Kayla Thornton and Tiffany Hayes

As everyone began to hit their stride, the energy was unmistakable. “We’re building a foundation for a great team, a great organization,” Hayes says. “This is just the beginning. Our journey can take us as far as we want to go, and I think we don’t have any ceilings with this group, so [there are] endless possibilities.”

“We came in and defined our culture of what we wanted it to be,” Thornton echoed. “The most important thing was, I think for me, being a selfless team. That’s the main thing, because when you’re selfless, everything else kind of just falls in place.”

Their preseason matchup against the Sparks went down to the wire, instantly showing the world that the Valkyries were more than just a promising group. Every game since has brought improvement: defense tightening up, shots falling, chemistry growing.

Reflecting on their season so far, Thornton shares her assessment: “I expected it to be good, but not how it is going now. I think we’re so far ahead of what our expectations were, and that’s great.” She credits the coaching staff and everyone involved, adding, “The pieces that are put together, we understand each other.”