> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Instant Takeaways: Inexperienced Storm Lose Early Mojo in Season-Opening Loss to Valkyries - URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/inexperienced-storm-lose-early-mojo-in-season-opening-loss-to-valkyries/ - Published: 2026-05-09T05:24:07.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-08T05:53:00.000Z - Author: Connor Benintendi - Tags: News, Analysis, Storm, Sonia Raman, Dominique Malonga, Zia Cooke, Jade Melbourne, Flau'jae Johnson, Jordan Horston \[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="2048"\] ![ Seattle Storm center Dominique Malonga (14) shoots against Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton (22) during the second quarter at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1d/f2/1df2f77b-83dd-4bc0-a6d2-6d1bb5df89a3/content/images/2026/10/0ccb6d3f-6ef4-4419-bb10-f02906f0b998-format-original.jpg) Seattle Storm center Dominique Malonga (14) shoots against Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton (22) during the second quarter at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images \[/caption\] A hot start for the new-look Seattle Storm and first-time head coach Sonia Raman rapidly fell back to Earth in a 91-80 loss against the Golden State Valkyries in the 2026 regular season opener on Friday, May 8, at Climate Pledge Arena. Dominique Malonga unsurprisingly led the way for the Storm to begin her second season, totaling 21 points (8-of-15 FG), eight rebounds and two blocks in 29 minutes. The Valkyries were led by an impressive 20 points from forward Janelle Salaun. Seattle stormed out of the gates early with efficient shooting, but that quickly fell off, the turnovers piled up and its lead evaporated. The potential was apparent in the new lineup, which included six players who didn’t play for the team last season, but it also proved they have a long way to go. Here’s what we learned from the Storm’s season-opening loss to the Valkyries. ### **Hot start devolves quickly** The Storm began the game 4-for-4 from 3-point range, building up a first-quarter lead that peaked at seven points. Zia Cooke led Seattle with seven first-quarter points, leading the way for the Storm in a noticeably increased role under Raman. But then Seattle missed its next three long-range attempts, allowing a Valkyries rally that trimmed the Storm’s lead to just one after 10 minutes. All told, it was an impressive start for the Storm, now fueled by a young core that includes just four players who played regular-season minutes for the franchise in 2025\. With how short training camp is for these WNBA teams and how new this Storm roster is, they clicked impressively well early on. Raman used her whole lineup. Jordan Horston, though she got the start, was on a minutes restriction, totaling just eight in the first half. Ten different players entered the game for the Storm in just the first 20 minutes. Former Storm head coach Noelle Quinn would frequently play eight in an entire game. Early chemistry faded. The Storm committed 10 first-half turnovers and had their early hot shooting trail off in the second period. As a result, they trailed the Valkyries 49-41 at halftime, creating a 15-point swing in total. Seattle’s gap between its starters and bench players is small, and that’s a result of a new, young roster. Raman understands that, and she’s hoping the fresh-legs approach will prosper. ### **Give it time** Although they couldn’t maintain their opening efficiency, faltering in the second and third quarters, they laid the foundation. The Storm trailed by as much as 20 once the Valkyries learned how to contain Seattle’s fastbreak offense. The perimeter shooting also completely disappeared. After the four 3-point straight makes to begin the game, it took the Storm 20 attempts to make four more. They finished 9-of-26 from deep. What previously looked like a team ready to surprise many people fell right back to where most expected them to be. And that’s OK at the beginning of the season. This is a scrappy, energetic Storm team that still has a lot to figure out. They will have to find some consistency on offense more than anything, and Raman must discover which lineups will work best together until Ezi Magbegor gets healthy and Awa Fam arrives. The Valkyries, who only got better from the best expansion season in league history, took advantage of an inexperienced Storm squad. And that could be the case for a few weeks with much of Seattle’s opponents. It was obvious the Storm hadn’t played much together. That’s why the result was what it was. ### **Gabby Williams’ mediocre return** Possibly the most shocking departure this offseason, Williams made her Valkyries debut against her former team. She did a little of everything but not a lot of anything in the GS victory. Williams, following a tribute video from the Storm in her previous home arena, totaled seven points (2-of-9 FG), six rebounds, four assists and one steal. It was almost shocking to see her generate just one turnover after being the best basketball thief in the WNBA in 2025. If anything, it proved how well-rounded the Valkyries are. Even though Williams is the 11th-highest-paid player in the league, GS can win when she doesn’t turn in her best performance. ### **Tracking debuts of new arrivals** Starting on a good note, guard Jade Melbourne played 17 minutes and totaled 13 points, two rebounds, three assists and a steal. Melbourne, who chipped her tooth on a fall to the court hustling for the ball, looked much better than Lexie Brown (no points, two rebounds, three assists and team-high four turnovers in 22 minutes), who was the first Storm player off the bench. Natisha Hiedeman struggled a bit offensively, but she finished with six points (2-of-7 FG), five rebounds, three assists and a steal in her first start since 2023\. Rookie No. 8 overall pick Flau’jae Johnson started her night off with a 3-pointer in the first 11 seconds of the game, and she finished with 12 points (3-of-12 FG), two rebounds, two assists and a steal. Johnson got all her field goals on threes, but she couldn’t replicate the magic of the first make. While it was still a solid debut, it showed that Johnson has much to learn about attacking WNBA defenses, even though she is an exceptional talent. Horston, though she was with the Storm last season, played in her first game since Sept. 24, 2024, after recovering from a torn ACL. She played 15 minutes and underwhelmed with zero points (0-for-4 FG), four rebounds and a block. It will understandably take her some time to readjust. Front-court newcomers Stefanie Dolson (six points) and Grace VanSlooten (five points) each contributed, with Dolson adding five rebounds, three assists, and two blocks. ### **The future is Malonga** Malonga had a quiet night and was still the best player on the court for the Storm. It’s only a matter of time before she becomes one of the most productive players in the WNBA. The 20-year-old became the youngest player in league history to reach 200 rebounds. She is already a reliable clean-up-and-put-back post and can do serious work in the mid range. Malonga did have three turnovers, but her defense is improving rapidly. Seattle is relying on Malonga to be the biggest bright spot this season in a building-block campaign. She’s off to a good start in that regard. ### **Next Up** The Storm don’t have much time to prepare for their next game, and a trial by fire may be the best thing for them anyway. Seattle travels to face the Connecticut Sun at 10 a.m. on Sunday, May 10, in a battle between two 0-1 teams.