SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Kelsey Plum scored 26 of her 37 points in the second half and the Los Angeles Sparks spoiled the first game in Golden State Valkyries history with a 84-67 victory Friday night.
Even the loss couldn't dampen the excitement from the sellout crowd of 18,064 at the arena that has been transformed into Valkyries purple rather than the typical court for the NBA's Golden State Warriors.
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Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton, bottom right, shoots against Los Angeles Sparks forward Dearica Hamby, left, and guard Sarah Ashlee Barker during the first half of a WNBA basketball game in San Francisco, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Los Angeles Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts, foreground, reacts after a score by Golden State Valkyries' Julie Vanloo during the first half of a WNBA basketball game in San Francisco, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum, middle, shoots against Golden State Valkyries guard Julie Vanloo (35) and guard Tiffany Hayes (15) during the second half of a WNBA basketball game in San Francisco, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
The Golden State Valkyries are introduced for a WNBA game against the Los Angeles Sparks at Chase Center in San Francisco, Friday, May 16, 2025. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum (10) celebrates after scoring against the Golden State Valkyries during the second half of a WNBA basketball game in San Francisco, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
The Valkyries are the WNBA's first expansion franchise since 2008 and bring professional women's basketball to the Bay Area.
Dearica Hamby added 14 points and Rickea Jackson scored 13 for the Sparks, who won in their first game under new coach Lynne Roberts.
Kayla Thornton scored the first basket in Valkyries history on the team’s first possession and there were quickly chants of “G-S-V! G-S-V!”
Tiffany Hayes scored 19 points to lead Golden State, Temi Fagbenle added 15 and Julie Vanloo scored 14.
After winning two titles in her final three seasons in Las Vegas, Plum was traded in the offseason to Los Angeles in a three-team deal that also included Seattle.
She made an impressive debut with her new team with the second-highest scoring game of her career, taking over on the offensive end in the third quarter as Los Angeles built its lead to 15 points.
But three straight 3-pointers from Vanloo cut the deficit back to six points and brought some of the biggest cheers to the crowd as the Valkyries kept it close into the fourth quarter.
Sparks guard Rae Burrell had to be carried off the court late in the first quarter after she injured herself when fouling Carla Leite on a 3-point attempt. Burrell was down for a few minutes with an injury to her right leg.
Los Angeles hosts Minnesota on Sunday in its home opener. The Valkyries host Washington next Wednesday.
AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball
Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton, bottom right, shoots against Los Angeles Sparks forward Dearica Hamby, left, and guard Sarah Ashlee Barker during the first half of a WNBA basketball game in San Francisco, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Los Angeles Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts, foreground, reacts after a score by Golden State Valkyries' Julie Vanloo during the first half of a WNBA basketball game in San Francisco, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum, middle, shoots against Golden State Valkyries guard Julie Vanloo (35) and guard Tiffany Hayes (15) during the second half of a WNBA basketball game in San Francisco, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
The Golden State Valkyries are introduced for a WNBA game against the Los Angeles Sparks at Chase Center in San Francisco, Friday, May 16, 2025. (Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum (10) celebrates after scoring against the Golden State Valkyries during the second half of a WNBA basketball game in San Francisco, Friday, May 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of nurses in three hospital systems in New York City went on strike Monday after negotiations through the weekend failed to yield breakthroughs in their contract disputes.
The strike was taking place at The Mount Sinai Hospital and two of its satellite campuses, with picket lines forming. The other affected hospitals are NewYork-Presbyterian and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.
About 15,000 nurses are involved in the strike, according to New York State Nurses Association.
“After months of bargaining, management refused to make meaningful progress on core issues that nurses have been fighting for: safe staffing for patients, healthcare benefits for nurses, and workplace violence protections,” the union said in a statement issued Monday. “Management at the richest hospitals in New York City are threatening to discontinue or radically cut nurses’ health benefits.”
The strike, which comes during a severe flu season, could potentially force the hospitals to transfer patients, cancel procedures or divert ambulances. It could also put a strain on city hospitals not involved in the contract dispute, as patients avoid the medical centers hit by the strike.
The hospitals involved have been hiring temporary nurses to try and fill the labor gap during the walkout, and said in a statement during negotiations that they would “do whatever is necessary to minimize disruptions.” Montefiore posted a message assuring patients that appointments would be kept.
“NYSNA’s leaders continue to double down on their $3.6 billion in reckless demands, including nearly 40% wage increases, and their troubling proposals like demanding that a nurse not be terminated if found to be compromised by drugs or alcohol while on the job," Montefiore spokesperson Joe Solmonese said Monday after the strike had started. "We remain resolute in our commitment to providing safe and seamless care, regardless of how long the strike may last.”
New York-Presbyterian accused the union of staging a strike to “create disruption,” but said in a statement that it has taken steps to ensure patients receive the care they need.
"We’re ready to keep negotiating a fair and reasonable contract that reflects our respect for our nurses and the critical role they play, and also recognizes the challenging realities of today’s healthcare environment,” the statement said.
The work stoppage is occurring at multiple hospitals simultaneously, but each medical center is negotiating with the union independently. Several other hospitals across the city and in its suburbs reached deals in recent days to avert a possible strike.
The nurses’ demands vary by hospital, but the major issues include staffing levels and workplace safety. The union says hospitals have given nurses unmanageable workloads.
Nurses also want better security measures in the workplace, citing incidents like a an incident last week, when a man with a sharp object barricaded himself in a Brooklyn hospital room and was then killed by police.
The union also wants limitations on hospitals’ use of artificial intelligence.
The nonprofit hospitals involved in the negotiations say they’ve been working to improve staffing levels, but say the union’s demands overall are too costly.
Nurses voted to authorize the strike last month.
Both New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani had expressed concern about the possibility of the strike. As the strike deadline neared, Mamdani urged both sides to keep negotiating and reach a deal that “both honors our nurses and keeps our hospitals open.”
“Our nurses kept this city alive through its hardest moments. Their value is not negotiable,” Mamdani said.
State Attorney General Letitia James voiced similar support, saying "nurses put their lives on the line every day to keep New Yorkers healthy. They should never be forced to choose between their own safety, their patients’ well-being, and a fair contract.”
The last major nursing strike in the city was only three years ago, in 2023. That work stoppage, at Mount Sinai and Montefiore, was short, lasting three days. It resulted in a deal raising pay 19% over three years at those hospitals.
It also led to promised staffing improvements, though the union and hospitals now disagree about how much progress has been made, or whether the hospitals are retreating from staffing guarantees.
Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
FILE - A medical worker transports a patient at Mount Sinai Hospital, April 1, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)
