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Valkyries vs. Storm prediction: Golden State favored to win WNBA Opening Night matchup [5/8/2026]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Mac Douglass, Senior Editor
Get Golden State Valkyries vs Seattle Storm predictions for WNBA Friday.
The Seattle Storm and Golden State Valkyries are scheduled to meet in the WNBA at Climate Pledge Arena on Friday, starting at 10:00 PM ET.
Based on the latest simulation results, Dimers' advanced WNBA model predicts the Valkyries as the most likely winner of the Valkyries vs. Storm game.
The Storm, with stars such as Dominique Malonga, Natisha Hiedeman and Flau'jae Johnson, are set to take on the Valkyries, who feature Tiffany Hayes, Gabby Williams and Veronica Burton.
This article offers an expanded analysis of Friday's matchup, including best bets and player prop picks.
Valkyries vs. Storm prediction: Who will win and cover?
Using innovative machine learning and data, we have simulated the result of Friday's WNBA matchup between the Valkyries and Storm, forming part of our WNBA predictions coverage.
Our leading predictive model gives the Valkyries a 72% chance of defeating the Storm.
According to our model, the Valkyries (-5.5) have a 54% chance of covering the spread, while the over/under total of 156.5 points has a 62% chance of going over.
Valkyries vs. Storm odds
We have researched the best WNBA odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Valkyries | Storm |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | -5.5 (-102) | +5.5 (-110) |
| Moneyline | -215 | +185 |
| Total | o156.5 (-108) | u156.5 (-110) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Valkyries vs. Storm picks and best bet
After matching our predictions against the best current odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
| Bet Type | Pick | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Valkyries -5.5 | -102 |
| Moneyline | Valkyries | -215 |
| Total | Over 156.5 | -108 |
According to our best WNBA bets, the top play to make on this game is Over 156.5 total points.
These picks are based on our probabilities matched against the implied probabilities from the sportsbook odds.
Valkyries vs. Storm player props
Looking for Golden State vs. Seattle WNBA player props? We use the best information available to project how each team's leading players will perform at Climate Pledge Arena.
Tiffany Hayes is expected to lead the Valkyries with 13 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists, while Dominique Malonga is projected to have 15 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assists for the Storm.
Check out our WNBA player projections for a full range of projected box scores, including points, assists, rebounds and today's WNBA first basket picks.
Valkyries prediction
Our model's projected player stats for the Valkyries are:
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | 3PM | DFS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tiffany Hayes | 13 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 28 |
| Gabby Williams | 12 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 28 |
| Veronica Burton | 11 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 32 |
| Janelle Salaun | 10 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 20 |
| Kayla Thornton | 9 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 20 |
Storm prediction
Projected points, rebounds, assists and three-pointers made for the Storm:
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | 3PM | DFS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D. Malonga | 15 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 36 |
| N. Hiedeman | 14 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 28 |
| F. Johnson | 11 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 23 |
| Jade Melbourne | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 13 |
| Stefanie Dolson | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 14 |
Valkyries vs. Storm game-day updates and essential details
Friday's action between the Storm and Valkyries at Climate Pledge Arena is scheduled to start at 10:00 PM ET.
- Who: Golden State Valkyries vs. Seattle Storm
- Date: Friday, May 8, 2026
- Time: 10:00 PM ET/7:00PM PT
- Venue: Climate Pledge Arena
Conclusion
We predict the Valkyries, with a 72% win probability, will likely beat the Storm in Friday's WNBA matchup.
Additional tools and information for betting safely can be found in our Responsible Gambling hub.
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Mac Douglass specializes in NFL previews for the NFC South and NFC East, MLB best bets, Formula 1 race previews, and professional tennis insights. Combining predictive simulations and data-driven sports analysis, Mac provides in-depth content to elevate the betting experience for sports fans.
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