Golden State Valkyries drop season opener in front of sellout crowd

• Every fan in attendance received a commemorative "First of a Lifetime" Valkyries T-Shirt.

Driving the news: While fans had a chance to see the first game, they also got to watch Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum put on a show to the tune of 37 points with 26 coming in the second half.

• Guard Tiffany Hayes led Golden State with 19 points while center Temi Fagbenle added 15.

Yes, but: Despite the fan support, the team has not been immune from criticism, and some of head coach Natalie Nakase's roster decisions have already faced scrutiny. Many fans were unhappy with the final roster when it was announced ahead of the season opener.

• Golden State waived third-round draft pick Kaitlyn Chen, an up-and-coming guard who won a national title with UConn this spring and immediately became a fan favorite as the first WNBA player of Taiwanese descent.
• They also cut forward Laeticia Amihere, who scored 20 points in 19 minutes during a preseason game against the Sparks.
• The decision came shortly after parting ways with second-round pick Shyanne Sellers.

Between the lines: First-round draft pick Justė Jocytė is not expected to join the team this year given her commitment to playing for Lithuania's national team at EuroBasket in June.

The intrigue: If the Valkyries continue to struggle this year, don't be surprised as expansion teams usually take a bit to find their footing.

• The Atlanta Dream, which were the last expansion team in the WNBA, went 4-30 in their first season in 2008.
• In the NFL, the Houston Texans went 4-12 in their first year in 2002 and the Seattle Kraken went 27-49 in their inaugural NHL season.

What's next: The Valkyries face off against the Washington Mystics at 7pm Wednesday at Chase Center.