Valkyries reserve Janelle Salaün wins Sixth Player of the Year after big year off the bench

Golden State Valkyries forward Janelle Salaün was named the Sixth Player of the Year, the WNBA announced on Sunday. The electorate was unanimous, giving Salaün all 74 votes. 

Salaün, 25, wasn’t just the player with the most impact off the bench this year, the second-year player had one of the best second-unit seasons in league history. She led all reserves in bench scoring with 12.7 points per game, a career high. Her 509 regular-season points are the most by any bench player in league history. She made 93 3-pointers and had 27 games with at least 10 points, both figures also setting league records for a bench player. 

The Valkyries showered Salaün with flowers and a celebration in the hours before they tipped off the semifinal series against the Las Vegas Aces.

“Ja is a killer,” head coach Natalie Nakase said. “She’s one of the most competitive people that I know. Ultra competitive, stays calm, wants big moments. I think she thrives in big moments.”

In her second year with the Valkyries, Salaün accepted a reserve role having started most games for Golden State in 2025. In her new role, Salaün led the league’s best bench. That unit, featuring Tiffany Hayes, Kaitlyn Chen and Kaila Charles formed one of Golden State’s strong suits while securing the No. 2 seed in the WNBA playoffs.

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This article originally published at Valkyries reserve Janelle Salaün wins Sixth Player of the Year after big year off the bench.