Wholesome gamers and wins have gotten more durable and more durable to come back by for the Valkyries because the season enters its ultimate section.
Golden State dropped its third consecutive recreation when the visiting staff fell to Phoenix 81-72 on Friday night time.
Veteran guard Tiffany Hayes, who made her return after resting in opposition to Phoenix within the Bay Space on Tuesday, left the sport with an harm with 7:17 to go within the third quarter.
Hayes collided with Mercury guard Kahleah Copper after she closed out on a cross meant for Copper. Hayes crumped to the bottom and later went again to the locker room.
Rookie guard Carla Leite additionally injured her ankle in the identical quarter, and though she tried to play via it, finally was pulled with 8:20 within the fourth quarter.
Coach Natalie Nakase stated each had been in good spirits after the sport.
“She was smiling, and I’ll have to wait to see from our medical staff what the situation is,” Nakase stated of Hayes, including about Leite. “She something was sore with her foot, but she said she’s good.”
With their veteran chief knocked out, the Valkyries tumbled again to .500 with an 18-18 report and into the final playoff spot because the No. 8 seed after dropping the rematch to the Mercury, who beat Golden State within the Bay Space on Tuesday.
The Valkyries stored it shut for some time, although. Golden State trailed 41-31 at halftime, and a burst within the third reduce the deficit to 50-47 with a little bit over 4 minutes remaining within the quarter.
One of many few vibrant spots for the Valkyries was rookie wing Janelle Salaun, who was requested to tackle extra of a scoring function with Cecilia Zandalasini staying at dwelling whereas nursing a calf harm.
Salaun scored 15 on a wide range of drives, contested finishes and a few comfortable mid-range jumpers. Coming off a 24-point, 14-assist masterclass on Tuesday, Veronica Burton put up a stable 11 factors and eight assists for the Valkyries.
Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas stuffed the stat sheet with an 13-point, 12-rebound, 16-assist effort, her sixth triple-double of the season.
“We need to be better on defense,” Salaun stated. “Sometimes, we make shots, sometimes we do not. But I think we need to be more connected on defense.”
Golden State will play at Dallas on Sunday. ”
Makoa Akani will get the final giggle
After being the subject of a lot dialog following her soccer-esque foul on Veronica Burton, the rookie out of France confirmed that she was greater than only a defender in opposition to Golden State.
She made 6 of 9 photographs and scored 18 factors, 11 within the second quarter, spacing the ground for her more-decorated teammates in Thomas and Co. One in all her fastbreak layups with two minutes remaining on the third quarter clock pushed the Phoenix result in 62-49 and compelled Nakase to name timeout.
As a staff, the Mercury peppered the Valkyries from the perimeter and made 14 of 32 from 3-point land, in comparison with simply 8 of 31 for Golden State.
Lengthy-range ineptitude, fastbreak success
The Valkyries shot 3 of 15 from the 3-point line within the first half, forcing up photographs resulting from their lack of ability to interrupt down the compact Suns protection. As an alternative of continuous to throw up bricks from lengthy vary, Nakase’s Valkyries appeared to put an emphasis on pushing the tempo.
Although the staff solely had 14 fastbreak factors in response to the official field rating, Golden State’s willingness to run and play in semi-transition allowed the guests to create open seems. Salaun broke free for a few fastbreak layups, as did Hayes within the second quarter after a Mercury turnover.
Rupert returns
Each Hayes (relaxation) and Rupert (concussion) had been again within the beginning lineup after lacking Tuesday’s recreation at Chase Heart.
Although shutting down Thomas is unattainable – in any case, Thomas put up a triple double – Rupert nonetheless had her moments in opposition to the MVP candidate.
The middle pulled off a pleasant block on a Thomas fastbreak halfway via the second quarter, and some minutes later, compelled a miss with a vertical contest. She ended the sport with 9 factors, 5 rebounds and two blocks.
Initially Printed: August 22, 2025 at 8:19 PM PDT
