The accidents have piled up for the Golden State Valkyries.
Heart Monique Billings has been dominated out with an ankle sprain and will probably be reevaluated in three weeks, the staff introduced on Friday.
In a corresponding transfer, the Valkyries have signed guard Kaila Charles to a seven-day hardship contract. Charles averaged 5.3 factors and 4 rebounds for the Dallas Wings this season.
Billings began eight video games for the Valkyries, averaging 7.5 factors and 4.7 rebounds per recreation. She’s been within the midst of a profession capturing yr, making 49.6% of her pictures from the sector.
Monique Billings #25 of the Golden State Valkyries celebrates a play in opposition to the Las Vegas Aces in the course of the first half at Chase Heart on June 07, 2025 in San Francisco, California. (Picture by Thien-An Truong/Getty Photographs)
The previous UCLA standout missed the Valkyries’ recreation in opposition to the Dallas Wings final Friday with a proper ankle harm and Sunday’s contest vs. the Connecticut Solar with a left ankle harm. Billings returned to the beginning lineup on Tuesday in opposition to the Atlanta Dream, however re-aggravated her left ankle harm within the second quarter and didn’t return.
Billings’ harm is an enormous blow to the Valkyries who’re in the course of one among their most necessary stretches of the season. Golden State already misplaced All-Star Kayla Thornton to a season-ending knee harm and didn’t have sharpshooter Cecilia Zandalasini for Thursday’s recreation in opposition to the Washington Mystics.
French middle Iliana Rupert figures to see extra time at middle, rotating with starter Temi Fágbénlé. Coach Natalie Nakase has experimented with taking part in two facilities in her beginning lineup for the final two video games and will use that technique going ahead.
Charles had her greatest recreation in opposition to the Valkyries earlier this season. In Golden State’s 80-71 loss to the Wings on June 17, Charles performed a season-high 24 minutes and scored 10 factors, grabbed 5 rebounds and dished out 4 assists.
The Valkyries are 13-13 and could be the final staff within the playoffs if the postseason began in the present day. Golden State will end their street journey with a video games in opposition to the Chicago Sky in the present day and the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday.
Initially Printed: August 1, 2025 at 9:14 AM PDT
