Date, Time, and Location: Sunday, June 28th, 4:00pm, Chase Center
Broadcast Information: ESPN, ESPN Deportes (Spanish language), Disney+ (streaming in addition to ESPN streaming)
The Golden State Valkyries face the New York Liberty on Sunday to end the homestand. They will get a break after the game with the Commissioner’s Cup final being played on Tuesday, but their opponents will have one eye on that game as the Eastern Conference representative. Both teams are tied in the standings right now with the Valkyries winning the first game between the teams. The game will only have national broadcasts on both ESPN and ESPN Deportes.
The Valkyries
There is one player on the initial injury report as Laeticia Amihere is listed as questionable with muscle spasms after she just broke into the rotation again. The Liberty have occasionally run extra tall lineups so having two players who can match up with opposing centers would be helpful in this game. Cecilia Zandalasini missed the first game between the teams and Juste Jocyte was not available yet.
The Opposition
Golden State will be facing a different Liberty group in this game. Leonie Fiebich and Raquel Carrera joined the team after finishing up the playoffs in Spain while Betnijah Laney-Hamilton and Sabrina Ionescu also missed the first matchup. New York made some other moves, including letting former Valkyrie Julie Vanloo go after no longer qualifying for a hardship, also replacing Alex Fowler with Anneli Maley in one of their developmental player spots.
The first meeting between the teams was during a period of struggles for the Liberty as they also lost the next two games. After that, they went on an eight-game winning streak to run through the Commissioner’s Cup group stage as well. They have lost three of their last four games though as this is the last game of their West Coast road trip, with their lone win being a rather impressive one at Las Vegas. They lost to Seattle in their last game on Wednesday, but rested Breanna Stewart. Satou Sabally also did not play and she is set to miss this game as well due to being in concussion protocol. It is a short turnaround for them in the Commissioner’s Cup, but this regular season game has suddenly taken on more meaning for them after their recent struggles.
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