The Golden State Valkyries finished the busy stretch of their road trip on Friday when they visited the Connecticut Sun. It was another slow start for the team as the defense continued to keep them in the game while the offense took time to find its rhythm. They found more success in the second half and built on their lead, finally making it comfortable late for the 79-64. The team now gets a few more days of rest as they get ready for the last road game before getting home games.
The Lineup
As was expected, Gabby Williams was ruled out before the game, so Kaila Charles joined Veronica Burton, Cecilia Zandalasini, Kayla Thornton, and Kiah Stokes in the starting lineup. That left a rotation of nine players that resulted in some mixing and matching in addition to the typical starter and bench heavy lineups. Cecilia Zandalasini exited the game in the second half and did not return. The margin of the game meant that everyone available ended up playing. There was no change in the lineup for the Sun as they had no late player news. They activated Hailey Van Lith for the game, but no other developmental players were activated, meaning that Ashlon Jackson would not face the Valkyries this time.
First Quarter
Connecticut scored on their two possessions, but Kaila Charles was able to score the first points for the Valkyries at the free throw line after rejoining the starting lineup. The Sun made a three-pointer and another quick basket before Cecilia Zandalasini answered with a floater. Golden State continued to struggle on offense while giving up two more baskets before the media timeout.
Tiffany Hayes had gotten fouled before the stoppage and made one of the free throws. Laeticia Amihere broke the field goal drought and then got an open layup, but the Sun continued to have success on offense too. Hayes made the next layup and Janelle Salaun made her first three-point attempt. Veronica Burton made a free throw to trim the deficit to a single point only for Connecticut to make a pair. Kaitlyn Chen made the last layup of the quarter to leave the score at 19-17.
Second Quarter
Connecticut scored the first basket of the quarter, but Cecilia Zandalasini got the first Valkyries basket on an inbounds play. Janelle Salaun made one of her typical tough three-pointers to cut the deficit to a point again only for Golden State to miss some chances to take the lead. Kiah Stokes drew a foul that the Sun challenged, but the replay review did not rule in their favor.
Both teams had some empty possessions when action resumed before Kaila Charles scored to give the Valkyries the lead, but neither team scored before the second media timeout. Veronica Burton finally ended the drought for both teams with a good drive for a layup, but the Sun also got a basket. Charles helped Golden State get into favorable matchups and scored again and then it was Salaun’s turn to score on a driving layup. That ended up being the last points of the half, but the Valkyries went into the break leading 30-25.
Third Quarter
Neither team scored on their first possession, but Veronica Burton opened the scoring with another layup and then her steal set up a Kayla Thornton fast break layup. The Sun got their first points at the free throw line and then missed the free throw that would have completed a three-point play. Burton banked in a shot after being defended well, but Connecticut connected from beyond the arc. Kiah Stokes scored on a putback and made a three-pointer from the corner. More bench players entered and Kaitlyn Chen missed two free throws with the resulting rebound leading to a Sun three-point play. Tiffany Hayes found a path to a layup right before the media timeout.
Defense continued to rule, but Laeticia Amihere had an open lane for a baseline drive and layup that had Connecticut taking a timeout. They completed a three-point play when action resumed only for Hayes to answer immediately with a layup. She got to the free throw line after another Sun basket, making both shots. Connecticut scored again, but godd ball movement was able to generate an advantage on offense and Burton had a three-point play. She just beat the buzzer for another layup and made it a 54-44 lead at the end of the quarter.
Fourth Quarter
Neither team had success early in the frame, but Kaila Charles did open the scoring with a three-pointer from the corner and then Veronica Burton connected from the same spot for an early Sun timeout. Connecticut did get their first basket after the stoppage and got to the free throw line next. Kaitlyn Chen scored after setting up another layup on a drive and then did the same on the next possession. Janelle Salaun made a three-pointer to keep the lead growing and Chen made another layup before the Sun took a timeout.
Connecticut made a three-pointer that Salaun answered before they did it again. Veronica Burton banked in a shot before the shot clock expired and then stopped play with a transition take foul that allowed substitutions to be made with the Sun making the free throw. They cut the deficit with the benches playing, but Salaun made a pair of free throws to keep the margin healthy. Nadia Fingall made her first WNBA three-pointer from the corner. The Sun then got the last few points for the final 79-64 margin.
Player of the Game
The award for this game will go to Veronica Burton, who was relied on for more minutes with one starting backcourt player not available and one more not being able to finish the game. She took charge while having to take on extended playing time compared to recent games, contributing her usual playmaking and also calling her own number frequently to get to the basket for more points. Depending on whether the team gets to full health quickly, she will continue to need to take on the heavier minutes with three more games before the All Star Break.
The Verdict
Even though it was a game against the team at the bottom of the standings, the Valkyries knew that this would be a tough game after this busy stretch of games with travel included. The slow starts continue to be a concern with plenty of teams in the league who can punish them at the other end, but they found a way to get the job done and continue their winning streak. A few days with a game should give the team the opportunity to evaluate the road trip so far and prepare for a few more big games on the horizon.
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