Date, Time, and Location: Friday, August 7th, 6:30pm, American Airlines Center (Dallas)
Broadcast Information: ION (full national), WNBA League Pass (streaming)
The Golden State Valkyries head out on the road for two games, starting on Friday by visiting the Dallas Wings. Both teams are in the playoff spots right now and in a battle for seeding. They will meet one more time in San Francisco too after the Valkyries won the last meeting there. The game will be in Dallas in the arena that the Wings will call home next year instead of their regular venue in Arlington. Like other Friday games, ION will carry the broadcast and it will not share the timeslot with another game, but is scheduled to be slightly earlier than most second games in the doubleheader due to being in the Central timezone and it is not clear if there will be enough buffer if either preceding game runs long.
The Valkyries
There was another clean initial injury report for the Valkyries for this game, which should continue to give them flexibility again within their main rotation. Dallas often plays two taller players on the court at the same time, but they do not necessarily try to generate offense from the low post, so there could be heavy smallball lineup usage as was the case when the teams last played. The Wings also do not have the tallest backcourt when they turn to their bench, so the Valkyries also have some flexibility in playing smaller guard lineups at times too.
The Opposition
The Wings have made one roster move since visiting the Valkyries, signing Haley Jones to their other developmental player spot. Their other developmental player is Costanza Verona, who is set to depart the team after this game to join Italy’s World Cup preparations, a group that Cecilia Zandalasini is planning on joining later in the month. Both of them have only combined to make one appearance this season. Forward Alysha Clark is the only player on the injury, listed as questionable with a back injury as she also missed the last game. Li Yueru did not play at all in San Francisco, but has worked her way into consistent minutes at center recently.
Dallas last played on Wednesday in Washington and looked to be on their way to picking up a big win only to fade late and leave with a loss. They are 1-3 overall since the All Star break with another loss to the Mystics as well as a home loss to Atlanta, their other games against teams currently in playoff places. They are still in a difficult stretch in their schedule with two games against the Valkyries and five of the next six games against that playoff group, but then play their last seven games against teams from the other half of the standings. The last loss has them sitting in a group of teams with twelve losses now.
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