Date, Time, and Location: Thursday, September 24th, 7:00pm, Crypto.com Arena (Los Angeles)
Broadcast Information: KPYX (San Francisco Bay Area) and KMAX (Sacramento Area), Spectrum SportsNet (opposition’s home broadcast area), WNBA League Pass (streaming outside of teams’ broadcast areas)
The Golden State Valkyries finish the regular season Thursday by visiting the Los Angeles Sparks. They are trying to sweep the season series with them, having won there in early August as well. Playoff seeding will still be up for grabs at the start of the game so the team will have to treat it as a must-win game and should expect to need that victory to stay in their current position. The hosts are locked into their lottery situation, but still have the draft order to be determined on their final two picks and will also being looking to win in an emotional game for them. There will be no national broadcast with WNBA League Pass carrying the game outside of the areas are getting the local broadcasts.
The Valkyries
It is a clean initial injury report for the Valkyries after the tough overtime loss that saw several players log heavy minutes. All hands will be needed on deck to push for a win, which would lock the team into second place. Las Vegas plays at Phoenix at the same time and would jump Golden State in playoff seeding with a win and a Valkyries loss. Both teams will be pushing for the win knowing that they would get homecourt advantage in a possible postseason series between then. Potential first opponents for both teams will be decided either right before the games or shortly after tipoff.
The Opposition
Los Angeles is coming into this game having lost in Las Vegas on Tuesday, but had been 4-2 before that after a six-game losing streak that started with their last game against the Valkyries. Nneka Ogwumike has announced her retirement from the WNBA after this game so she will be motivated to put on one more great performance for the team where she spent nearly her entire career in the league and the rest of the squad will be looking to make it a special occasion. Los Angeles has had to deal with missing players in recent games, but they could be healthier for this game. Cameron Brink and Aaliyah Nye have been ruled out, but Dearica Hamby is now probable after missing recent games.
The Sparks have made a number of player moves since hosting Golden State the first time and quite a few of them involve former Valkyries. Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda and Shyanne Sellers are occupying their two developmental player spots right now. There could have been even more familiar names, but their contract offer to Ashlon Jackson was matched by Connecticut and they waived Kate Martin. In other moves, Tonie Morgan was upgraded to the full roster in place of Kiana Williams, Alissa Pili was released to eventually sign Sellars, and they claimed Aaliyah Nye’s contract off of waivers before letting Martin go.
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