Date, Time, and Location: Sunday, September 27th, 6:00pm, Chase Center
Broadcast Information: USA/CNBC (full national)
The Golden State Valkyries start the playoffs on Sunday when they host the Dallas Wings. The best-of-three series continues on Wednesday on the road with any necessary deciding game being played back in San Francisco on Friday. The Valkyries swept the season series against a team that had a greatly improved season to get in the playoffs and earn the 7 seed, but star power is always dangerous in postseason matchups. Playoff games will be nationally broadcast with both USA and CNBC carrying this game.
The Valkyries
Golden State is once again entering this game with a clean initial injury report after having their entire roster available on Thursday. Given how much depth the team has utilized over the course of the season, it remains to be seen how much the Valkyries may tighten their rotation as most teams do for the postseason. There have been plenty of second-half adjustments to playing time based on how the game is going and seeing key players log heavy minutes late should be expected. Players on development contracts are not allowed to play in the postseason so it will just be the twelve players in full roster spots who are available.
The Opposition
After losing to the Valkyries in mid-August, the Wings finished the season with a 7-1 run, nearly achieving a perfect record, but falling to Phoenix on Monday before closing out the regular season against Seattle. Like the Valkyries, it has been a while since they have faced another playoff team. Dallas made two moves that affect their roster for this game since their last game in San Francisco, signing Latvian wing Kitija Laksa to fill the roster spot created once Azzi Fudd’s season-ending injury was confirmed. Haley Jones was also elevated to the regular roster in place of Sug Sutton, allowing the forward to be available for a homecoming game. The only player on their injury report is Alanna Smith, who left early in Australia’s first World Cup game and has not played since. It drops the Wings to three true post players and eliminates any possibility of the taller lineup that they had tried.
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