The Golden State Valkyries played for the second consecutive night when they hosted the Indiana Fever on Sunday, facing a direct competitor in the battle for the playoffs and seeding. Neither team had any positive injury news and both had their expected lineups available. The start of the game was delayed by clock malfunctions caused by a power outage in the arena earlier in the day. The backup clocks were deployed, but problems lingered and forced additional stoppages. Golden State was able to take a big first half lead with incredible three-point shooting, but Indiana kept fighting back, making it close in the fourth quarter before the Valkyries pushed the lead back out and won 75-63.
First Quarter
There were lots of disruptions early and neither team was able to score on the first few possessions with either extra locker room time or warmups helping. Kaila Charles opened the scoring for the Valkyries, but Odyssey Sims responded with a three-pointer for a brief Fever lead. Golden State was able to build a lead from beyond the arc as Janelle Salaun and Iliana Rupert each hit a pair. Charles missed her first long-range attempt, but got a steal and then made her next shot. Veronica Burton got on the board with a layup and then Rupert connected from distance again. Kate Martin came off the bench and hit a three-pointer to complete an incredible shooting quarter with a 25-14 lead.
Second Quarter
The Valkyries did not slow down at the start of this quarter, extending their run to 12-0 over the first three minutes. The hot shooting continued with Kate Martin and Janelle Salaun hitting the first two attempts beyond the arc. Salaun added a free throw and Temi Fagbenle scored before Aerial Powers opened the scoring for Indiana with a three-point play in her return to Chase Center. She hit two more free throws when she got a steal and Carla Leite was whistled for a clear path foul. Iliana Rupert ended a Golden State drought before it could reach two and a half minutes, but the Fever cut the deficit to single digits with an 8-0 run. Kaila Charles stopped the latest drought though and Laeticia Amihere drew an offensive foul by taking an elbow to her face, hitting the free throws after it was upgraded to a flagrant foul. Veronica Burton scored four points for a 44-32 lead at the break.
Third Quarter
The second half started nearly two hours after the scheduled tipoff due to all of the delays and Iliana Rupert opened the scoring. She was whistled for a Defensive 3 Second violation though and Kelsey Mitchell hit a three-pointer after sinking the free throw to get the Fever closer. Temi Fagbenle and Kaila Charles scored to keep the margin at double-digits, but Indiana was able to slow down the Valkyries offenses, holding them scoreless for four minutes. Golden State was able play their trademark defense too, although it was Laeticia Amihere’s turn to commit a Defensive 3 Second violation. Carla Leite completed a three-point play and Amihere made a layup and the lead was still 55-48 at the end of the quarter.
Fourth Quarter
Neither team was able to score early in this game until Aerial Powers put the Fever within five points. She made a mistake on the possession though, fouling Kate Martin on a made three-pointer that was upgraded to a flagrant foul when she ended up in her landing space. Martin made the free throw and then Iliana Rupert scored to make it a double-digit game again. The run went to 11-0 after Carla Leite scored and Rupert hit another three-pointer. Indiana made consecutive three-points, but Veronica Burton scored and Rupert had one last long-range make to make the lead comfortable. Leite made a difficult shot while being fouled and Temi Fagbenle scored the last Valkyries points. Powers led the Fever in scoring after more baskets down the stretch, but it was a 75-63 Golden State win.
The Verdict
All of the disruptions could have easily thrown the Valkyries off of their game, but the long first quarter did not stop them from putting on a shooting clinic. It was always going to be tough to keep up that torrid pace and the Fever did not let them get some of the quality looks that they had gotten early, but the Valkyries survived the big run and came away with the win. The victory moves them ever closer to clinching a playoff spot and also kept them sixth in the loss column ahead of three more home games on an every other day schedule this week.
Player of the Game
In a win defined by a big three-point shooting advantage, nobody made more of them than Iliana Rupert, who will earn the award for this game. She was by far the leading scorer for the Valkyries, nearly getting enough points for that honor in the first quarter alone as the team took a big lead with their hot shooting. She made some key baskets in the fourth quarter to help put the game out of reach. With so many matchups where the two-post lineup makes sense, she has been playing heavy minutes and helping defend in those matchups while continuing to stretch the floor with her shooting.
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