Game Preview: Regular Season Game 2 vs Washington Mystics

Date, Time, Location: Wednesday, May 21st, 7:00pm PDT, Chase Center
Broadcast Information: KPYX (Bay Area), KMAX (Sacramento), Monumental Sports Network (opponent’s local broadcast), WNBA League Pass (outside local area), KGMZ (radio), WTEM (opponent’s radio)

The Golden State Valkyries return to action on Wednesday, hosting the Washington Mystics for their second game of the season. Washington was expected to be rebuilding this season, having made coaching and front office changes while trading away some of their more experienced players. Instead, the Mystics have won their first two games and will have momentum against a Valkyries team looking for a first win.

The Valkyries

Janelle Salaun will be available to make her WNBA debut. Cecilia Zandalasini will definitely miss the game, but Stephanie Talbot may recover in time to play, which would be a big boost to the rotation. Kayla Thornton started her WNBA career with Washington, getting waived in training camp in 2014, but making her debut with them when she re-signed there in the 2015 season. Julie Vanloo was selected from the Mystics in the expansion draft process after she played her rookie season with them.

The Opposition

It was the end of an era in Washington this offseason with former coach Mike Thibault leaving his role as GM and his son Eric being removed as coach. They hired Jamila Wideman from an NBA role to be their GM and then hired Sydney Johnson as head coach after he had a year of WNBA assistant experience with Chicago. With three of the top six picks in this draft, they were expected to lean heavily on rookies and young players. Georgia Amoore suffered a season-ending injury, but Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen, and Lucy Olsen are getting their chances as rookies. Brittney Sykes and Stef Dolson are the team’s established veterans while Sug Sutton and Emily Engstler have some experience in the league and Sika Kone and Jade Melbourne are younger than some of this year’s rookies even though this is their third season.

The Mystics have already played two games, winning both, though neither opponent is expected to be a contender. They defeated the Atlanta Dream at home on Friday and then won on the road at Connecticut on Sunday. Sykes led them in scoring in both games, but both Citron and Iriafen have both started their careers well and Melbourne has provided extra scoring off the bench. Shakira Austin, who was expected to be a key part of their young core, missed the opener with an injury, but did play in their second game, leaving Amoore and promising young post player Aaliyah Edwards as the only two players not available for this game.