Game Preview: Regular Season Game 4 vs New York Liberty

Date, Time, Location: Tuesday, May 25th, 4:00pm PDT, Barclays Center (Brooklyn)
Broadcast Information: KPIX (Bay Area), KMAX (Sacramento), WWOR and FOX Local and Liberty Live (away team local market), WNBA League Pass (outside local markets), Audacy (radio)

The Golden State Valkyries are on a winning streak after starting their road trip with a victory in Los Angeles. They face much more difficult opposition for the other two games on this away swing though when they visit the defending champion New York Liberty on both Tuesday and Thursday. The league has scheduled back-to-back games at the same location like this to minimize travel over the course of the season, but both games will be tough tests early in the season as the Valkyries continue to build more team chemistry.

The Valkyries

Golden State managed to get the win on Friday despite missing two players who suffered injuries in Wednesday’s win. Health could be a key factor in keeping up with the Liberty, especially when it comes to having the depth to contend with their height advantage in most positions. Cecilia Zandalasini is out again, but both Tiffany Hayes and Monique Billings could return. Kayla Thornton will face her former team after the Valkyries selected her in the expansion draft.

The Opposition

The defending champions are still relying on their star trio of Bay Area-native Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart, and Jonquel Jones, both of whom were brought in to be the final pieces to take them from rebuilding to contention. Betnijah Laney-Hamilton suffered an injury while playing in the offseason that will keep her out all of this season, but Leonie Fiebich, who emerged for them in the playoffs, has kept her spot in the starting lineup. To fill the other position, the team brought in another star via trade, getting Natasha Cloud from the Connecticut Sun.

There are some returnees from the championship squad with Nyara Sabally continuing to be the backup center and Kennedy Burke giving the additional depth at forward. Marquesha Davis and Jaylyn Sherrod, who were both rookies last year, are continuing to develop their roles for the team this year. Rebekah Gardner, who the team traded for last year despite knowing that she would miss the season, has returned to full health on the wing. After missing last season to prepare for the Olympics, Marine Johannes has returned to try to fill the role of bench scoring. The team signed Isabelle Harrison in free agency to be a backup post player and complete the roster.

The Liberty have not slowed down to start the season, winning all three of the games that they have played so far. After their championship ceremony on opening weekend, they defeated the Las Vegas Aces and then also had a big win at the Chicago Sky. They are coming off a narrow win over the Indiana Fever and that game saw Nyara Sabally miss out due to an injury and Leonie Fiebich leave early after getting hurt. Fiebich is set to return, but Sabally could also miss this game.