Date, Time, Location: Thursday, June 5th, 7:00pm PDT, PHX Arena (Phoenix)
Broadcast Information: KPYX (Bay Area), KMAX (Sacramento), Arizona Family Sports and Merc+ (away team local market), Amazon Prime (streaming), Audacy (radio)
After three days without a game, the Golden State Valkyries hit the road again for a game against the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday. This game will also count towards the Commissioner’s Cup, where the Mercury are 1-1 in the Western Conference standings. With their opponents expected to be a strong playoff team later this season, this will be another big test for the Valkyries even though injuries are plaguing the hosts.
The Valkyries
After the last game, the main concern from a health perspective was Tiffany Hayes leaving the game early twice and not returning in the fourth quarter. Even if she is healthy again, playing in a facemask is always an adjustment and could also have an effect. The team has limited chances to play with their current roster before national team absences start piling up so another chance to see the full lineup would be a bonus.
The Opposition
Plenty has happened for the Phoenix Mercury since they faced the Valkyries in an exhibition game to close the preseason. The team was built to contend soon and has a respectable 5-3 record so far. The team has had some good wins and fought back in close games without any truly bad losses, falling to the Minnesota Lynx twice. Injury issues have definitely affected their attempt to join the upper tier of teams in the league though and they will be tougher later in the season as key players return.
Of the eleven players who faced the Valkyries in the preseason, only seven players are on the roster now. Monique Akoa Makani and Lexi Held missed that game, but have been key pieces in their backcourt early. Latvian wing Kitija Laksa, known for her long-range shooting, and Nigerian forward Murjanatu Musa are rookies who missed that game as they were finishing up seasons in Europe. With the injury report below, the Mercury currently only have nine players available for the game as long as Sami Whitcomb is able to play as expected.
Injuries have been the big story for the Mercury so far as star returnee Kahleah Copper is still recovering from surgery after getting hurt in the preseason opener. One of their few other returnees, center Natasha Mack, was only able to play in the preseason and is still out as well. Those two long-term injuries allowed Phoenix to sign Haley Jones, who has plenty of Northern California ties between her hometown of Santa Cruz and scholastic career at Archbishop Mitty and Stanford, to a hardship contract. Alyssa Thomas, one of their big offseason additions was next to get hurt and has also been ruled out for this game. The team also made a move this week, bringing back Megan McConnell after she did not make the initial roster in training camp, but suffered her own injury after playing less than thirteen minutes in their game on Tuesday and will not be available.
Leave a Reply