Date, Time, Location: Sunday, August 24th, 1:00pm PDT, College Park Center (Arlington)
Broadcast Information: KPYX (Bay Area) and KMAX (Sacramento area), various local affiliates (opposition broadcast in many Texas markets), WNBA League Pass (outside local markets), Audacy (radio)
The Golden State Valkyries have a quick turnaround on Sunday for a game against the Dallas Wings. Their opponents are not in playoff contention anymore, but have played other teams tough in recent weeks as they have split the season series with the Valkyries so far. Which players will be available continues to be the main question for Golden State, but the team does get a long rest after this game before a key stretch of games at home.
The Valkyries
There will be more news to wait for on the player front before the game as both Tiffany Hayes and Carla Leite reportedly avoided serious injuries yesterday and could return already. Cecilia Zandalasini did not travel with the team so she will definitely not play. Monique Billings is also getting closer to a return, but she is still out so Kaila Charles is able to face her former team. Kate Martin was the other active player who did not play in the previous meeting.
The Opposition
Dallas enters the game having lost four times in a row, getting blown out at home by the Seattle Storm on Friday. They have been a big test for teams trying to make the playoffs, including Wednesday’s narrow loss after Paige Bueckers had a rookie record 44 points. The Wings are also dealing with injuries and had four players missing in their last game, including three starters from the time when they visited San Francisco. Li Yueru is injured for the rest of the season, joining Tyasha Harris, as they have resorted to smallball lineups without her at center. Arike Ogunbowale will definitely miss the game and could very well be shut down for the season. JJ Quinerly has also been ruled out while another rookie guard, Aziaha James, is listed on the injury report while being expected to play.
Maddy Siegrist has been starting after returning from an injury that kept her from playing in either game against the Valkyries. Myisha Hines-Allen also missed the last game, but has returned to be the backup center. The team has made other moves since the game in San Francisco, signing Grace Berger for the rest of the season as she has moved into the starting lineup. DiJonai Carrington was traded to the Minnesota Lynx with Diamond Miller moving over to the Wings as they hope that the young forward will show more of her early promise with more playing time. Their last move was to bring in California native Amy Okonkwo, who played a season at USC right before Temi Fagbenle went there before finishing her college career at TCU. Dallas signed her for training camp back in 2021 as she has played well overseas and with Nigeria’s national team, but she did not make the team, also getting waived in training camp in Connecticut this year. The Wings needed another frontcourt player with another long-term injury so they signed her and she was able to make her debut immediately yesterday.
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