The Golden State Valkyries played their lone preseason game for this season on Saturday when they hosted the Seattle Storm. Both teams were missing some of the players expected to play heavy minutes for them this season, but that gave players trying to secure roster spots plenty of opportunity to showcase what they can do. Seattle had the lead at halftime, but the Valkyries got good minutes from players who are not projected to be starters in the second half, getting the 78-76 win and energizing the crowd in the process.
Lineup
There were no changes to the expected player availability for the Valkyries so they started with a lineup of Veronica Burton, Tiffany Hayes, Kate Martin, Kayla Thornton, and Kiah Stokes. The other players to see action in the first half were the two returnees Laeiticia Amihere and Kaitlyn Chen as well as the two draft picks Ashlon Jackson and Marta Suarez. All of the starters except for Martin were rested in the second half, leaving at least five minutes of playing time for every available player on the night.
First Quarter
The Valkyries won the opening tip and Veronica Burton made a three-pointer on the opening possession for the quick lead. Their next shots beyond the arc did not connect, allowing the Storm to take the lead, but Tiffany Hayes made her first shot and restored the advantage. After a couple of misses, Kayla Thornton made a basket in her return to big cheers from the crowd. Veronica Burton made another three-pointer and a Kate Martin free throw extended the lead to five points.
After the media timeout, Ashlon Jackson was the first player to come off the bench for Golden State. Jade Melbourne made consecutive baskets to give the Storm the lead as Laeticia Amihere and Kaitlyn Chen were next to enter the game. Chen tied the game and Thornton scored again before a pair of Burton free throws. Amihere’s free throw finished a 7-0 run, but Seattle had a pair of baskets around an Amihere layup in the final minute to trail by three points as Marta Suarez also made her debut.
Second Quarter
Seattle draft pick Taina Mair opened the scoring in this quarter and Flau’jae Johnson made two baskets to start what would be a terrific period for her after a scoreless first quarter. Veronica Burton and Tiffany Hayes each restored the lead for the Valkyries, but more scoring from Johnson kept the Storm lead going even though Burton made her fourth three-pointer. That basket left Golden State trailing by a point, but the visitors closed the half on a 12-4 surge for a 42-33 lead with the Valkyries only getting a free throw from Kate Martin and a Kayla Thornton three-pointer.
Third Quarter
Kate Martin was the only starter to play in the second half and she opened the scoring with a three-pointer. Kaitlyn Chen, Ashlon Jackson, Marta Suarez, and Laeticia Amihere joined her in the lineup and baskets from Suarez and Chen sandwiched another long-distance shot from Martin for a 10-0 run. Seattle got on the board with a Dominique Malonga three-pointer, but Suarez answered. Cate Reese and Miela Sowah entered the game for the first time and Reese scored first with a pair of free throws. The game went back and forth as Chen scored the next three points. Mackenzie Holmes stretched the Storm lead to five points, but Sowah pulled up in transition for a three-pointer to leave the Valkyries trailing 56-54.
Fourth Quarter
Miela Sowah connected on three consecutive three-pointers in the first two minutes for a personal 12-0 run to give the Valkyries the lead back, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Dominique Malonga stopped the spurt, but Caroline Ducharme, who made her debut later in the third quarter, got the in the act with her own make from beyond the arc. Sowah struck again, this time with a basket right before the shot clock expired that temporarily left the referees confused before confirming the score counted.
Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda and Mariella Fasoula entered the game as the last available Valkyries to make their debuts. Rennia Davis entered the game for Seattle too and scored two quick baskets before Kaitlyn Chen scored twice with a Davis three-point play between them. More Storm free throws tied the game, but Fasoula made her first basket with a three-pointer assisted by Mwenentanda. Seattle tied the score again heading into the final minute, but Sowah secured a key offensive rebound and found Fasoula for a layup that restored the lead. Ashlon Jackson made one of two free throws with the Storm trying to extend the game and then San Francisco native Elle Ladine made one free throw to trim the final margin to 78-76.
Player of the Game
There were a number of good performances in this game from players who look ready for the season, particularly Veronica Burton, who looked sharp already in her only minutes of the game in the first half. This award goes to the player who tied with her in the scoring lead in Miela Sowah. Even though it was a preseason game, the home crowd was definitely looking for something to cheer for in the second half as Golden State faced a deficit. After a brief second half lead, the Valkyries trailed again, but Sowah made it a one-possession game to end the third quarter. Even though she missed the first shot of the fourth quarter, her three consecutive three-pointers seized the lead back and electrified the crowd before her ridiculous shot before the shot clock expired. Seattle certainly kept a closer eye on her for the rest of the game, but that gave her the chance to make the assist on the basket that gave them the lead for good.
Verdict
Not too much should be drawn from preseason results, especially with each team missing at least two projected starters. The Valkyries had more existing familiarity in their rotation along with having a returning coach so there was some expectation that they would dominate the first half of the game, which did not happen. Seattle having new players and a new coach did certainly contribute to their approach to the game and kept it competitive. The players fighting for roster spots with the Valkyries made their case late though and completed the comeback for the win. With no more preseason games this year, the team will now focus on integrating five more players into training camp and will need to start making decisions on which players to keep longer.
Leave a Reply