Date, Time, and Location: Friday, May 8th, 7:00pm, Climate Pledge Arena (Seattle)
Broadcast Information: ION (full national), WNBA League Pass (Streaming)
The Golden State Valkyries start the regular season on Friday when they face the Seattle Storm on the road. The two teams meet again having played a preseason game against each other, but the lineups will not be the same this time. When the teams met in Seattle met last season, the Valkyries lost twice including a critical late season game for playoff seeding, but they did win both games in San Francisco. With the Storm expected to take a step back after losing players, this is a big opportunity for the Valkyries to set the tone for their season with an early win. As with other Friday games, ION will carry the broadcast and there are no other games during that time so all affiliates nationwide should be showing the game.
The Valkyries
Golden State will have ten out of twelve players on their main roster available, but could raise that to eleven by making Miela Sowah active for this game, counting against the developmental player limit. Iliana Rupert’s spot will not be able to be filled yet while Juste Jocyte is busy with the Spanish league semifinals. Gabby Williams will be able to play against her former team after just reporting prior to the preseason game and Janelle Salaun, Cecilia Zandalasini, and Kaila Charles are with the team now after not being with the team yet for the preseason game.
The Opposition
Seattle also made their moves to getting down to a final roster, meaning that Jaelyn Brown, Rennia Davis, and Elle Ladine are no longer with the team after seeing time in that preseason game. Beatrice Mompremier and Jalyn Brown were the other two players on the roster at that point who are now free agents. Taina Mair was waived, but cleared that process and returned to the team as a developmental player and the team announced plans to not make her active for this game.
Natisha Hiedeman missed that first preseason game, but was able to play in their second preseason game as she slotted into that starting point guard spot after being their key offseason free agent signing. Jordan Horston, who was still recovering from a long-term injury, is set to be available after missing the preseason. Katie Lou Samuelson and Ezi Magbegor both remain out with injuries though. Awa Fam will be playing against Juste Jocyte on Sunday with the player on the losing team being able to join their team after that game.
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