Date, Time, and Location: Friday. May 22nd, 4:30pm, Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indianapolis)
Broadcast Information: ION (shared window), WNBA League Pass (streaming)
The Golden State Valkyries finish their two games in two days road trip on Friday against the Indiana Fever. While there was another back-to-back last year with significant travel, this is also a trip of substantial distance. The Valkyries won their game at Indiana last year as the designated opponent for camp day and also defeated the Fever twice at home. Like other Friday games, ION will have the broadcast. This game will be the main game, but it is sharing the timeslot with Dallas-Atlanta so some local affiliates will be showing that matchup instead. Some providers show all of the ION games while streaming will be on League Pass.
The Valkyries
Golden State got through the game against New York without any obvious injuries, so player availability is expected to be the same for this game with the usual decision about whether to activate developmental players needing to be made. The Valkyries could face two former players in this game as Monique Billings was Indiana’s big free agent signing to be their other frontcourt starter. Bree Hall is one of their developmental players as well.
The Opposition
Indiana kept most of their core together as they try to make a big step towards championship contention having battled shorthanded at the end of last season. Kelsey Mitchell signed a one-year maximum contract after receiving their core designation and Aliyah Boston was able to renegotiate her contract upwards as part of a new CBA provision that included a three-year extension at the absolute maximum. Caitlin Clark will also be looking to renegotiate her contract next season while wings Lexie Hull and Sophie Cunningham returned. Veteran post player Damiris Dantas also came back while Makayla Timpson remains on her rookie deal.
The Fever brought in more veterans in free agency as Myisha Hines-Allen added to their post depth while Tyasha Harris and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough gave them more guard options with the latter having just been waived. They had three draft picks and two of them are still on the roster as Raven Johnson was picked 10th to provide defense at guard and Justine Pissott was picked 25th and then signed directly to a developmental player spot to contribute shooting in the frontcourt long-term. Indiana is 3-2 and has won their last two games against Seattle and Portland. The last win came without Caitlin Clark and she in the only player on the injury report for now, but she is listed as probable for the game.
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