The Golden State Valkyries finished a tough back-to-back on Friday with a trip to Indiana. It looked like a potential disaster when they fell behind quickly, but they battled to a lead at halftime. The game shifted after the break with the Fever grabbing the lead on their way to a 90-82 win. It was a tough result after the team had so many bright moments, but a split was a reasonable return with the schedule.
The Lineup
There were no player changes for the Valkyries from the last game so the same lineup of Veronica Burton, Kaila Charles, Gabby Williams, Kayla Thornton, and Kiah Stokes started. Neither Miela Sowah nor Ashten Prechtel were set as active for this game. Indiana did fill their last roster spot before the game, bringing in forward Grace VanSlooten after she had recently cleared waivers upon being let go by Seattle. Caitlin Clark was available for Indiana as she returned to the starting lineup alongside former Valkyrie Monique Billings.
First Quarter
Indiana scored a basket on their first two possessions and then added a three-pointer to force an early timeout. Veronica Burton finally got the Valkyries on the board with a three-pointer and then Kayla Thornton scored on the next possession. Kiah Stokes tied the score as the Fever went to the bench early, but Monique Billings responded against her former team. Thornton gave the Valkyries their first lead with a three-pointer, but they could not secure a rebound, letting the Fever score again. Tiffany Hayes joined the group coming off the bench and scored on a drive to the basket before the media timeout.
The Fever scored when play resumed, but Hayes drove again and completed a three-point play after being fouled on the layup. Indiana tied the score, but Laeticia Amihere battled in the paint and drew a foul only to miss both free throws. Golden State missed another chance to take the lead, letting the Fever score baskets on consecutive possessions before the final minute. The Valkyries got a Kaitlyn Chen layup and three-point play to trail 19-18 at the end of the quarter.
Second Quarter
Tiffany Hayes found the path to the basket again to start this quarter with a layup, but Indiana responded immediately. Hayes struck again with a three-pointer and then Kaitlyn Chen made another nifty layup. More defense had the Valkyries running out in transition and Gabby Williams made a pair of free throws to continue the run. Williams was next to find success on a drive, forcing a Fever timeout. The lack of action was a little bit longer than expected as Indiana immediately needed a replay challenge to get the ball back after a missed out of bounds call.
When play resumed, each team made a pair of free throws after failed block attempts with Kayla Thornton getting fouled for the Valkyries. Indiana scored again, but Veronica Burton kept the margin the same. Golden State’s attempts to guard the post resulted a defensive three-seconds violation that gave the Fever a free throw and then they broke their drought beyond the arc. The Valkyries tried to answer, but missed before Laeticia Amihere secured the rebound and the putback. Indiana connected again beyond the arc to make it a one-possession game before Burton attacked on offense for the layup. Chen extended the lead again, but the Fever answered only to see Chen later convert another tough shot. Indiana challenged Golden State’s defense again to generate another three-pointer, but Chen answered before the half for a 44-37 lead.
Third Quarter
Neither team had success early in the half, but Indiana opened the scoring with a three-pointer and then the Valkyries got their first point when a review resulted in a technical foul with Kayla Thornton making the free throw. Indiana scored again to make it a one-possession game and then made it even closer with two free throws. Tiffany Hayes made the first field goal with a three-pointer over Monique Billings, but the defense sent the Fever to the foul line again for another point and then Caitlin Clark’s extremely long-range three-pointer tied the score and led to a Valkyries timeout.
Kaitlyn Chen was left completely open in the corner after the timeout and made the three-pointer, but the early fouls sent the Fever back to the free throw line for two more points. Chen responded with a free throw of her own only to see the Fever take the lead with a three-point play. The fouls continued with Kaila Charles making a pair of free throws before a defensive breakdown got Indiana another basket. Golden State won a replay challenge to retain possession, but could not capitalize, sending the Fever back to the free throw line for another two points. Hayes was key in initiating late offense again with another basket only to see the Fever respond and keep their lead, extending it with a three-pointer. Williams made a tough shot and Janelle Salaun did too, but another three-pointer was surrendered and the teams exchanged free throws with Veronica Burton making one to leave the Valkyries trailing 66-61.
Fourth Quarter
Indiana scored on the first possession of the quarter and then scored again to cause an early Valkyries timeout. Tiffany Hayes scored immediately, but the Fever continue to pass their way around the Golden State defense for another three-pointer. Veronica Burton scored the first Valkyries points with two free throws and Kayla Thornton made the next basket to cause another timeout to be called. The Fever scored to push the lead back up, but Burton answered with a three-pointer, which they responded to immediately. Kaila Charles made two free throws, but the team could not keep their opponents off of the line at the other end. A shot clock violation finished a good defensive stand only for a foul on an offensive rebound attempt to result in more free throws. With the deficit going back to double-digits, Hayes was able to get fouled and sink both free throws. Burton was next with two free throws after an Indiana basket.
A long half continued with a replay review that led to a flagrant foul call, giving Burton two free throws after an argument about whether a free throw could be taken without the other team on the court yet. Kaitlyn Chen drove to the basket for another layup to make it closer, but the Valkyries committed another foul as their defense scrambled. Golden State missed a couple of good chances to make it closer as the Fever continued to make free throws with the game being extended. Janelle Salaun made two free throws for the final Valkyries points in a 92-80 loss.
Player of the Game
Bench performances were key to keeping the Valkyries in this game and this award will have to go to Tiffany Hayes for her contributions. Golden State found success when their guards could drive on their counterparts and Hayes spearheaded those efforts, attacking from her first moments in the game. She ended up being the leading scorer and showed what role she could play as the season rolls on and the team tries to figure out how the rotations and team depth should be balanced.
The Verdict
Finding a way to hold on to the halftime lead would have made this an incredible road trip, but Indiana’s offense was too explosive to contain forever as the Valkyries tried a number of combinations to stem the tide without success. The two games have shown that multiple players can have big games and it will continue to be important to find the right rotations for each matchup. Golden State returns home for their next four games, including getting the chance at revenge on the Fever.
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