The Golden State Valkyries returned home on Monday to face the Connecticut Sun. They had an early lead on the visitors, who have been struggling to start the season. Even though the game was close at the end of the first quarter, the Valkyries did control the rest of the game on their way to a 97-70 win. All active players were able to appear and the players in the rotation are well-rested for the rest of this homestand with two big games up next.
The Lineup
The big news before the game was that both Cecilia Zandalasini and Juste Jocyte would be available for the game. Golden State opted to set Ashten Prechtel as active for this game, but not Miela Sowah, still leaving the team with an opportunity to field more than twelve players, which would not have been possible under the old rules. There were no changes to the starting lineup again while Connecticut started Charlisse Leger-Walker, Gianna Kneepkens, Diamond Miller, Kennedy Burke, and Aaliyah Edwards. Olivia Nelson-Ododa was available, but Brittney Griner missed another game due to injury, leaving them with twelve players.
First Quarter
Golden State scored on the first possession of the game with a Gabby Williams layup and then Veronica Burton did the same on the next trip down the floor. Williams made a three-pointer next, but Connecticut was able to get to the free throw line for their first points. Kaila Charles got into the act, but the Sun made a three-pointer as the Valkyries went to their bench early with more players available. Williams connected beyond the arc as the Valkyries continued to lead while the Sun kept it close from the free throw line. Cecilia Zandalasini scored on her first shot of the game having entered to raucous applause after returning from her concussion. Williams made another basket to reach double-figures early.
Janelle Salaun had been fouled to send the game to the media timeout and she made one free throw as the teams alternated trips with Kaitlyn Chen making two. Salaun made another tough shot and Tiffany Hayes entered the game and made a layup, but the Sun were able to get points from their frontcourt. There were no more field goals from Golden State, but Laeticia Amihere made a free throw after rebounding and Hayes was able to hit a technical free throw after the Connecticut reaction to the foul. The Valkyries surrendered a three-point play in the final minute, but Kiah Stokes made one free throw for a 27-22 lead.
Second Quarter
The starters returned for the Valkyries as neither team scored early, but Veronica Burton made a three-pointer and then added a free throw when she was fouled before the ball was inbounded. Kaila Charles stretched the margin to double-digits for the first time with her own three-pointer as the quarter took an early pause for a replay review. Cecilia Zandalasini entered the game again during the stoppage and made a three-pointer on the first Golden State possession.
Connecticut went on a 7-0 run as the Valkyries failed to score for over four minutes in the middle of the quarter. The bench backcourt found the success from recent games again as Kaitlyn Chen was able to drive and find a shot that she wanted. Kayla Thornton made two free throws and then Tiffany Hayes and Chen alternated on successful drives for layups. Hayes made two free throws, allowing the Valkyries to close the half on a 10-0 run for the 47-30 lead.
Third Quarter
Kaila Charles opened the half with a three-pointer, but Connecticut was able to respond to keep the margin from getting bigger. That was only temporary as Veronica Burton made a layup and then Gabby Williams connected beyond the arc. The Sun made a pair of free throws, but the long-range shooting continued for the Valkyries with Thornton and Burton getting in the act. Williams made one more free throw as most of the starters took a seat for the rest of the night.
Laeticia Amihere made two free throws as the bench unit kept the lead up with Janelle Salaun also trying to get out of her shooting slump with a three-pointer. Ashlon Jackson got a three-pointer against the team that drafted her and made another one to keep the Valkyries from pushing the lead up further. Amihere had an impressive layup on a drive and Salaun made a free throw before a Hayes layup. Golden State committed a foul at the end of the quarter, but a replay review determined that the follow-through merited a technical free throw that Cecilia Zandalasini missed, leaving the lead at 73-48.
Fourth Quarter
Laeticia Amihere opened the quarter with consecutive baskets, but Connecticut responded after she could not convert a three-point play. Kaila Charles was the last starter to see any action, also missing the free throw after being fouled making a layup, but she scored again before the bench started being emptied. Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda saw her first action, grabbing a rebound and finding Janelle Salaun for a basket.
Juste Jocyte and Ashten Prechtel made their league debuts, getting big cheers when they entered. Jocyte got an inbounds play designed for her immediately and she nailed the jumpshot. Prechtel was able to get an open three-point look that she knocked down to send the crowd into a bigger frenzy even though Connecticut was scoring too. Kaitlyn Chen scored the next four points and then it was Jocyte’s turn to get open from long distance as she made that shot too. She was able to find Prechtel on a nice feed for the final Valkyries points before the Sun scored five more points for the final 97-70 margin.
Player of the Game
It was another good team effort and the margins involved meant that no player was really called upon to play a ton of minutes, but this award will go to Gabby Williams for this game. After the team had a slow start in the last game, they wanted to do better this time and her aggressiveness set the tone early in a night with consistent offensive production. Her scoring burst helped the Valkyries never trail and get the chance to make sure that players got their rest and other players could enter.
The Verdict
This was a game where the Valkyries knew that they had the advantage to get the win as long as they took care of business and even before the game was well in hand, it never looked like there was a chance that they would not win. While they will have to clean up some areas to get wins against stronger opponents, they were able to accomplish everything that they hoped for on the night. As a bonus, Cecilia Zandalasini was able to return and Juste Jocyte got to make her debut in a low-stakes situation as she looked ready to get more minutes quickly.
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