The Golden State Valkyries finished a three-game homestand on Sunday by welcoming the New York Liberty. They were looking for a win ahead of a long road trip, getting most of the week off with the Commissioner’s Cup final game happening and the visitors participating. The Valkyries built the lead early, letting the Liberty get close late in the first half before a big run spanning halftime. Most of the rest of the game was spent with a comfortable margin as New York made it more respectable late, losing 76-67, making it another big win for Golden State.
The Lineup
There was no surprise injury news for either team and none of the developmental players were made active. Laeticia Amihere was available for the Valkyries and saw action in the first half again, although the Liberty went to smallball lineups themselves at times. Breanna Stewart returned for New York, joining Pauline Astier, Sabrina Ionescu, Leonie Fiebich, and Jonquel Jones in their starting lineup. The margin late in the game meant that all available players saw time on the floor.
First Quarter
Cecilia Zandalasini opened the scoring with a jumpshot on the first Valkyries possession and then got fouled on their next trip down the floor, making both free throws. The Liberty got on the board, but Veronica Burton responded with a floater. Both teams struggled from the field for a while before Kayla Thornton got a fast break layup off of a good defensive play and New York was able to score again. Thornton made a foul line jumper before the game went to the media timeout.
Burton’s shot got wedged between the rim and backboard on the first possession, with the Liberty winning the jumpball and getting the score. Burton did get the basket on her next attempt, getting fouled in the process and adding the free throw to the layup. Kaila Charles came in during the first wave of substitutions and made a layup before New York answered. Janelle Salaun called for the ball in the post multiple times with a smaller defender on her, receiving the pass and making both free throws after getting fouled. Neither team had much success early from distance, but New York struck first. Salaun got close again for an open layup as the Libert made it two in a row beyond the arc. Charles got a feed from Salaun, who was operating in the post, making one free throw after getting fouled, which ended up being the last point of the quarter for a 20-15 Valkyries lead.
Second Quarter
Kaitlyn Chen got fouled on the first possession of the quarter, making both free throws. New York also scored on their first trip down the floor only to see Charles drive in for another layup. Chen used one of the officials as a screensetter after the Valkyries secured a jumpball and realized that she had an open shot, draining it. The Liberty scored consecutive baskets to force an early Valkyries timeout. Neither team found much rhythm after that as another stoppage came when the Liberty successfully challenge a foul call and the game was delayed further when it was ruled that Laeticia Amihere needed to return to the game after the plan had been to substitute her out at the next deadball. She picked up a foul after losing the jumpball and was finally allowed to head to the bench.
Both teams continued to struggle on offense and the Valkyries missed a free throw on a defensive three-seconds violation technical. Cecilia Zandalasini finally got the team back on the board once action resumed and then Williams got another chance at the foul line, missing both shots. New York got within a point only for Williams to get fouled trying to secure a rebound, making the free throws this time. The Liberty answered again, but the Valkyries finally made a basket from long range courtesy of Zandalasini. Thornton was next to connect and then Williams made it three in a row. Janelle Salaun scored the last basket of the half for the 41-28 Valkyries lead.
Third Quarter
The Valkyries scored the first point of the half after Cecilia Zandalasini made the free throw that resulted from another defensive three-seconds violation. Kiah Stokes headed to the line after being fouled on the ensuing possession, adding another point. New York ended the run at 13-0 only to foul Kayla Thornton on a make beyond the arc to set up a four-point play. The Liberty had the next three-pointer and made the next basket to lead to a Golden State timeout. Tiffany Hayes made a three-pointer when action resumed and offensive rebounds gave Kaila Charles another jumpshot that she made, leading to a Liberty timeout.
Charles raced out ahead of the pack for another layup and then made another basket to extend the lead. New York challenged another foul call, turning a charge into a block that got them free throws instead. Hayes avenged the foul change with her own layup and then Janelle Salaun scored on an inbounds after the officials had to correct a call. The Liberty kept from falling further behind with some success from beyond the arc and by getting to the free throw line. Kaitlyn Chen responded with a floater and Salaun made a layup right at the end for a 64-48 lead.
Fourth Quarter
Tiffany Hayes made a three-pointer from the corner to open the scoring in this quarter and then another shot got wedged between the backboard and rim. The Valkyries won the jumpball and Veronica Burton made a three-pointer to extend the lead to its highest point. New York scored next as Golden State cooled off before a Kaila Charles layup ahead of the media timeout. Action did not resume quickly as Kayla Thornton committed a foul before the ball was inbounded.
Gabby Williams scored after the team got an offensive rebound only for the Liberty to work their way closer. Kaitlyn Chen scored next before New York called another timeout. The Valkyries stopped the game next, successfully challenging an out of bounds call with the Liberty turning to their bench. Golden State could not quite get the score that would have made it an easier decision to empty their own bench earlier. Juste Jocyte and Nadia Fingall did get in late after missing the chance on Wednesday, with the latter making her home debut. New York scored the last eight points of the game for the final 76-67 margin.
Player of the Game
This was very much a team effort for the Valkyries with nobody needing to take much of a lead scoring role so the award will go to Veronica Burton for this game. After being limited at times on Friday, she played the most minutes on the team this time. She scored when she needed to while also having her trademark high assists game with no turnovers as Golden State did a much better job of taking care of the ball and she also ended up as the team leader in rebounds.
The Verdict
It was a very successful road trip for the Valkyries and they earn some rest in addition to the three days without any regular season games for the entire league. It was another impressive win against a team expected to finish in the top half of the standings. The squad now sits in third place at this point in what is still a tight pack behind the top two teams. Things do not get easier now that the calendar has flipped to July as they embark on a five-game road trip with the first four games taking place in a seven-day stretch.
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