The Golden State Valkyries had another road game on Wednesday when they made the trip to Toronto to play the Tempo. It was another slow start for the team, but they found success in the second quarter to grab a halftime lead. Toronto took the lead back with a great third quarter, but the bench led a rally that included a big run to start the fourth quarter that got the Valkyries their 83-75 win. The victory means that the winning streak is now six games, the franchise’s longest so far.
The Lineup
There was no late player news for the Valkyries so they fielded the same starting lineup. Laeticia Amihere was the first player off of the bench as she got to return to her home area for this matchup. Nadia Fingall entered the game in the first quarter as a third center option. The smallball lineup returned in the second half while Gabby Williams exited the game with an injury and did not return. With multiple rotation players out, Julie Allemand returned to the lineup for Toronto alongside Marina Mabrey, Maria Conde, Isabelle Harrison, and Nyara Sabally, who ended up not returning in the second half. Neither team activated any of their developmental players for the game.
First Quarter
Toronto scored the first points at the free throw line and then Veronica Burton made her way there and sunk both shots. The Tempo made the first field goal, scoring again twice as the Valkyries continued to struggle with shooting. Burton finally ended the drought with a three-pointer before the media timeout. Toronto scored first after the stoppage, running out after securing a rebound as Golden State got back to the free throw line and got a pair of makes from Tiffany Hayes after she got a second chance due to a lane violation. Kaitlyn Chen responded to a Tempo basket with another successful drive. Janelle Salaun was fouled grabbing a rebound and made both shots. Toronto made the last two baskets, including getting a steal and buzzer-beater to lead 17-11.
Second Quarter
Janelle Salaun made a three-pointer on the first possession and then Kaitlyn Chen scored. Kaila Charles grabbed an offensive rebound and got fouled before the shot clock expired, which took a replay review to confirm, tying the score by making one free throw. Chen made another layup to give the Valkyries the lead with Toronto calling a timeout to try to stop the run. Chen scored again instead after a steal, but the Tempo did finally get their first basket of the quarter and tied the score next. Gabby Williams nearly lost the ball, but was able to recover it and get a layup. Laeticia Amihere got to the free throw line and only made one shot, but an offensive rebound led to an open Williams three-pointer. Toronto returned to the free throw line as Cecilia Zandalasini extended the lead with a three-pointer and then found Kayla Thornton open beyond the arc to force another timeout.
The Tempo scored the first basket when action resumed, but Laeticia Amihere scored on a tough drive after getting the ball at the top of the key. It was a similar type of physical move on the next possession when Thornton scored again. Toronto was able to avoid falling too far behind with more free throws. Thornton got another rebound after a broken play and got fouled in the process, making both free throws. She got back there after a Tempo three-pointer and made both again for the 41-31 halftime lead.
Third Quarter
Kayla Thornton continued where she left off by opening the scoring in the half with a three-pointer, which the Tempo answered, followed by a three-point play. Gabby Williams scored, but Toronto found more success beyond the arc. After an early timeout, the teams traded steals with the Tempo getting fast break basket and then getting within a possession. They tied the score with Golden State struggling with turnovers and taking a timeout to try to disrupt the momentum.
The full bench unit entered after their first half success, but Toronto briefly took the lead before a Janelle Salaun three-pointer that the Tempo answered. Salaun got to the foul line next, making one free throw. Kaila Charles committed a foul at one end and then got fouled on the next possession, making both free throws. Great ball movement got Charles the ball in the corner and her driving layup got the lead back for Golden State. Salaun drove next and made one more free throw, but the Tempo got the lead back with a three-point play. Kaitlyn Chen answered with another floater. Toronto made one more three-pointer for the 59-57 lead.
Fourth Quarter
Toronto could not get the ball inbounded on the first possession, allowing the Valkyries to get the ball and score on a well-designed inbounds play instead. Chen made a layup to restore the Golden State lead and then found Janelle Salaun on the wing. She was fouled beyond the arc and a replay review did not change that status, leading to three made free throws. Kayla Thornton came back with the return of the smallball lineup and made a three-pointer on the wing followed by another Salaun basket that led to a Toronto timeout. The Tempo scored their first points of the quarter after the pause, but Salaun scored again when she was left alone under the basket.
Salaun got slapped in the face while gathering the ball in the post, but the review did not upgrade it and then she drew another foul that was successfully overturned via challenge. Both teams had some empty possessions before Toronto scored and the Valkyries took a timeout to get to their closing lineup. Kaitlyn Chen made a layup when action resumed and then Salaun answered a Tempo basket with a corner three-pointer. She made another one on the next possession and Toronto took a timeout, which got them an open layup, but Salaun could not miss beyond the arc. The Tempo scored again as they were running out of time and then Veronica Burton got fouled on a drive and made a free throw before Toronto got their own free throws to trim it to an 83-75 final margin.
Player of the Game
There were a few standout performances that made sure that this was another win as the award will go to Janelle Salaun for her offensive contributions, especially the fourth quarter explosion that sealed the win. Her ability to turn around a game early has been valuable all season long as her role has changed this year. While she continues to hunt her shot beyond the arc, she has done a great job in recent games at looking for mismatches in the post and trying to generate easier looks. She did a little bit of everything in this game before the late flurry of three-pointers that put the game out of reach, continuing her aggressiveness.
The Verdict
Even with some tough periods, it was another road win for the Valkyries and another game that showed the strength of the bench. Golden State has one more game in this portion of the road trip with little rest between games and will be looking to continue to utilize that depth while trying to combat slow starts. The Valkyries keep finding ways to get wins and making adjustments to what is working in these matchups, being very dialed in as a unit right now.
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