The Golden State Valkyries returned to action on Wednesday with a game in Phoenix. The All Star Break got the players rest, but also risked slowing the momentum of the team after the winning streak that just ended before the break. The Valkyries had a tough time on offense early, but did build up a substantial lead by halftime. Their defense did not hold up in the second half though and Phoenix was just able to continue to put points on the board even as Golden State tried to rally, meaning that the team has a losing streak now after falling 91-89.
The Lineup
Gabby Williams was ultimately ruled out for this game and her spot in the starting lineup was taken by Kaila Charles. Neither team set any of their developmental players for this game. As a result, the Valkyries went with a nine-player rotation for the game, using some new lineup combinations in addition to the groups that usually see significant time together. Phoenix used their smallball lineups often, although that usually meant taller groups on the perimeter still.
First Quarter
Phoenix scored the first basket of the game as the Valkyries struggled to score early with some tough shots. The defense did their job though, so Kaila Charles was able to tie the score with the first Golden State basket. The Mercury made a pair of free throws twice before Charles made a three-pointer from the wing. Veronica Burton stole the ball and then got it back for her own three-pointer, but the Valkyries surrendered a three-point play opportunity before the media timeout that was not converted.
The first substitutions came in when play resumed and Laeticia Amihere got on the board by grabbing an offensive rebound and finishing a tough layup. The Mercury got back to the foul line to tie the score, but Charles made it again from long-range at the top of the key. Phoenix made a pair of three-pointers to take the lead back and the Valkyries could not connect from distance. The early fouls put the hosts into the bonus early for more points at the free throw line as Golden State also got a delay of game warning in the process. They turned the ball over after the officials missed a deflection on a pass, but Kaitlyn Chen scored on an inbounds play on the next possession. Burton got fouled making a layup and added the free throw to leave the Valkyries trailing 21-18 at the end of the quarter.
Second Quarter
Phoenix opened the scoring again in this quarter and defense was the story early again before Kaitlyn Chen made a quick cut for an open layup. The game stopped briefly to administer double technical fouls as both sides were having issues with foul calls. There were no other baskets before the first timeout, but Tiffany Hayes made a layup only to not convert the free throw after also drawing a foul. Cecilia Zandalasini had a difficult finish on a perfectly timed play and did make the free throw to tie the score. The Mercury responded again, this time with two consecutive makes from beyond the arc, leading to a Valkyries timeout.
Zandalasini got free for a jumpshot after when action resumed and then found Veronica Burton open for a three-pointer on the next possession. Kayla Thonrton helped the Valkyries take the lead after Phoenix missed a pair of free throws. Burton was able to drive in for a layup next and Zandalasini made three-pointers from the wing and corner to build the advantage. Kaila Charles scored on a drive to extend the lead to double-digits. The Mercury could not end their field goal drought, making more free throws instead, but Janelle Salaun took her turn from distance for the 46-34 halftime lead.
Third Quarter
Neither team scored early and there was an early break after the Valkyries challenged a foul call on Kiah Stokes, which ended up being successful. Phoenix did score first, stopping their long run without a field goal, scoring again on the next possession to get the deficit back to single-digits. Cecilia Zandalasini made a three-pointer for the first Golden State basket of the half. She drove again and drew a defender to give Stokes an open path to the basket. The Mercury continued to get in a better rhythm, but Veronica Burton answered with a layup and Tiffany Hayes entered early, drawing a foul and making one of the free throws. Fouls also started sending Phoenix to the foul line, but Hayes kept the lead with another successful drive for a contested layup.
There was a review after Hayes took contact to the face after committing a foul, but nothing additional was called. Phoenix drew another foul and got closer with a three-point play. Golden State got into the bonus eventually and Laeticia Amihere made a pair of free throws. Janelle Salaun extended the lead with another three-pointer only for the Valkyries to commit the foul on a shot behind the arc. Amihere drew another foul and made a free throw, missing two chances at the second after a lane violation. She got the ball back on the inbounds pass from the offensive rebound to make up for it with a layup after she was ignored setting a screen. The Mercury went on a spurt late with a Tiffany Hayes layup keeping the lead at 66-60.
Fourth Quarter
Laeticia Amihere scored the first basket of the quarter after getting in good position in the paint again and then made a three-pointer from the corner as there was an early Phoenix timeout. That stoppage gave them momentum and led to a Valkyries timeout in response. The Mercury run did not end and a three-point play left them trailing by only two points, allowing them to tie the score by getting out in transition. Their basket in the post gave them a lead and led to another timeout. Tiffany Hayes returned to the lineup and tied the score with a layup, which Phoenix answered. Veronica Burton was next to find a path to the basket, but the Mercury responded again.
Hayes made a pair of free throws around a Phoenix timeout and Cecilia Zandalasini responded to the next Mercury basket. There was a missed opportunity to take the lead as Zandalasini fouled out of the game, giving up two free throws. Phoenix challenged a foul call unsuccessfully, meaning that their leading scorer Kahleah Copper fouled out of the game. Kayla Thornton tied the game on a three-pointer from the corner when play resumed. The Mercury got the lead back at the free throw line and got one more when Thornton was whistled for a foul in the rebounding process, which was not upgraded after a review.
They scored again after a Valkyries miss, but Janelle Salaun was able to get to the foul line and make it a one-possession game again with two makes. Golden State got the stop that they needed and Salaun got fouled on the tying attempt, only making two of the free throws. The Valkyries fouled to extend the game and they could not get the ball inbounded after advancing it on the reset timeout. Salaun got fouled on a three-pointer again after the Mercury added a free throw, making all three to keep it a one-possession game. Kaila Charles fouled out extending the game and Phoenix made one of the free throws, but missing the second helped them as the Valkyries could not get the ball up the floor quickly enough after the rebound, meaning a 91-89 final margin in the loss.
Player of the Game
The award goes to Veronica Burton for this game as she knew that she would take on a much bigger role on both ends of the floor. She played as many minutes as she could knowing that she would need to provide both scoring and playmaking on the offensive end. On defense, she ended up consistently needing to hold her position in really difficult matchups as the Mercury tried to push the pace as much as possible off of Golden State misses.
The Verdict
This was always going to be a tougher game without Gabby Williams, especially as Phoenix knew that they really needed to continue their own winning streak to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Valkyries seemed to get into a rhythm by halftime, but defending without fouling proved to be very difficult and the Mercury were able to score repeatedly in the second half. Golden State heads home for a pair of games next and will be looking to bounce back from a game where they certainly looked to be a position to win and missed an opportunity against a team that is not currently in a playoff place.
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