Date, Time, and Location: Wednesday, August 12th, 7:00pm, Chase Center
Broadcast Information: KPYX (San Francisco Bay Area) and KMAX (Sacramento Area), WCIU (opposition’s broadcast area), USA/CNBC (full national)
The Golden State Valkyries return for a three-game homestand, starting with Wednesday’s game against the Chicago Sky. The teams played early in the season in San Francisco with the visitors getting the win, but their fortunes could not be any more different since that time. Chicago is nearly completely out of the playoff picture and have been heavily affected by injuries. The Valkyries only have one game this week, but face a tough stretch starting next week and could have to navigate this game shorthanded. There will be local broadcasts of the game in the home markets, but there will also be a national broadcast carried on both USA and CNBC meaning that the usual out-of-market streaming will not be available.
The Valkyries
It was not a surprise after Sunday’s game that Kiah Stokes would be at risk of missing a game and she is already listed as out on the initial injury report and in concussion protocol. The unexpected news is that Janelle Salaun is listed as questionable with right knee soreness. Without Stokes, height will be needed to counter Chicago’s frontcourt, which the Valkyries pretty much played to a draw at the center spot in their last meeting. Salaun being out would further affect the rotation in that area. It is nearly part of the season when there would be no basketball-related downside to activating developmental players so it would not be a surprise to see Ashten Prechtel set as active again for insurance.
The Opposition
When the Chicago Sky won the first meeting between the teams, it was their second victory in as many games, which was part of a 3-1 start. Injuries have certainly been a factor from that point on with the team not being able to field the lineup that they expected would be in place by the end of the season. They have a 9-20 record since that opening stretch and now facing elimination from playoff contention. They have been tough opponents for teams still, but enter this game having lost twice in a row, including starting this three-game West Coast road trip with a loss in Seattle on Monday.
The starting lineup will look quite different for the Sky in this game compared to their last visit, but includes Kamilla Cardoso at center and likely Jacy Sheldon at shooting guard. Courtney Vandersloot and Azura Stevens, who were expected to start at point guard and power forward respectively, have missed a number of games this season and are now both available. Gabriela Jaquez started that game at small forward only to see her minutes dwindle in recent games as Natasha Cloud has been the other starter in the backcourt.
Rickea Jackson was the leading scorer in the game against the Valkyries, but she suffered a season-ending injury two games later. Their starting point guard in that game, Skylar Diggins, has missed over a month with an injury and remains out for this game. The bright spot for this team even with tough stretches has been rookie Sydney Taylor, who went undrafted two years ago only to get her first opportunity in the league this year. She had not emerged yet early in the season, not playing in that first meeting, and will now miss this game with a recent injury. DiJonai Carrington had missed most of the season, but was finally able to make her debut and has helped add scoring from the wing immediately.
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