The Golden State Valkyries returned to action on Friday after the World Cup break, hosting the Portland Fire. Their opponents had already played a game the previous day and there was clearly some rust on the offensive end for the Valkyries early. They got the lead by halftime and then eventually built a comfortable margin in the second half to get the 82-66 win. Players were able to get some rest ahead of another game on Saturday and these teams will also play each other on Tuesday.
The Lineup
Cecilia Zandalasini joined Janelle Salaun and Gabby Williams in being ruled out for the Valkyries, leaving the team with the same players available as their game in Portland before the break. That included activating both Miela Sowah and Ashten Prechtel as the Valkyries get closer to ensuring that both players get to their maximum activations for the season. The absences led to some more experimenting with lineups, including some minutes with a double-post frontcourt.
Carla Leite and Megan DiLeo returned for Portland and were in the starting lineup alongside Karlie Samuelson, Nyadiew Puoch, and Emily Engstler. Bridget Carleton and Teja Oblak were out with injuries for the Fire along with developmental player Sania Feagin already missing the rest of the season. They activated their other developmental player Charisma Osborne though and a first half injury to Jordan Harrison meant that she got her first minutes of the year. The margin at the end of the game meant that both teams emptied their benches as much as they could.
First Quarter
The offense was not quite knocking down shots early even though they were generating good looks. The defensive intensity was there still and the energy transferred to crashing the glass. Kayla Thornton was the beneficiary of the ball being jarred loose during rebounding and made the first basket on a layup. Tiffany Hayes scored next on a drive, but missed the free throw that would have completed a three-point play. Portland got on the board next and then both teams had their first makes from long-range with Thornton connecting for Golden State. Kaila Charles got in the act next with a path to a layup on the drive and Hayes scored again to lead to a Fire timeout.
Portland got it back within a possession next before Charles got a block on the perimeter and grabbed the rebound to drive in for the transition layup herself. The Fire tied the score after that with both teams turning to their benches. Kaitlyn Chen made a three-pointer, but Portland answered and took the lead for the first time on their next trip down the floor. Juste Jocyte was next to make it from beyond the arc only for Carla Leite to score her first two points at the free throw line and give the Fire the 20-19 lead at the end of the quarter.
Second Quarter
Juste Jocyte made another three-pointer when the Valkyries had their first possession of the quarter to take the lead back. Laeticia Amihere made a layup, but missed the free throw after being fouled, getting another layup after Portland scored their first points at the foul line. After the early assists, Tiffany Hayes was able to create another good shot for herself on the drive. Amihere continued to find space in the paint for another basket and then the Fire scored.
After the media timeout, Veronica Burton scored her first points with a pair of free throws and Hayes split her two chances. Portland made a three-pointer, but the Valkyries got an answer from Kaitlyn Chen before Kayla Thornton got the lead to double-digits for the first time. She added a free throw after another time before the Fire scored the last three points, still leaving Golden State ahead 40-30.
Third Quarter
Portland scored on their first possession, but Kiah Stokes got her first basket on a baseline jumper. The Fire got a three-point play next before a tough basket from Tiffany Hayes. The Valkyries committed a foul and then Tiffany Hayes got whistled for a technical foul in reaction, allowing Carla Leite to score two points at the free throw line. Another Portland basket made it closer suddenly, but they got the technical foul this time for a Kayla Thornton free throw. The timeout came early as the Valkyries had to use a challenge to get the referees to overturn a clearly incorrect ruling on an out-of-bounds call.
Veronica Burton made a pair of free throws and Thornton made a three-pointer, but Portland continued to keep it close. Laeticia Amihere had returned and extended the lead around a Fire three-pointer, making a pair of free throws, nailing a three-pointer, and then running the floor to get another good layup. Golden State had to use their other challenge for an instant replay review to change a Kaila Charles charge into a blocking foul and she got awarded free throws that she made. Hayes continued the run before a Portland three-point play, but another layup followed by her finding Kaitlyn Chen well beyond the arc meant the Valkyries were in control with a 67-49 win.
Fourth Quarter
Kaitlyn Chen also made a three-pointer to start the final quarter and Juste Jocyte also continued her strong shooting performance. Chen found space for a floater before both teams started launching three-pointers with each team getting a pair of makes. It was Chen again for Golden State followed by Laeticia Amihere and then a foul finally led to a very late media timeout that allowed the Valkyries to bring in the rest of their bench.
There was another replay review during that timeout to determine that a Portland three-pointer had been released after the expiration of the shot clock, taking points off of the board. The Fire had more of their rotation players in at the end and continued to press on defense until the end, meaning that they finished the game on an 11-1 run with only an Amihere free throw for the Valkyries leaving the final margin at 82-66. The end also included another replay review to quickly determine that Miela Sowah’s offensive foul did not need to be upgraded.
Player of the Game
This was another game where the Valkyries got contributions at different points in the game from different players as the award will go to Laeticia Amihere for her work during a key stretch. The Valkyries had looked to finally be winning comfortably, but Portland was still hanging around in the third quarter. She scored seven points in a row for them and also got a steal, a microcosm of her game overall where she was effective in the paint, comfortable shooting jumpshots, and a defensive presence. Her minutes will continue to depend on matchups in the postseason and there will be times where her skills are especially needed.
The Verdict
The Valkyries took care of business again in a game against a team that will not be in the playoffs, officially clinching a home game to start the playoffs in the process. With seeding very much in play, there was also plenty of rest for players with another game on Saturday. The depth of the team continues to be shown with just three bench players scoring and still delivering more than half of the team’s points with three rotation players on their way back after being given more rest.
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