The Phoenix Mercury rallied to a 98-91 victory over the shorthanded Golden State Valkyries at Chase Center, turning what looked like a tight game into a dramatic late turnaround. Golden State played without five of its top seven scorers, including Cecilia Zandalasini and Iliana Rupert, and Kayla Thornton was out for the season, leaving the Valkyries with eight players available and a depleted frontline to contend with.
The absence of two key centers—Rupert and Billings—left Temi Fagbenle and Laeticia Amihere doing extra work inside, and the Valkyries struggled to keep up in the second half after a strong start. Golden State scored just 32 points in the second half and shot 31.6 percent after the break, a stark drop from a 59-47 halftime cushion that reflected both fatigue and the mounting fatigue of the lineup.
Phoenix, which finished with 98 points, used a 21-14 third-quarter edge to erase a 12-point deficit and surged ahead in the fourth, ultimately pulling away late. The Mercury shot 54.1 percent from the floor for the night and dominated the paint, finishing with 40 points in the lane and 14 offensive rebounds.
Notable performances and moments
– Veronica Burton carried a heavy load for the Valkyries, finishing with 24 points and 14 assists. She joined a handful of players in WNBA history to post 14 assists with zero turnovers in a game, a testament to her floor leadership even amid the physical and fatigue-heavy battle.
– Kate Martin and Janelle Salaün contributed across the stat sheet, with Salaûn posting 13 points and Burton adding 24 and a high-volume playmaking night.
– Amihere stepped into a larger role than usual, finishing with 11 points and seven rebounds as she logged meaningful minutes in the rotation.
– The Valkyries were outmatched on the boards, 40-29, and Phoenix exploited the matchup advantages in the paint.
Key moments and coaching notes
– Golden State head coach Natalie Nakase acknowledged the challenge of playing shorthanded, noting that several players weren’t feeling 100 percent and that she didn’t want to risk aggravating any injuries.
– Nakase also addressed a late contention in which Phoenix forward Monique Akoa Makani appeared to kick Burton while Burton was driving. Nakase described it as unacceptable physical play and said it affected the way her team approached the game down the stretch.
– Burton wore a bandage on her left shin late in the game, yet continued to contribute through the final minutes, underscoring her resilience.
Standings implications
– The loss dropped Golden State to 18-17 and kept Seattle within half a game of the Valkyries for the eighth and final playoff spot. Los Angeles sat 1½ games back in ninth as those teams juggled their schedules midweek.
– Phoenix improved to 21-13, keeping pace in the battle for postseason positioning.
What this means going forward
– The Valkyries demonstrated depth and grit even as injuries piled up. With a healthier lineup, there’s reason for optimism about their ability to compete across remaining games, especially given Burton’s playmaking and Salaün’s scoring contributions from the wing.
– The challenge now is maintaining energy, improving efficiency in the second half, and continuing to leverage the versatility of players like Amihere when the roster is stretched.
Quick takeaways
– Burton’s 24 points and 14 assists highlight how essential her distribution and leadership are when the Valkyries are depleted.
– The team’s resilience despite missing multiple top scorers remains a bright spot in a tough stretch.
– Inside-out play and rebounding will be key focus areas as Golden State eyes a push for the playoffs and to tighten up late-game execution.
If you’re looking for a hopeful takeaway, the Valkyries have shown they can stay competitive even when expected stars are unavailable. That resilience, combined with Burton’s playmaking and Amihere’s breakout minutes, could fuel a run as the schedule tightens and the team returns closer to full strength.