After losing in their debut game against the Los Angeles Sparks, the Golden State Valkyries have now won 2 straight games in their previous games.
Victory at Ballhalla and in LA
Derived from Norse Mythology, the California based squad wanted to also associate their home court with it as they changed the “Valhalla”, the home of the slain warriors in Norse myth, into “Ballhalla”, the home of brave female hoopers.
Their second game against the Washington Mystics came down to the wire as they only won by 2 points. Janelle Salaun started the game in her personal 6 to nothing start for the Valkyries but the rebounding and points in the paint became a factor, as the Mystics came back at the ball game.
Brittney Sykes carried Washington on her shoulders as had herself the night recording 30 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and three 3 pointers.
Luckily, the Valkyries were able to at least make it up for their free throws made (23-28) as well as in their steals (10 against 6). Both teams were able to sink in 7 three pointers but in the end, Golden State got the win.
Final Score: 76-74
In their first road game, they fought against the L.A. Sparks once again but this time, they made sure the outcome will be very different.
Despite trailing in the 1st quarter, 20-9, the Valkyries crawled their way back to the ball game as the rookie guard from France, Carla Leite was the spark of the bench.
And in the 2nd quarter with still 7 minutes to go, the Valkyries erased the 11 point deficit as they took the lead, 28-26.
In an instant, the Valkyries had a 21 to 3 run in the 2nd quarter to get ahead of the game before halftime. During the last minute of the 3rd quarter, the Valkyries lead ballooned into 20 points and they never looked back.
Final Score: 82-73
THORnton leads the Valkyries
If this team isn’t enough with the norse myth references, their star player Kayla Thornton has become an integral piece for their teams’ success.
Kayla has now averaged 12 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 steals and a block. Playing 30 minutes per outing in her 9th season, Head Coach Natalie Nakase made sure her efforts aren’t wasted as she has help from her teammates.
Veronica Burton and Temi Fagbenle have emerged to be the designated starters for this brand new expansion team. Burton, who plays 23 mins per game averages 12 points, 5.5 boards, 4 assists and has made herself a menace in the defensive end with 2 steals.
While Fagbenle, the 6-foot-3 center takes care of the rebounding department with 6 boards per game along with 10.5 points, 3 assists and 3 steals per contest.
Another reason why the Valkyries are now 2-1 in their first 3 games is their 6th woman off the bench, Carla Leite who made the biggest impact during their game against the Sparks earlier.
She tallied 19 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 steal and went 2-for-2 from beyond the arc while playing for 23 minutes. In the entire contest, she had averaged 6 points, 1.5 rebounds, 2 assists with 16 minutes per ball game.
Road Gets Tougher
Now the 5th in the league standings, the Valkyries will once again be put into test as they are about to face the 2-0 New York Liberty in their home floor at Barclays Center.
Can Thornton, Burton, Fagbenle and Leite handle the current #2 seed in the WNBA come May 28?
