Tiffany Hayes responded to a rare start with a game-high 18 points, Kayla Thornton chipped in with 17 and the undermanned Golden State Valkyries went into the WNBA’s World Cup break with an 86-69 thumping of the host Portland Fire on Sunday afternoon.
Wrapping up a five-game trip with a fourth straight win allowed the Valkyries (29-11) to go into an 18-day in-season vacation just two games behind the Minnesota Lynx in the duel for the best record in the WNBA. Golden State won’t play again until hosting the Fire on Sept. 18 in the first of four games remaining in the regular season.
Not skipping a beat with starters Gabby Williams and Cecilia Zandalasini and supersub Janelle Salaun having already left the team for the World Cup in Germany, the Valkyries exploded out of the gate to run up a 28-9 lead nine minutes into the game. Hayes matched Portland’s total with 14 first-quarter points, hitting six of seven shots, including a pair of 3-pointers.
Hayes had 16 points and reserve Kaitlyn Chen 12 of her 15 in the first half, during which the visitors extended their lead to as many as 24 en route to a 47-25 advantage at the break. Portland missed 19 of its 22 3-point attempts in the first 20 minutes.
Playing in Oregon for the first time, the Valkyries kept the Fire at arm’s length the rest of the way, leading by as many as 26.
Kaila Charles contributed 11 points, a game-high eight rebounds and five assists to the winning effort, while Veronica Burton collected a team-high six assists to complement 11 points, six rebounds and two steals.
Emily Engstler and Megan DiLeo had 12 points apiece for the Fire (16-24), who return from the break one day earlier than the Valkyries when they host the Phoenix Mercury on Sept. 17.
Bridget Carleton bounced back from a scoreless first half to put up 11 points for Portland, while Teja Oblak dished off a game-high seven assists to go with five points and four rebounds.
–Field Level Media
