Playing without leading scorer and rebounder Kayla Thornton, the Golden State Valkyries rallied in the second half to snap a three-game losing streak with an 86-76 win over the Dallas Wings on Friday in San Francisco.
Golden State (11-12) came into its first game since the All-Star break with the news Thornton would miss the remainder of the season, which was announced just hours before the Friday tipoff. Thornton must undergo knee surgery, ending her campaign with averages of 14.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game.
Dallas (7-18) capitalized on the Valkyries being without their star early, running out to a 21-10 lead through the first quarter. However, led by Tiffany Hayes, whose 17 points paced five Golden State scorers in double figures, the Valkyries chipped away at the deficit until pulling ahead at the culmination of a 19-8 run in the third quarter.
Golden State never trailed in the fourth quarter, but Dallas stayed within striking distance throughout. Wings rookie Paige Bueckers came alive over the final 10 minutes, shooting 4-of-6 from the floor for nine points in the final period. She finished with a team-high 17 points.
Bueckers converted a successful and-one to get Dallas within 78-75 with 2:10 to go, but Golden State made eight of 10 free throws the rest of the way to hold on.
Neither team sank a basket in the game’s final two minutes. The Wings missed their final four field-goal attempts.
Temi Fagbenele finished with 11 points and eight rebounds for the Valkyries. Janelle Salaun scored 16 points, Carla Leite came off the bench to score 14 points, and Cecilia Zandalasini added 10 points.
Arike Ogunbowale scored 16 points for Dallas, while Aziah James and Haley Jones added 13 and 10 points, respectively, off the Wings’ bench. Bueckers dished a game-high six assists.
–Field Level Media
