The Golden State Valkyries have found ways to win with solid defense and now they’re seeking their first five-game winning streak of the season.
The Valkyries visit the Washington Mystics on Monday night in the first meeting of the season between the teams.
Golden State (14-7) won 88-83 at Atlanta on Saturday in the opening assignment of a five-game road trip. It has held three of its last eight opponents to less than 70 points.
The Mystics (10-9) look to move two games above .500 for the first time this season. They won in four overtimes last Sunday against Portland and then rallied from a double-figure deficit to win Thursday night against the Atlanta Dream.
There haven’t been totally smooth times for Washington even with back-to-back victories. They committed 19 of 27 turnovers in the first half versus Atlanta.
“We were incredibly reckless with the basketball,” Mystics coach Sydney Johnson said. “It’s not a recipe for success. But I do know the togetherness and toughness, that’s a recipe for success.”
Turnover troubles were largely connected to a “majority of those was trying to pass to each other,” Johnson said.
The Valkyries hit 13 shots from 3-point range Saturday even with extra attention placed on their perimeter players. They found ways to work around that.
“Just our extra passing,” Golden State coach Natalie Nakase said. “We’re sharing the ball more. So when we share the ball more, it creates more closeouts for us to get to the rim.”
The Valkyries have had four different players as the team’s scoring leader across the past five games. Veronica Burton topped the scoring with 21 points Saturday, marking just the second time she led the team in that category.
The Mystics were short-handed against Atlanta with guard Sonia Citron sitting out with a knee injury. Cassandre Prosper, who didn’t have playing time for a few games, came off the bench for 18 minutes in the Atlanta game.
Those types of contributions are critical, Johnson said.
“Her enthusiasm is through the roof as far as what she gives,” he said. “We have a number of options there on the perimeter.”
Rookie Cotie McMahon, who scored seven points vs. Atlanta, was in the restructured starting lineup for the Mystics. They’re still waiting for point guard Georgia Amoore to be back at full strength as she’s coming off a knee injury. She posted 11 points in 13 minutes in a starting role Thursday.
“If she’s healthy, expect her out there (much more),” Johnson said.
–Field Level Media
