Valkyries Fall to Liberty in Kayla Thornton's Return
The Golden State Valkyries faced the New York Liberty, the reigning WNBA champions, on Tuesday, suffering a 95-67 defeat in a game that marked Kayla Thornton's return to her former team. This loss brings the Valkyries' season record to 2-2.
From the outset, the Liberty showcased their offensive prowess, racking up 30 assists while the Valkyries managed only 16. The game began with the Liberty quickly establishing a 6-0 lead, a margin they maintained throughout.
Thornton, who was honored pre-game with her 2024 WNBA championship ring, made an impact early with a steal against her old team, leading to the Valkyries' first points. However, the team struggled significantly on both ends of the court, concluding the first quarter with a daunting 27-10 deficit.
In the second quarter, Valkyries guard Veronica Burton ignited her team with a quick three-pointer. Despite this spark, the Liberty continued to dominate, ending the half with a 48-29 lead. The Valkyries managed to keep pace somewhat, scoring 19 points to the Liberty's 21 in that quarter.
The third quarter saw a continuation of the Valkyries' offensive rhythm, with Thornton and Burton contributing early points. Fágbenlé, Carla Leite, and Janelle Salaun helped the Valkyries outscore the Liberty 22-19 during this period.
Despite these efforts, the Valkyries struggled with their shooting, finishing under 34% from the field. The Liberty also dominated inside, outscoring them 40-16 in the paint. Ultimately, the Valkyries fell short, concluding the game with a score of 95-67.
Key players for the Valkyries faced challenges finding their rhythm; Thornton shot 3 for 10, while Burton went 3 for 11 and made only 2 of her 7 attempts from beyond the arc. Fágbenlé stood out with a perfect shooting performance of 5 for 5, contributing 11 points. Kate Martin added another 10 points, but the bench was outscored by the Liberty's reserves, 37 to 19.
The Valkyries will have a chance for redemption as they prepare for a rematch against the Liberty on Thursday at 4 p.m. PST. Fans can catch all the action on KPIX 5.
