After a rough first half, the Phoenix Mercury tightened up their defense after the break and picked up a vital road win against the shorthanded Golden State Valkyries.

Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase criticized Mercury guard Monique Akoa Makani for what she described as an intentional kick on Veronica Burton late in Tuesday’s game

There's no denying the Golden State Valkyries fought hard in their 98-91 loss to the Phoenix Mercury. With only eight players available due to Tiffany Hayes and Cecilia Zandalasini's late injury scratches, the remaining Valkyries stepped up and tested the Mercury through the majority of the game.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Kahleah Copper scored 25 points with five 3-pointers, Satou Sabally scored 10 of her 17 points after halftime, and the Phoenix Mercury came back to beat the short-handed Golden State Valkyries 98-91 on Tuesday night.

Veronica Burton makes WNBA history, but her record-setting night isn’t enough as the Valkyries fall to the Mercury.

On Sunday night, the Atlanta Dream will travel west to take on the Golden State Valkyries in exciting WNBA play.

Playing the last-place Connecticut Sun, the Valkyries got off to a sluggish start Monday night but caught fire in the third quarter to cruise to a 74-57 win. Golden State shot 10-of-22 from the 3-point line in the second half and made 13 3s overall in a dominant win.

San Francisco Standard columnist Tim Kawakami went to Sunday’s Valkyries game and reported on the fan atmosphere at Chase Center, which he said was “thrumming” even in the team’s worst home loss of the season. But buried in his reporting were two paragraphs about a brewing scheduling conflict with the Laver Cup, an international tennis tournament:

In Year 1, Natalie Nakase and the Valkyries revealed how they built a successful WNBA expansion team from scratch.

Golden State Valkyries Apologize to Kate Martin Before Chicago Sky Game originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Kate Martin and the Golden State Valkyries looked to close out their two-game road trip with a win, taking on the Angel Reese-less Chicago Sky on Friday night.