Deadspin | Mercury, Valkyries relieved to be facing one another

[ad_1] Jun 3, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Phoenix Mercury guard Haley Jones (30) dribbles the ball previous Minnesota Lynx ahead Diamond Miller (1) within the second half at Goal Heart. Obligatory Credit score: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Photographs The Phoenix Mercury and Golden State Valkyries get a reprieve from the league's elite after they meet in Phoenix on Thursday.

Every misplaced to the 8-0 Minnesota Lynx the final trip -- the injury-depleted Mercury falling 88-65 on Tuesday in Minneapolis. The enlargement Valkyries misplaced to the Lynx 86-75 on Sunday in San Francisco.

The Valkyries (2-4) enter on a three-game dropping streak, all three towards the 7-0 New York Liberty (twice) and the Lynx. The Mercury is 5-3, and their final two losses are to the Lynx.

Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts has but to place his projected beginning lineup on the ground this season. Ahead Alyssa Thomas has missed the final three video games with a calf harm, and projected starters guard Kahleah Copper (knee) and Natasha Mack (again) haven't performed in any respect.

"We're simply asking lots of people to do some issues that usually they are not used to doing," Tibbetts stated. "We had three (new) gamers within the rotation. It makes it extraordinarily powerful to place a well-executed group on the market. Everybody's sort of studying on the fly."

Ahead Satou Sabally had 15 factors and eight rebounds towards the Lynx on Tuesday and leads the group with a 20.5 scoring common and eight.1 rebounds per recreation in her first season in Phoenix after being acquired from Dallas.

Sabally's 6-of-16 taking pictures typified the group's offensive troubles with out No.2 scorer Thomas towards the Lynx. Rookie guard Lexi Held had a team-high 16 factors, however the Mercury shot 38.4 p.c and made 5 of 30 3-point makes an attempt.

The Valkyries take a "balanced assault" to the subsequent stage. Veronica Burton, Kayla Thornton and Janelle Salaun are averaging 12.0 factors per recreation, though rookie Salaun has performed one fewer recreation. Guard Tiffany Hayes is averaging 10.0.

Salaun averages a team-high 7.4 rebounds and Burton averages 4.2 assists.

"They're unselfish," coach Natalie Nakase stated. "That is the philosophy we talked about in choosing these gamers. They at all times make the precise play. That is why you simply by no means know who's going to be the main scorer as a result of they continually transfer the ball."

Burton had 21 factors within the loss to Minnesota on Sunday when Kate Martin had a career-high 14, all within the second quarter. 5 totally different gamers have led the Valkyries in scoring, with Burton the one repeater. 4 have led in rebounds and assists.