The Golden State Valkyries fought to the final whistle but couldn’t stop the Phoenix Mercury’s late surge, falling 98–91 at Chase Center on Tuesday night.
Kahleah Copper was unstoppable for the Mercury (25 points, 5 triples), while Satou Sabally added 17 with 10 coming in the second half.
But this night belonged to Veronica Burton, who delivered a career performance for Golden State. Burton poured in 24 points and dished a franchise-best 14 assists, becoming the first Valkyrie to notch a 20+ point, 10+ assist game. She scored 13 in the second quarter alone, fueling a 24–8 Valkyries run that turned a 23–16 deficit into momentum and energy inside a sold-out Chase Center.
Golden State (18–16) battled shorthanded once again. Tiffany Hayes (rest) and Cecilia Zandalasini (late calf scratch) were unavailable, forcing rookie Kate Martin into the starting lineup. Martin shined with 14 points, continuing to show poise beyond her years.
The loss marked the Valkyries’ first back-to-back defeats at Chase Center, though the crowd of 18,064 fans kept the energy electric, securing the 17th consecutive sellout in the team’s inaugural season.
Injury Watch: Iliana Rupert (concussion protocol) remains day-to-day after her fall in Atlanta.
🔮 What’s Next: The Valkyries head to Phoenix for a Friday night rematch with the Mercury, determined to bounce back and reclaim momentum in the tight WNBA playoff race.
