Game 36 wrap: PHX pulls away as Valkyries lose Hayes and Leite

when I said Always Close Enough To Hurt™, I didn't mean actual physical injuries

Table of Contents

• Playoff Watch

• Inspirational Verse from Valkyries PR

• Around the Net

• Valkyrie Valor

  • Who should win Valkyrie Valor for this game?

The injuries keep rolling in

There’s a reason PHX is the #4 team in the league and rising, with stars healthy…

• Advanced video box score

• ESPN Analytics

Valkyries were already shorthanded. Losing Tip Hayes in Q3 killed any chance of an upset and losing Carla was the icing on the doom cake.

Just to put things in perspective, here is a list of Valkyries sorted by On-Off (how much better a team does with them on the court compared to off)(thanks Basketball-Reference)

1. Veronica Burton

2. Tiffany Hayes - out of game in Q3

3. Cecilia Zandalasini - injured, not on road trip

4. Carla Leite - out of game in Q4

5. Kayla Thornton - out for year

6. Iliana Rupert - just back from concussion

7. Monique Billings - out

That is some grim stuff to have literally the top half of your team knocked out.

Playoff Watch

GSV is clinging to a playoff spot, tied in the loss column with #7 and #9. GSV is one loss out of #6 but two losses away from #10. This playoff race will be Always Close Enough To Hurt™.

W-L PCT GB STRK L10 HOME AWAY

1:MIN 29-7 .806 - W1 7-3 17-1 12-6

2:ATL 23-13 .639 6 W1 8-2 11-5 12-8

3:LV 23-14 .622 6.5 W9 9-1 14-5 9-9

4:PHX 22-14 .611 7 W1 6-4 12-6 10-8

5:NY 22-14 .611 7 L1 5-5 14-5 8-9

6:IND 19-17 .528 10 L1 5-5 10-9 9-8

7:SEA 19-18 .514 10.5 W2 3-7 8-10 11-8

8:GSV 18-18 .500 11 L3 5-5 10-7 8-11

=============================================

9:LA 17-18 .486 11.5 W1 6-4 7-10 10-8

10:WAS 16-20 .444 13 L2 3-7 10-8 6-12

11:CHI 9-26 .257 19.5 W1 2-8 5-13 4-13

12:DAL 9-28 .243 20.5 L4 1-9 5-14 4-14

13:CONN 8-27 .229 20.5 W2 4-6 6-12 2-15

For the latest, go to Plain Text Sports

Inspirational Verse from Valkyries PR

Golden State Valkyries guard Carla Leite sustained an ankle injury and exited tonight’s game in the fourth quarter. Leite is undergoing further evaluation and will not return.

Golden State Valkyries guard Tiffany Hayes sustained a left knee injury and exited tonight’s game in the third quarter. Hayes is undergoing further evaluation and will not return.

Around the Net

Sorry folks, I couldn’t watch the game live tonight. But maybe that was for the best. Here are some notes around the league.

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Valkyrie Valor

Kate Martin, the previous winner, is not eligible.