Game 11 wrap: Wings outrebound Valks, pull away late; Amihere and Hayes show promise and pain in return

No centers? No boards.

Jun 18, 2025

An innocent dream from a pre-draft world

Not a great game for GSV, showing the first signs of trouble after losing Fagbenle to Eurobasket. GSV was already on thin ice covering for Vanloo, Zandalisini and Salaun, but losing Fagbenle and also Linskens gives GSW zero true centers.

Perhaps not coincidentally, DAL smoked GSV on the boards, outrebounding 26-22 on DREB and 14-5 OREB. It’s hard to win giving up that many more shots.

Nonetheless, GSV showed some promise with the new additions, Amihere and Hayes. Still figuring out the sets to get the most out of them. Notably Amihere was -17 and Hayes was -19, game-lows. (In contrast, starting lineup was about even with Dallas.)

Lots of film to learn from.

On to the next one!

Box score

Apricot In-Game Notes

From GSV PR:
[[
WNBA announced today that Golden State Valkyries forward Kayla Thornton has been named the league’s Western Conference Player of the Week for games played between Monday, June 9 and Sunday, June 15.
The Valkyries recorded a perfect 2-0 week, with Thornton averaging 20.0 points, 11.5 rebounds and 1.0 assist while shooting 43.8 percent (14-32) from the field. Thornton began the week with 18 points and 11 rebounds in the overtime victory over Los Angeles on June 9, and had a clutch three-pointer that came with 38 seconds left in overtime to put the Valkyries up six and seal the victory. The forward then tied a career high with 22 points in the win against Seattle on June 14, adding 12 rebounds for her third consecutive double-double.
This award is Thornton’s first career WNBA Player of the Week award, as well as the first ever for a Golden State Valkyries player.
]]
By the way, I’ll be driving through the first half at least, so people should comment on any cool events here. And if there’s a particularly cool play I should look at and analyze, please comment with approximate game time…
Q3.12.00. Angle play, a wing pick and roll, Leite-Billings. Defended by going under. Leite punishes with a midrange jumper.
11.00. Bueckers PNR, Burton and Leite switch.
8.30. DAL runs Paige off a corner pin down, misses elbow J.
8.25. DAL is giving GSV open 3s. Statistically not a bad move vs GSV, but VB makes them pay.
7.20. DAL runs Paige again off the corner pin down, (set up at 11:00) this time tries to get the pin rolling.
6.35. Leite - Amihere PNR, DAL defends with drop, perfect roll from Amihere, perfect pass from Leite. Will be big if Leite can improve her passes to the roller, which have been a negative adventure so far this year.
6.20. Paige PNR. GSV Billings defends with either a show/recover or maybe even a trap, Paige ejects out of the play by swinging to the weak side.
6.00. Burton with ANOTHER entry pass to the post stolen. This is a growing problem that GSV has to clean up in practice. Entry has to be better placed. Post has to come to the ball if needed.
5.30. Bueckers PNR, GSV switches, Paige isos Carla. VB doesn’t trust and helps at nail… pass to shooter, 3.
Q3
5.13. Another Carla-Mo PNR. DAL defends with drop again, Mo with another excellent angle roll, Carla good pass, good finish.
4.33. Carla-Mo PNR. DAL goes under, drops. Carla lets them off the hook by firing up the 3, which is what DAL wants. Had been roasting them with Mo rolling.
4.25. Subtle. Tip Hayes goes over the screen, makes Mo hesitate, causes rotation, leaving DAL a sliver of space for a 3.
3.30. It’s the 325 play! Ram screen into a stagger screen across the top. Kick to KT, 3 FTs.
3.00. Ogunbowale keeping DAL in it by making a diet of difficult shots
Q3
1.27. 325 again. This time Hayes runs it, DAL goes under, Tip goes 3.
0.50. 325 AGAIN. This time for Burton. Scrappy play, jump ball.
Q4
6.40. GSV zone again. Burned with a 3.
6.25. GSV signals 1-4 defensive coverage. I’m not quite sure what that means.
5.55. KT likes being guarded by Paige, goes straight to the paint, kick out on the help, missed 3.
5.34. Paige PNR. GSV guards with show and recover.
5.17. DAL again trying to punish the GSV defensive scheme of help at the nail. Here, Leite helped off Carrington on the wing, gave her the angle for the drive and the FTs.
5.03. More 325 for Hayes. Gets the lane, gets fouled… or not. Overturned.
4.59. Sweet BLOB, I think on purpose to have Mo sneak to the far corner for an open 3.
1.27. 325 again. This time Hayes runs it, DAL goes under, Tip goes 3.
0.50. 325 AGAIN. This time for Burton. Scrappy play, jump ball.
Q4
6.40. GSV zone again. Burned with a 3.
6.25. GSV signals 1-4 defensive coverage. I’m not quite sure what that means.
5.55. KT likes being guarded by Paige, goes straight to the paint, kick out on the help, missed 3.
5.34. Paige PNR. GSV guards with show and recover.
5.17. DAL again trying to punish the GSV defensive scheme of help at the nail. Here, Leite helped off Carrington on the wing, gave her the angle for the drive and the FTs.
5.03. More 325 for Hayes. Gets the lane, gets fouled… or not. Overturned.
4.59. Sweet BLOB, I think on purpose to have Mo sneak to the far corner for an open 3.
Q4
3.40. GSV crunch time… go with HORNS with the PNR between the elbows.
3.00. Whew, Paige misses the killing blow with a missed open 3.
2.37. HORNS Elbow PNR again. Run out on the miss, looks over, but… DAL muffs the fast break and the O foul. Amihere with the huge OREB. But GSV can’t score.
0.30. Still down 5… Hayes had a shot to bring it to 3, miss. Bueckers has done a great job deflecting inbounds passes. I think this game is over…