Game 5: Golden State Valkyries @ New York Liberty, 4:00 PM PDT

instant revenge game vs the defending champs

How to watch

• KPIX+ (Bay Area), KMAX (Sacramento)

  • In the Bay Area, KPIX is channel 5, and KPIX+, the home of Valkyries basketball, is channel 44 (cable 12). In Sacramento, KMAX is channel 31, and KOVR is channel 13.

• (Not on ION, available on Fubo and YouTube TV and elsewhere)

• WNBA League Pass if you are out of the blackout region. Even if blacked out, in theory the game is available right after the conclusion.

GSV Injury report

• Tiffany Hayes - Questionable - Nose

• Monique Billings – Questionable – Right Foot

• Cecilia Zandalasini - Questionable (upgraded from OUT) - Right Foot

What to expect

From the Valkyries:

• High energy

• Fast pace, fast breaks

• Aggressive defense trying for on-ball steals and deflected passes

• Three-point shooting (not necessarily three-point making)

• Five-out sets

Andy Tulin on the Liberty:

Is Jonquel Jones the most important player for Liberty opponents to stop? Jones hasn’t finished higher than third on the team in scoring since joining New York in 2023, but last year’s WNBA Finals MVP lifted the Liberty to their third straight win Saturday at Indiana, scoring 14 of her team-high 26 points in the final frame. She added 12 rebounds for her second double-double of the season as New York improved to 31-4 when Jones has a double-double including 24-0 in the regular season. The team is also 15-1 when Jones has a double-double since the start of last season, the only loss coming in the opening game of the 2024 Finals against the Minnesota Lynx.

She will probably end up finishing third or fourth in scoring again this season, because Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu still exist and Natasha Cloud is actually the top scorer at the moment, but the Liberty pretty much don’t lose when Jones is doing her thing.

Haubner ranks GSV #8 (of 13) in his Power Rankings. NYL naturally is a soaring #1.

Color me impressed with Natalie Nakase and the newest WNBA franchise. Despite the criticism they took with regard to their draft strategy and how vet laden their team became, clearly they had an idea of what kind of culture and program they wanted to build in year one. The Valkyries have beaten their contemporaries — Washington and L.A. — and clearly are a step behind the top teams as evidenced by their blowout loss in New York on Tuesday. But that’s to be expected.

I’ve been really impressed with Kayla Thornton, who has taken the reins as a number one option on this team while the European contingent of Jamelle Salaun and Carla Leite has been extremely fun to see develop. There’s an article to be written about whether or not the WNBA is actively training Team USA’s first true Olympic rival but that’s for another time. I’d also be remiss if I didn’t add Veronica Burton into players that have been impressive in a new setting. Few know about Burton’s collegiate dominance at Northwestern given their lack of national success but she was absolutely her. As a senior, she averaged 17.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6.4 assists and 4.0 steals (!) per game. Despite bouncing around the W, she’s always been built for the league and I’m so glad to see her finding her footing in Golden State. Ultimately, the early returns are good and may make them very attractive in next years highly anticipated free agency period.

Apricot’s Game 4 Summary

• Full write up here

Scoreboard was ugly, but

• NYL came out with fiery shock and awe start to go up 25

• GSV settled down behind usual strong D and stormed back to within 11, great fightback

• But GSV wore down at the end playing 9 with two starters out (Hayes, Billings)

• GSV will be defiant and angry for Thu rematch, the awe is gone

Oversimplified guide to the Valkyries roster

• Probable Starters, slightly scoring challenged but feisty defenders

  • #22 Veronica Burton. Solid point guard, outstanding defender and ball-stealer, decent at running pick-and-roll.

  • #5 Kayla Thornton. Key bench player for the champion Liberty, vet all-around forward. Likes to spot up for corner 3s and get dirty fighting for rebounds everywhere. With Burton seems to be a team leader and organizer.

  • #14 Temi Fágbénlé. Decent scoring, all-around, solid vet center.

  • #13 Janelle Salaün, Fresh off an Italian League Finals MVP, she joined GSV in Game 2 and hasn’t stopped shooting since. She’s reportedly headed for Eurobasket for June so enjoy her while you can.

  • ??? Was in previous games: Burton, Vanloo, Hayes, Billings. Burton started on Tuesday but the starters were destroyed, so Nakase may switch things up. Maybe a Leite start?

• Entertaining Bench, slightly chaotic

  • #0 Carla Leite, youngest at 21 y.o., was 2024-25 EuroCup Finals MVP.

    • Has settled down into two straight excellent games after an out of control opener, and has earned Nakase’s trust to play crunch time.

    • Promised NOT to leave for Eurobasket, a commitment that has won my heart.

  • #20 Kate Martin. The most popular player, Iowa teammate of Caitlin Clark.

    • Secondary playmaker. Limited WNBA experience, had good flashes in 3v3 Unrivaled.

    • Has hit a couple of threes but her finishing at the rim has been difficult

  • #31 Kyara Linskens.

    • Solid rebounding machine, a classic center. A little skittish at layups so far.

    • Also promised to NOT leave for Eurobasket.

  • #35 Julie Vanloo. Goddess of Chaos, inventive and ambitious playmaker guard, in the starting lineup for the injured Hayes to add some scoring punch. A little shaky on defense so far.

  • #7 Stephanie Talbot. Vet wing who can shoot the 3. Had been penciled in as starter in preseason, but injuries delayed her debut until Game 3 where she looked rusty.

• Maybe Not Playing (see Injury Report above for updated availability)

  • #25 Monique Billings. Sturdy scorer and rebounding vet

  • #15 Tiffany Hayes. Lightning bug driver, unstoppable in the open court. But this team leader (she spoke at opening day) had a bad nose injury and her return date is unclear.

  • #24 Cecilia Zandalasini. Another vet wing who can shoot the 3. Has been out all training camp with right foot issue.