In a thrilling contest on Wednesday night, the Phoenix Mercury edged out the Golden State Valkyries with a narrow 91-89 victory, capitalizing on crucial errors in the closing seconds. The game, which promised to be a decisive statement for Golden State, instead highlighted the impact of missing key personnel and late-game pressure.
Alyssa Thomas Dominates Late in Valkyries vs Mercury Matchup
Golden State entered halftime with a commanding 12-point lead, appearing poised to maintain control. However, Phoenix staged an impressive rally, spearheaded by Kahleah Copper’s team-high 27 points. Alyssa Thomas played a pivotal role in the Mercury’s resurgence, contributing 25 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists. Veteran DeWanna Bonner also delivered a significant performance, recording a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double to support the comeback effort.
Despite the Valkyries’ strong start and sustained efforts, the Mercury’s resilience proved decisive as the game reached its climax.
Golden State Valkyries Fall Short Without Gabby Williams
The closing moments were marked by a pair of pivotal mistakes from Golden State. With less than 20 seconds remaining, Janelle Salaün was fouled while attempting a three-pointer and made two of her three free throws, falling just short of tying the game. Immediately following, Tiffany Hayes committed a costly turnover by throwing an inbound pass out of bounds while pressured by the five-second count.
The absence of star player Gabby Williams, who leads the team with an average of 14.8 points per game, was felt deeply. Williams has been sidelined since early July due to a back contusion. In her stead, Cecilia Zandalasini led the Valkyries’ scoring with 16 points, while Veronica Burton added 15 points, keeping the team competitive until the final buzzer.