Golden State Seeks Upset Over Ailing Liberty

SAN FRANCISCO — Tonight, the Golden State Valkyries (7-6) host the New York Liberty (10-3) at Chase Center for what promises to be a compelling WNBA regular-season matchup. The Liberty currently hold a 2-0 lead in the season series, having secured victories in their previous Brooklyn encounters on May 27 (95-67) and May 29 (82-77).

The Valkyries enter this game with strong momentum, winning five of their last six overall and an impressive four consecutive games at home. Key to their recent success has been Kayla Thornton, who leads the team in scoring (15.2 PPG) and rebounding (7.2 RPG). Veronica Burton has also been a significant contributor, leading the team with 4.9 assists per game.

Meanwhile, the New York Liberty, despite their league-leading 10-3 record, are looking to rebound from two consecutive losses. They boast a potent offense, leading the WNBA in points per game (88.3) and steals per game (9.2). Breanna Stewart is a primary scoring threat, averaging 20.8 points, and Sabrina Ionescu has been on fire in June, leading the league with 23.0 points per game for the month. However, the Liberty will be without Jonquel Jones due to a right ankle injury, and Sabrina Ionescu is listed as questionable with a neck injury. This presents a significant challenge for New York and an opportunity for Golden State to narrow the season series gap on their home court.