Valkyries vs Liberty predictions
If you’ve kept an eye on the Golden State Valkyries this season, you know Kayla Thornton’s quickly establishing herself as one of the steadiest forces on the court. She’s been leading her squad in both points and boards, which tells me there’s a good chance she’ll try to set the tone early against the Liberty, crashing the glass hard and putting up a solid double-digit scoring night. Veronica Burton’s ability to distribute has been a bright spot, too—she’s averaging just over four dimes per game, so expect her to be busy trying to break through New York’s stellar perimeter defense and maybe even push that assist number up a notch if shooters are knocking down open looks.
Now, over on the Liberty side, it almost seems unfair how stacked their lineup is this year. Breanna Stewart is doing what Breanna Stewart does—putting up nearly 20 a game and looking absolutely effortless at times. I’d bet she’ll keep that energy going and give the Valkyries fits in the mid-range. Natasha Cloud has been an absolute maestro at the point, and if the ball keeps moving through her hands, don’t be surprised if her assist total flirts with double digits yet again. Plus, Jonquel Jones is gobbling up rebounds like it’s a personal mission. She’s likely to have her hands full boxing out Thornton, but Jones’s knack for grabbing boards should give New York a definite edge in second-chance opportunities.
So, looking at everything in the mix—talent, chemistry, current momentum—it’s hard not to lean Liberty for this one, right? They’re riding a four-game win streak, have home-court advantage at Barclays Center, and the Valkyries haven’t quite clicked into a higher gear yet this season. Unless Golden State throws a serious curveball or Thornton just goes supernova, I see New York keeping their streak alive and notching another W. What do you think—will the Valkyries surprise everyone or are the Liberty just too much right now?
