Valkyries vs Mercury predictions
When you look at the Golden State Valkyries heading into this matchup, it’s hard to ignore the pressure hanging in the air. After dropping three straight, the squad needs a few players to step up if they want to get things back on track. Kayla Thornton has been leading the way with her scoring, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see her put up another solid night—think right around her usual 12 points, with the potential to edge a bit higher if Phoenix’s defense gets stretched. Keep an eye on Janelle Salaun, too. She’s been grabbing rebounds left and right, so another strong showing on the boards seems likely. Veronica Burton’s playmaking will be crucial; if she keeps dishing at her current pace, she could easily notch five or more assists and help keep the offense flowing.
Shifting the spotlight to the Phoenix Mercury, there’s a mix of momentum and concern. Satou Sabally has just been on a tear, consistently putting up over 20 points, and at home she’s always a threat to ignite the crowd with another big performance. The Mercury love pushing the tempo, and with Sabally on the boards, second-chance points are on the menu. However, Alyssa Thomas being sidelined is going to shake up their playmaking a bit—she’s been their engine with eight assists a night. Expect others to step up and spread the ball around, but honestly, you know the Mercury will be feeling that absence when trying to generate offense in the half-court.
So, all things considered, with Phoenix finding a groove at home (just one loss in the Valley this season) and the Valkyries working through this rough patch, the edge seems to lean Mercury. Golden State definitely has the pieces and spark to pull off a surprise, but unless Thorntons and Salaun can both have breakout performances and disrupt Phoenix’s home dominance, it’s just tough to see anyone slowing the Mercury down right now. If you had to pick, Phoenix feels like the safe bet to snag another win in PHX Arena. What do you think—could we see an upset, or does the Mercury magic keep rolling?
