Deadspin | Kayla Thornton, Valkyries sink Sparks in additional time

Kayla Thornton and Tami Fagbenle every recorded a double-double whilst main the visiting Golden State Valkyries to an 89-81 additional time win over the Los Angeles Sparks on Monday.

Thornton put an exclamation level on her 18-point, 11-rebound efficiency within the ultimate minute of the additional duration when she got here up with a board in site visitors whilst Golden State nursed an 84-81 lead.

On the following ownership, Los Angeles defenders tried to lure Carla Leite off of a pick-and-roll. Thornton popped to the left wing and was once wide-open for a seize 3-pointer when Leite discovered her with a high-arcing move.

Thornton’s triple with 38.6 seconds left successfully put away a 2nd consecutive win for the growth Valkyries (4-5).

Fagbenle completed with 14 issues, a game-high 13 rebounds, 4 steals and 4 blocked photographs, whilst Janelle Salaun led Golden State with 21 issues.

Los Angeles’ Kelsey Plum led all scorers with 24 issues, and she or he got here inches clear of finishing the sport in law.

Plum created a just right glance within the paint simply earlier than the buzzer, riding into the paint off of a pump-fake from the highest of the important thing. Her floater fell quick, and Thornton secured the rebound to verify additional time.

Los Angeles (3-7) controlled only one box function within the additional body, which got here on a Plum jumper. Plum additionally dished a game-high seven assists.

Dearica Hamby was once the one different Sparks participant to attain in double figures, posting 20 issues. She added a team-high 9 rebounds.

Five Golden State scorers reached double figures, with Leite going for 15 issues off the bench and Monique Billings including 10 in reserve accountability. Veronica Burton added every other 9 issues for Golden State, with seven coming on the free-throw line.

Burton’s lone made box function got here early within the additional time to provide Golden State the lead for just right after Los Angeles struck first on an Azura Stevens unfastened throw. The Valkyries restricted Stevens to only six issues on 1-of-7 taking pictures from the ground.

The contest was once a part of the Commissioner’s Cup, with Golden State making improvements to to 2-2 whilst Los Angeles slipped to 1-2.

–Field Level Media