Deadspin | Mercury, Valkyries relieved to be dealing with one some other

The Phoenix Mercury and Golden State Valkyries get a reprieve from the league’s elite once they meet in Phoenix on Thursday.

Each misplaced to the 8-0 Minnesota Lynx the ultimate day trip — the injury-depleted Mercury falling 88-65 on Tuesday in Minneapolis. The growth Valkyries misplaced to the Lynx 86-75 on Sunday in San Francisco.

The Valkyries (2-4) input on a three-game dropping streak, all 3 towards the 7-0 New York Liberty (two times) and the Lynx. The Mercury is 5-3, and their ultimate two losses are to the Lynx.

Mercury trainer Nate Tibbetts has but to place his projected beginning lineup at the flooring this season. Forward Alyssa Thomas has ignored the ultimate 3 video games with a calf harm, and projected starters guard Kahleah Copper (knee) and Natasha Mack (again) have no longer performed in any respect.

“We’re just asking a lot of people to do some things that normally they’re not used to doing,” Tibbetts mentioned. “We had three (new) players in the rotation. It makes it extremely tough to put a well-executed group out there. Everyone’s kind of learning on the fly.”

Forward Satou Sabally had 15 issues and 8 rebounds towards the Lynx on Tuesday and leads the staff with a 20.5 scoring moderate and 8.1 rebounds in keeping with recreation in her first season in Phoenix after being bought from Dallas.

Sabally’s 6-of-16 capturing typified the staff’s offensive troubles with out No.2 scorer Thomas towards the Lynx. Rookie guard Lexi Held had a team-high 16 issues, however the Mercury shot 38.4 p.c and made 5 of 30 3-point makes an attempt.

The Valkyries take a “balanced attack” to the following stage. Veronica Burton, Kayla Thornton and Janelle Salaun are averaging 12.0 issues in keeping with recreation, even supposing rookie Salaun has performed one fewer recreation. Guard Tiffany Hayes is averaging 10.0.

Salaun averages a team-high 7.4 rebounds and Burton averages 4.2 assists.

“They’re unselfish,” trainer Natalie Nakase mentioned. “That’s the philosophy we talked about in picking these players. They always make the right play. That’s why you just never know who is going to be the leading scorer because they constantly move the ball.”

Burton had 21 issues within the loss to Minnesota on Sunday when Kate Martin had a career-high 14, all in the second one quarter. Five other gamers have led the Valkyries in scoring, with Burton the one repeater. Four have led in rebounds and assists.

–Field Level Media