Valkyries blow second-half lead, lose in Phoenix without All-Star Williams

The Valkyries lost hold of a 13-point lead in the third quarter to the Phoenix Mercury in a 91-89 loss on Wednesday night in the return from the All-Star break for both teams.

A pair of Phoenix runs in the second half turned the game around.

The Valkyries led 64-51 after Laeticia Amihere made a layup with 1:45 left in the third quarter, but Kaleah Copper led a 9-0 run to tighten it entering the fourth. An 11-0 run led by Alyssa Thomas midway through the final quarter gave the Mercury the lead, and they never trailed again.

Phoenix shot 43 free throws to the Valkyries’ 19 as Golden State was called for 34 fouls.

“We have to be able to adjust to the way the game is being called,” Golden State guard Veronica Burton said. “There were a lot of fouls; we did foul a lot, so we need to be able to be aggressive and be physical without fouling, keeping our composure.”

Cecilia Zandalasini fouled out with 16 points on 6-of-17 shooting for Golden State (19-9). Burton added 15 points and Kaila Charles had 10 points and a season-high 10 rebounds, her second career double-double and her first since 2021. Janelle Salaün made two of her five 3-point attempts, reaching 69 made 3s on the season to break the WNBA’s record for a bench player.

Charles started in the place of All-Star Gabby Williams, who sat out the first game after the league’s break for conditioning.

“It’s a great experience for us to have games like this on the road, battling,” coach Natalie Nakase told reporters postgame. “I thought everyone stayed intently into it towards the end. I just would love a better start. We just have to start better and we have to defend without fouling.”

Thomas had 25 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, Copper scored 27 and DeWanna Bonner added 17 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks for the Mercury (11-18). They have won three straight following a five-game losing streak.

Copper was called for her sixth foul with 1:45 to play, the Mercury challenged and, after replay review, the call was upheld. Nine seconds later, Kayla Thornton hit a 3-pointer that tied it at 82, but Bonner answered with two free throws with 1:27 remaining to take the lead for good.

Salaün had a chance to tie it after being fouled on a 3-point attempt late, but missed her last free throw of the trio. With 5.6 seconds left, she was fouled again on a 3 with Golden State trailing by four, but made all three free throws, banking in the third to miss out on a rebound opportunity.

Golden State, which lost at home to Washington last time out, has lost back-to-back games, falling a half-game behind second-place Las Vegas. The Valkyries return home Sunday night for a game against the Toronto Tempo, the expansion team’s first visit to the Bay Area.