Janelle Salaün scored 21 and Veronica Burton dished out 12 assists as the Golden State Valkyries beat the Phoenix Mercury 95-79 in their home opener Sunday.
Janelle Salaün scored 21 points and Veronica Burton dished out 12 assists as the Golden State Valkyries opened their home schedule with a 95-79 win over the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday at Chase Center.
Gabby Williams and Kayla Thornton each added 19 points. Burton finished with 13 points, 3 rebounds, and 12 assists. Laeticia Amihere scored 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists off the bench.
Salaün shot 7-of-10 from the field and 4-of-5 from 3-point range. After scoring 20 with 5 made 3-pointers in Friday's opener at Seattle, she has scored 20-plus and made at least 4 3-pointers in each of Golden State's first two games.
The Valkyries shot 49.3% from the field and 13-of-33 from 3-point range. Golden State also went 16-of-18 from the free-throw line.
Alyssa Thomas led Phoenix with 19 points, 9 rebounds, and 11 assists. She finished 1 rebound shy of a triple-double. Jovana Nogic added 16 points on 4-of-5 shooting from 3-point range. Natasha Mack and Kahleah Copper each had 11 points.
Phoenix shot 48.1% from the field and 11-of-22 from 3-point range. The Mercury were playing on the second night of a back-to-back after Saturday's 99-66 win at Las Vegas.
Phoenix took a 20-17 lead after the first quarter before Golden State outscored the Mercury 31-11 in the second period to take a 48-31 advantage into halftime. The Mercury used a 31-18 third quarter to cut the deficit to 66-62 entering the fourth, but the Valkyries answered with a 29-17 final period.
Williams shot 7-of-13 from the field and 4-of-9 from 3-point range. She added 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block.
Thornton shot 8-of-14 from the field and 3-of-8 from 3-point range.
Amihere shot 5-of-7 from the field and 3-of-4 from the free-throw line. She also added 3 blocks in 24 minutes off the bench.
Thomas shot 5-of-9 from the field and 9-of-12 from the free-throw line. She also committed 6 turnovers in just over 37 minutes.
The Valkyries played without Tiffany Hayes (left pinky) and Cecilia Zandalasini (concussion). Both exited Friday's opener at Seattle and did not return.
Phoenix played without Sami Whitcomb (left knee).
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