Trailing by 2 to start the 2nd quarter in Los Angeles, Golden State scored 18 unanswered points, and held on to win 82-73.
Four Valkyries scored in double figures, and the Golden State bench outscored the Los Angeles bench 30-6.
***
Among the first six or seven Valkyries, the player who most stands out to me is Carla Leite. The 21-year-old guard had team highs with 19 points and 3 assists in 17 minutes Friday.
Golden State’s 12th man Kyara Linskens played 13 effective (+15) minutes, while the home team was nearly buried.
I have two questions for Coach Nakase about Linskens: 1) Does she prefer Linskens to Fagbenlie in the middle of the zone defense, and 2) Please show me the X and O diagram for the play that isolates Linskens on the right hash! Er, in the form of a question, 2) Is that a set play, or did that isolation arise organically within the offense?
I said what I like most about Linskens is her passing ability. Post passers have always been my favorite players, going back to 1976 NBA rookie of the year Alvan Adams, a 6-9 210 small forward who played center for Western Conference champion Phoenix, and led the Suns with 5.6 assists per game.
I bloody forgot to note the time on the clock when Golden State gave Linskens the ball on the right side, around the FTL extended, then stacked the other four on the left hash, enabling the passer to find a target amidst multiple screen and cut options.
That was the possession that captured my attention.
Los Angeles neglects one quarter in each game. In the loss to Phoenix, the Mercury won the 3rd quarter 24-7. In this loss to Golden State, the Valkyries won the 2nd 25-9.
The Sparks are intent on correcting this in Sunday’s game vs. Chicago. I would’ve liked to be here for that, but I so woefully botched the travel planning for this adventure. If I’d been smart, and made arrangements before last night’s media credential was approved, I probably would’ve spent less for a three-day stay than I did for this single day.