Golden State Valkyries vs Phoenix Mercury Prediction, Injury Report, Predicted Lineups, Where to Watch, Odds | WNBA Preseason 2025

The Golden State Valkyries are the newest franchise in the WNBA. They played their first pre-season game against their deemed conference rivals Los Angeles Sparks on May 06. Though the Valkyries put up a tough fight, their first game in the league ended with a one-point loss. Well, not a bad start for the newbie on the block!

The Valkyries next play the Phoenix Mercury for their second pre-season game. So, how do the two teams match up against one another? In this article, we will give you a detailed preview, analysis, prediction of match results, lineups, and injury reports ahead of this much anticipated showdown.

Golden State Valkyries vs Phoenix Mercury Preview

The Golden State Valkyries are like the freshest kids on the block, looking to bring a new vigor to the league with their season campaign. However, pre-season form helps one determine a lot about the team's mentality and objective heading into the season. The Valkyries are owned by the same ownership group as the Golden State Warrior, led by Joe Lacob. For now, we do know that the Golden State organization does not compromise on winning. Maybe, we can expect that same mentality carry forward from the Warriors to the Valkyries too.

The Valkyries will play their home games at the Chase Center, with Ohemaa Nyanin as their general manager. Nyanin brings years of international basketball experience and has built a roster with more international talents than any other team. Coach Natalie Nakase for now wants to lean into defensive mindset. This because it is the safest way to mitigate alongside the time it takes to build offensive cohesion and chemistry for a group of players setting foot on the floor for the first time together.

The Valkyries' roster consists of a mix of veteran role players such as Tiffany Hayes, Temi Fagbenle, and Kayla Thornton among others. Emerging stars such as Kate Martin and Veronica Burton are also notable members on the roster alongside international talents such as Belgian guard Julie Vanloo, Australian veteran Stephanie Talbot, and Italian Forward Cecilia Zandalasini.

No player on Golden State's roster has ever had a career scoring average in double digits. The most one could expect is some amount of cohesion amongst veterans such as Fagbenle, Thornton, and Monique Billings from the roster. Most of them also know the league's interior players given their experience in different WNBA teams.

Scouting for the Golden State Valkyries would never be a problem. However, execution on the floor might be a concern. The Phoenix Mercury has a roster featuring experienced players in the league, who can combine their cohesion and chemistry on both ends of the floor. But with coach Nakase's approach, perhaps winning wouldn't be as big of a problem for the Valkyries yet.

Golden State Valkyries vs Phoenix Mercury Injury Report

Ahead of the Golden State Valkyries vs Phoenix Mercury matchup, here is how the injury report for both teams look like. The status of these players are subject to change ahead of tip-off.

Golden State Valkyries Injury Report

The following players are listed on the Golden State Valkyries injury report:

• Juste Jocyte (OUT): Juste Jocyte is unlikely to play in this season of the WNBA.

Phoenix Mercury Injury Report

There is no player listed on the Phoenix Mercury injury report as of yet. However, the status of the players is subject to change ahead of match tip-off.

Predicted Lineups

The predicted lineups for the Golden State Valkyries and the Phoenix Mercury will feature talents both young and old. One of the most interesting aspects of this matchup is to look out for the international players on the floor. The Valkyries have drawn attention by creating a roster full of international talents to look out for. Here is our prediction for the lineups for the Golden State Valkyries vs Phoenix Mercury matchup.

Golden State Valkyries Predicted Lineup

The Golden State Valkyries predicted lineup could feature the following players:

Phoenix Mercury Predicted Lineup

The Phoenix Mercury predicted lineup could feature the following players:

Where to Watch Golden State Valkyries vs Phoenix Mercury

If you are wondering where to watch Golden State Valkyries vs Phoenix Mercury game, we've got you covered here. Check out the following details, as listed below:

Venue: PHX Arena, Phoenix, AZ

Date: 11 May, 6:00 PM EST

Local TV: Arizona's family 3TV, Arizona's Family Sports, KPIX+, KMAX 31

Stream: WNBA League Pass

Golden State Valkyries vs Phoenix Mercury: Who Will Win?

Determining the outcome of a Golden State Valkyries vs Phoenix Mercury matchup is a tough one. First, the Valkyries have played just one game so far, showing credible defensive tenacity and implementing head coach Natalie Nakase's ‘defensive’ approach. To be fair, it's the best approach for any new team with an entirely fresh roster to start out defensively.

In their last matchup against the Los Angeles Sparks, the Valkyries lost by just one point. Perhaps, they can also hold up Phoenix Mercury long enough to squeeze out a narrow win. However, given the experience and cohesion amongst the Mercury's roster, the game could be only a matter of luck to flip for Valkyries' favor.

Our Prediction: Golden State Valkyries 88-89 Phoenix Mercury

The Phoenix Mercury Win by 1 point

Golden State Valkyries vs Phoenix Mercury Betting Odds

The following are the betting odds for Golden State Valkyries vs Phoenix Mercury matchup:

• Odds: Mercury by 0.5
• Over/Under: 177.5
• Money Line: Valkyrie -100 | Mercury +150