Golden State overwhelmed Connecticut 89-64 on Wednesday, despite a career-high showing from Sun rookie Charlisse Leger-Walker. Instead, the Valkyries set a franchise record with 54 bench points in their most complete road performance of the season.
Golden State's depth was suffocating from the start.
Golden State Valkyries Dominate Connecticut Sun with Balanced Attack
Eleven of 14 players scored at least two points, led by Janelle Salaün's 15 points on four three-pointers and Veronica Burton's 12-point, seven-assist night. Kaila Charles (14 points) and Kaitlyn Chen (10) also reached double figures off the bench, leaving Connecticut without a defensive answer.
Even so, Charlisse Leger-Walker gave the Sun their best individual performance. The rookie guard netted a career-high 17 points, but her breakout game came during a lopsided Valkyries vs Sun matchup that was effectively over by halftime. Golden State closed the second quarter on a 14-0 run and took a 55-27 lead into the break after the Connecticut Sun went scoreless over the final 3:51.
"We didn't respect ourselves," Connecticut head coach Rachid Meziane said after the game.
Connecticut Sun Enter World Cup Break Short-Handed
The Sun were forced to play without starters Leila Lacan, Brittney Griner, Aaliyah Edwards, and Olivia Nelson-Ododa after a World Cup call-up for the French guard and injuries benched the rest. They'll look to regroup during the upcoming two-week break for international play before finishing out the season.
The Valkyries, meanwhile, improved to 27-11 and sit second in the WNBA standings heading into the final stretch.
