The latest Golden State Valkyries vs. Toronto Tempo meeting was a tale of two benches. The Valkyries outscored Toronto's reserves 46-8, with Janelle Salaun pouring in 24 points off the pine. That second-half surge carried Golden State to a 96-79 win Sunday at Chase Center.
Janelle Salaun Drives Second-Half Rally in Golden State Valkyries vs Toronto Tempo
Despite the final score, the Tempo controlled the early action. Toronto built a 56-51 lead in the third quarter after a Julie Allemand three.
But Salaun answered immediately. She rattled off 11 points in a four-minute stretch with two threes, a three-point play, and a mid-range jumper. That run flipped the deficit into a 67-59 Valkyries advantage.
From there, Golden State's bench took over. Tiffany Hayes added 15 points, helping the Valkyries build a 46-8 edge in reserve scoring. Veronica Burton chipped in 17 points and six assists, while Kiah Stokes anchored the interior with 11 rebounds and five blocks.
Toronto got double-figure scoring from all five of its starters, led by Nyara Sabally's 19 points and eight rebounds. Still, the Tempo, currently playing without an injured Marina Mabrey, couldn't match Golden State's depth down the stretch.
The win snapped a two-game skid for the Valkyries (20-9). Toronto (10-19) has now dropped six straight.
