Overview
- The Valkyries stand at 13-13 with 16 games remaining and occupy the eighth and final playoff berth after a 3-2 road trip without injured All-Star Kayla Thornton.
- All-Star forward Kayla Thornton is out for the season with a knee injury, while Tiffany Hayes, Cecilia Zandalasini and Monique Billings have missed time with health setbacks.
- With $482,445 in available cap space and ownership of all future draft picks, Golden State holds rare flexibility ahead of the August 7 trade deadline.
- Trade targets under consideration include Mystics forwards Aaliyah Edwards and Emily Engstler, Sky guard Kia Nurse and former Syracuse standout Brittney Sykes.
- By Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET deadline, Golden State must decide whether to bolster its roster with short-term rentals, offload veterans like Hayes and Temi Fágbénlé for future assets or stand pat.