Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the WNBA match.
Two consecutive defeats to the Minnesota Lynx have dropped the Phoenix Mercury to third place in their conference. This decline is clearly a concern for the squad, and the Golden State Valkyries should be prepared to face a highly motivated opponent.
Phoenix Mercury
There are significant doubts surrounding the Phoenix Mercury's form this season, as all of their wins have come against lower-tier teams. When tested against stronger opposition, including the Seattle Storm and the Minnesota Lynx (twice), they have failed to register a single victory. More worryingly, they have averaged just 68.6 points per game in those matchups.
Golden State Valkyries
At first glance, three consecutive defeats might suggest poor form for the Golden State Valkyries. However, it's worth noting the strength of their recent schedule, which included two games against the defending champions the New York Liberty and a home fixture versus the Minnesota Lynx. Crucially, they were only convincingly beaten once. In their second meeting with the New York Liberty, they lost by just five points — a margin the Phoenix Mercury may struggle to surpass.
Phoenix Mercury vs Golden State Valkyries Prediction
The Golden State Valkyries recently held their own against the Minnesota Lynx, losing by just 11 points. In contrast, the Phoenix Mercury were defeated by a 23-point margin by the same opponent. Although the Phoenix Mercury go into this contest as firm favourites, there’s little to suggest a one-sided outcome. The Golden State Valkyries are expected to stay competitive and avoid a heavy defeat.
