While the WNBA playoffs are already set for next month, the eliminated teams now aim to finish the season on a strong note. However, the Golden State Valkyries showed the Connecticut Sun why they are the current second seed on Wednesday night. The Valkyries also managed to complete another side quest and created franchise history along with the win. Meanwhile, the game between expansion side Toronto Tempo and the Seattle Storm saw the rise of another rookie, as Kiki Rice set a career high. The No. 6 overall pick has been one of the few positives for head coach Sandy Brondello this season.

As we steadily approach the postseason, let’s take a look at the Valkyries’ quick ascension to the top, along with the fallen sides and how they have reacted to their elimination on the court.

The Tempo falls, but Kiki Rice shines bright

It seemed like Toronto would make a late-season surge after their victory over the Portland Fire, but they are now on a two-game losing streak again, with losses against reigning champions Las Vegas Aces and now, bottom-place Seattle Storm. However, their silver lining comes in the form of rookie Kiki Rice, who had a career night in the 90-78 loss to the Storm.

Rice was literally everywhere on the court, and her stats reflected that to the fullest. 24 points on 50 per cent shooting from the field, five assists, three rebounds, and one steal, Rice aggressively drove to the rim, swished pull-ups, and even did dirty work on the glass. It was one of the best individual overall performances for the Tempo this season, coming from the first-year guard.

“I think it’s just about being ready for your opportunity. Obviously, we’ve had a lot of injuries, and so different people have different roles,” Rice told the media after the game.

Injuries have definitely been a concern for the Tempo this season, and Wednesday’s report was long, to say the least. Marina Mabrey suffered an adductor injury and will be reevaluated in the coming days and weeks. Nyara Sabally injured her calf a few weeks ago and also remains out, while Brittney Sykes and Aneesah Morrow are out for the season itself with the injuries they suffered in Vancouver.

With so many key players sidelined for Brondello, this made Rice the centerpiece of the team, and she has definitely taken that opportunity to the fullest. However, so many injuries also gave the Tempo the opportunity to strengthen their squad again, as the league determined the Tempo were eligible for an emergency extreme hardship contract, which they used to sign guard Kiana Williams on Monday.

This puts our attention on other players, who also need to step up as Rice did under such circumstances. Another player who has shined alongside the No. 6 overall is Isabelle Harrison, who scored 17 points and a career-high 14 rebounds against the Storm.

“I think along with the injuries that we’ve been having, a lot of voices have been out of the locker room too, so that’s exactly what I’m trying to bring. Just so we have a constant voice of what we need to do and some steadiness,” Harrison said.

Meanwhile, the Storm finally caught a lucky break. In the last 10 games, head coach Sonia Raman’s side won only two, including the one on Wednesday.

The Storm took advantage of the short-handed Tempo, as five players recorded double-digit scores, headlined by rookie Flau’jae Johnson’s 20 points and 3 rebounds. Dominique Malonga tallied 18 points and 7 rebounds, while Jade Melbourne contributed 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists. Rookie Awa Fam and Zia Cooke also did their part, scoring 10 points each.

It was definitely the rookie show at the Climate Pledge Arena, headlined by Kiki Rice and Flau’jae Johnson. While their sides are out of playoff contention, the first-rounders have shown their abilities to anchor their side in the coming seasons. Next up, the Storm take on the Los Angeles Sparks, while the Tempo continue their road trip with back-to-back games against the Las Vegas Aces and the Phoenix Mercury.

Golden State Valkyries show their depth with franchise record

The Valkyries had the perfect response for coming up short in back-to-back games against the Minnesota Lynx and the Chicago Sky, redeeming themselves against the Lynx for the first time in their short history and making quick work of the Connecticut Sun at their own home on Wednesday.

The momentum was seen throughout the squad, as in the Valkyries’ 89-64 victory against the Sun, 54 points came from the bench, setting a new franchise record. The Valkyries extend their record to 27-11 for the season, firmly sitting in second place with a 0.711 win percentage.

“We have had some slow starts in the past few games, and given the team energy, so we wanted to make sure that we punch first today, and then continue punching all four quarters, so that was an emphasis, to really set the tone and dictate and not react,” Kaila Charles told reporters after the game.

Charles was one of the most efficient scorers of the night, recording 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists in 19 minutes off the bench. A highly energetic performance, to say the least.

Such energy is required during a time in the season when heavy exhaustion starts to kick in, thanks to the mental and physical toll put on by road games, back-to-back trips, and minutes on the court adding up. This is why Gabby Williams vows to work on her mind as much as her body.

“I work with someone. Treating my brain like a muscle,” Williams said after an intense afternoon practice in late July, via an exclusive interview with ClutchPoints.

“When you talk it out with someone, [in] their specialty, it’s really nice. It’s exercising, and it’s like your shot. Your shot doesn’t become perfect. You have to rep it out. You have to rep it out, and it’s the same thing with these kinds of exercises for your mental.”

Meanwhile, Janelle Salaun scored a team-high 15 points for the Valkyries, once again off the bench. She did so in just 18 minutes, thumping in 4-of-6 shots from outside the arc. Salaun was also on the same wavelength as Charles when talking about the important role of the next unit and how it’s coming together.

“I think we’re working well as a second unit. I think we know each other pretty well, and I think it’s something that, that’s our strength. We just know how to play together, and like she said, we’re selfless players, and I think that’s what (is) working for us,” Salaun told reporters.

Meanwhile, the Sun have only two home games left for the season, and they will bid goodbye to the Mohegan Sun Arena for good, as they are set to relocate to Houston and revive the Houston Comets following a $300 million sale to Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta. Maybe some new threads will bring success to the 10-28 team next season.

As for the Valkyries, they now travel to New York to play a potential postseason opponent in the Liberty (23-15). Salaun, Williams, and Cecilia Zandalasini will then miss the August 30 game against the Portland Fire due to their commitments to represent their countries in the FIBA Women’s World Cup in Berlin.

Their absences will allow head coach Natalie Nakase more opportunities to strengthen the bench for the playoffs, as the Valkyries look like a definitive threat to the likes of the Minnesota Lynx and reigning champions Las Vegas Aces in just their second season in the WNBA.