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00:00Take a look at the starting lineups for Golden State.
00:02Gabby Williams out because of the back contusion that she suffered Wednesday
00:05versus Toronto.
00:07Kyla Charles will take her place.
00:09And for Connecticut's second straight game
00:11with this same starting five of Miller, Edwards, Nelson Adota,
00:14Ledger Walker, and Lacan.
00:16Natalie Nakase in her second season,
00:18the reigning coach of the year for Golden State,
00:21led this team to the playoffs,
00:23a first for a franchise in their first year of existence.
00:27For Connecticut, Rasheed Mezion in year number two
00:31has seen a steady rhythm despite the injuries
00:35and the absences of one Brittany Griner, Anissa Morrow, and Sanaya Rivers.
00:39You know, this Connecticut Sun team is very different
00:41than what their record indicates.
00:43I mean, they come out here and they play competitively
00:45and they take top teams to the wire.
00:48You know, they just faced off against Minnesota back-to-back,
00:50but they got a dub out of one of those.
00:52And so Golden State here should have to be a good one.
00:54Kevin Fahey, Kelsey Reynolds, and R.J. Johnson
00:57are officials for tonight as Connecticut opens with possession.
01:025-17 on the season,
01:05but narrowly came away with back-to-back wins this week against Minnesota.
01:10Layla Akhan down low to Nelson Adota.
01:13Off glass and in, and what a start for Connecticut.
01:15Already finishing and doing exactly what we expect her to do.
01:18Olivia Nelson Adota is most likely going to be
01:22the most important person in this game for Connecticut tonight.
01:24Meanwhile, Golden State playing their fourth game in seven days,
01:2716-7 on the season.
01:29Kick out to the corner.
01:31Kayla Thornton into the hands of Diamond Miller.
01:36Last time these two teams met was in late May.
01:39Golden State nearly put up 100 on Connecticut, winning by 27.
01:43And if you go back to the matchup here a year ago,
01:46it was on by Connecticut by 31 points,
01:49as possession will stay with the sun.
01:51With nine on the shot clock,
01:53there is Gabby Williams out because of the back contusion,
01:56named an all-star starter this season,
01:58which will make it her second career all-star appearance.
02:01And the late scratch for her tonight,
02:03but man, is that a huge piece of the offense and defense,
02:06and she has solidified herself
02:07as one of the best two-way players in this league.
02:09Miller with the shot clock winding down.
02:12Spots up for three.
02:15Tapped away.
02:16And possession to the Valkyries.
02:18Golden State and Connecticut arguing
02:22whether or not that will stay with possession.
02:24There's Brittany Griner out once again because of injury.
02:28And they do, in fact, reverse the call.
02:30Will stay with Connecticut with 14 on the shot clock.
02:32You know, Brittany Griner had stretches
02:34where she was just playing so incredibly well
02:36and it always seems like her injuries
02:37just come at the most inopportune time
02:39in the season of college.
02:41Had the season-high 29-point performance
02:43on Monday versus Minnesota.
02:47Nelson Adota squares up with five on the shot clock.
02:50Nice backdoor cut to Miller who goes reverse.
02:54Way to have some court awareness there
02:56from Olivia Nelson Adota,
02:57and that's going to be important too,
02:58just making sure that they can keep a balance here
03:00and getting people involved very early on.
03:04Quick 4-0 spurt for Connecticut to begin this game.
03:09Shot clock under 10.
03:13Kyla Charles, the former son,
03:16will head to the free throw line.
03:22So when you think about what this Connecticut team
03:25is able to do, this is one of those things.
03:27Olivia Nelson Adota had Kia Stokes on her
03:29but was able to see the back cut by Diamond Miller.
03:32You want to talk about consistency.
03:34Miller has been that consistent piece.
03:36When they've been tinkering with the lineups,
03:37the one person that's been in every game
03:39has been Diamond Miller.
03:41Here's Charles to the free throw line,
03:43was the 23rd pick back in 2020 for Connecticut.
03:48The 28-year-old out of Maryland.
03:56Kyla Charles, you talk about adding
03:59to this defensive presence of Golden State, man.
04:02She is one that can defend,
04:04hustles very well, rebounds.
04:07Such a key piece for this Golden State team.
04:09Normally an option off the bench,
04:11but because of the injury to Williams
04:12in the starting lineup tonight,
04:14Connecticut tries to work it down to Nelson Adota.
04:17Back out to Ledger Walker.
04:18The rookie knocks down the three.
04:217-2 start for Connecticut.
04:26Getting into a very good offensive rhythm here
04:28and doing a good job of getting
04:30several players involved early.
04:33Here's Veronica Burton.
04:36This fires into the hands of Ledger Walker.
04:41Lacan pushing up tempo.
04:43Nelson Adota spots up for the 12-foot jumper.
04:47Connecticut lights out to begin this game
04:49from the floor, shooting four of six.
04:53Spacing the four very well at this point.
04:56Making Golden State have to choose
04:58how do they and where do they go to defend.
05:02It's on to Lazini with the right-hand push
05:06and the first field goal made for Golden State
05:08comes at the 7-13 mark.
05:139-4 our score.
05:14Connecticut, winners of three of their last five.
05:17Golden State has that one partially blocked by Burton
05:20and last touch by Connecticut.
05:24And again, Charlize Ledger Walker just, again,
05:27being able to get out and transition,
05:28get out and run, and Olivia Nelson Adota spotting up
05:31and having that ability, that flexibility
05:32to kind of shoot and pull up mid-range
05:35or finishing at the rim, I mean,
05:36it just allows this team so much more versatility
05:39to score and gonna force the Valkyries
05:43to defend differently.
05:44And her shooting has been exceptional
05:46over the last 10 games, shooting at least 50%
05:48from the floor.
05:50There's a steal by Aaliyah Edwards.
05:52Coast to coast, takes it in for the layup.
05:55A seven-point lead to start this game for the Sun.
05:58We want to talk about somebody
06:00that's got defense in her bag.
06:01That's Aaliyah Edwards.
06:02If it's one thing that she's gonna do, it's defend.
06:05Closing in on 600 career points
06:07was an acquisition by Connecticut
06:09last year at the deadline from the Mystics.
06:13Here's Burton, matched up against Ledger Walker.
06:18Veronica Burton is so shifty
06:20when she gets out and puts her head down.
06:22But good defense is staying there
06:24for that shot clock violation.
06:26I mean, that's what Connecticut,
06:27this is the pace that Connecticut wants to play at,
06:30and this is what they want to do,
06:31and this is how.
06:33Just being out on the perimeter,
06:35you see Aaliyah Edwards,
06:37and perimeter defense has been something
06:38that this Connecticut Sun team has struggled with,
06:40but that was an excellent play
06:41and an excellent way to get out
06:42and read the pass by Aaliyah Edwards.
06:44Well, certainly defense has been the trademark
06:45as of late for Connecticut in terms of steals.
06:48They're number three in the league,
06:49averaging just over eight per game,
06:52and Rasheed Mezion spoke about this
06:54prior to the game,
06:54about how his defense consistently steps up
06:57and meets the match when necessary.
07:00Nelson Adota, that one nearly goes down,
07:02tracked down by Thornton.
07:04You know, if Olivia hadn't hit that one,
07:06I think this place might have lost his mind.
07:13Just over four minutes into this game
07:17as Charles matched up with Miller.
07:20Thornton skies in for the offensive rebound.
07:25Burton.
07:28And the drive out one blocked by Nelson Adota.
07:30Second chance there, no.
07:35And that's what we mean when we talk about
07:37being active under the rim
07:38and just being able to finish on both ends.
07:41That block from Olivia Nelson Adota,
07:43perfect example of just being in the right place
07:45and making the right read.
07:46Bounce pass could not convert on the layup was Thornton.
07:51Leticia Ami here into the game
07:53off the bench for Golden State
07:55and a foul underneath the basket.
08:00Olivia Edwards being very active down there,
08:03but I'm a bit surprised that, you know,
08:05how this Valkyries team has gone this long
08:10and Natalie was like, let them play through it.
08:12I think that maybe they would consider a timeout at this point,
08:15but they're letting them play through it.
08:19Well, quickly, Golden State has gone to their events,
08:23which is number one in scoring this season
08:25at over 35 points a game.
08:27Tiffany Hayes along with Janelle Salon
08:29and Kaitlin Chen into the lineup
08:32as Edwards finds a way weaving through underneath.
08:38And that is now 600 career points for Aaliyah Edwards.
08:42Drawing the defender off and then being able to pivot quickly
08:45in order to get that under the basket.
08:47Such a shifting move.
08:48A 13-4 run to begin this game for the Sun.
08:56Tiffany Hayes splits the double team,
08:59but that leads to a foul
09:00and gets us to our first time out.
09:02Connecticut, Golden State, underway.
09:05Friday Night Basketball in the W on ION.
09:08As long as she gets to work in the post.
09:12You know, Brittany Griner certainly has accomplished T,
09:14everything in her career
09:15from being a national champion at Baylor,
09:17a champion in the WNBA with Phoenix,
09:20but her role now that it's with Connecticut
09:24has changed into a leadership role.
09:26But you see the development
09:27with the younger players in the front court
09:29that have benefited from her tutelage.
09:32Absolutely.
09:32I mean, when she's not playing,
09:34and I've been in those huddles,
09:36she's not just sitting over there chilling.
09:38She's literally sharing things that she sees
09:41and things that she observes on the court
09:43with the younger players.
09:44She really has a great connection with Reagan Beers.
09:46You've seen the way that they, you know, talk
09:48and the way she's been sharing her guidance with her.
09:51So I can see Coach Griner, Coach BG.
09:55Miller missing on the right-handed hook there
09:57is Burton with the rebound.
09:58Connecticut has started out red hot,
10:00six of ten from the floor.
10:01Golden State, meanwhile, one of seven.
10:05Amir here, though, with her first two points
10:07coming off the bench,
10:08and that is going to be a focal point tonight.
10:09Not only the scoring defense for Golden State,
10:11but the bench productivity tonight.
10:14The bench productivity for this team
10:15has been incredible,
10:16and Coach Natalie Nakase talked about that.
10:18You know, she understood
10:19that it was going to be just as important
10:21having a second unit that can contribute
10:23just as well as you have in your first,
10:25having to have dealt with injuries
10:28in her playoff run last season.
10:30Off the give-and-go.
10:31Kaitlin Chen on the floor
10:33along with Burton in the backcourt.
10:35Burton stepped back three with Nelson Adota.
10:38That one nearly went all the way down.
10:40Edwards comes down with a rebound.
10:42Numbers the other way for the Sun.
10:44How about that move by Aaliyah Edwards,
10:46who's up to now six points
10:48on three of four shooting.
10:49Aaliyah Edwards can literally shoot the ball from anywhere,
10:51but don't sleep on Veronica Burton,
10:53even though she missed that shot.
10:54She's very capable of letting it fly from that distance.
10:59Off the give-and-go.
11:00Dump down low to Ami here,
11:02who comes up with now four points
11:03to lead the way,
11:04and again, it's that spark off the bench
11:06for Golden State,
11:07closing this gap now to six.
11:08Yeah, Connecticut also has to do
11:10a better job of holding down that hole.
11:12You can't give up wide-open layups like that.
11:23Ledger Walker off glass and in the first-year rookie
11:27out of UCLA coming off of last year's
11:29national championship run for the Bruins
11:31now with five points early on for the Sun.
11:34Ledger Walker just continues to be
11:35one of Connecticut's most reliable ball handlers.
11:39Another incredible backdoor cut
11:41and the vision that leads to the easy bucket
11:43for Tiffany Hayes.
11:51You see this Golden State team slowly
11:53but surely getting its way back
11:54into finding its offensive rhythm.
12:00Edwards to Ledger Walker loads up for three.
12:04And there's Kennedy Burke.
12:06Reversal, second chance opportunity
12:08comes up as he handed.
12:09Two minutes remaining in the first quarter.
12:11Less than two minutes to go
12:12in this first quarter.
12:14Pressure defense leads to a steal by Edwards.
12:17Connecticut's getting out in the perimeter
12:19and defending.
12:21Edwards wants to post up
12:23and the foul that's going to go against
12:26Janelle Salon.
12:29Now when I tell you that, it has been.
12:32And now a word from State Farm.
12:36You know who puts in the work like you, Caitlin?
12:39State Farm.
12:40They help you get coverage
12:41that fits your life and budget.
12:42That guy puts in the work too.
12:45Yeah, I know.
12:45Gary and I are real tight.
12:47It's Greg.
12:48Oh.
12:51Possession will stay with Connecticut here
12:53with 16 on the shot clock.
12:57Natalie Nakase, who has seen great success
13:01in her tenure, not only in year one,
13:03but also having been an assistant
13:05under Becky Hammond with Las Vegas,
13:08has built this organization
13:10along with a strong front office
13:11to be in even a better position
13:13than they were in year one of existence.
13:18But even she noted to us,
13:20this is a dangerous game
13:21against a Connecticut team
13:23that has won three of their last five.
13:24And a very different Connecticut team too.
13:26I mean, she mentioned to us
13:27some of the players that are here now
13:29were not a part of that May matchup
13:32that they had against each other.
13:33So she definitely had to prepare
13:35a little differently.
13:36Turnover is Chen.
13:37Off to Hayes.
13:39They swing it around.
13:41Top of the arc three by Chen.
13:43One no, tapped away,
13:44and it will stay with the Valkyries
13:46in a fresh 24.
13:50Caitlin Chen has been playing
13:52with so much confidence here lately.
13:55I mean, she is someone
13:56who just really knows exactly
13:58where her shots are going to come from
13:59and is never afraid to go out
14:00and just take it.
14:01And this is a Golden State team,
14:03as we talked about,
14:04built on their defense,
14:05the number one scoring defense.
14:06They held Washington
14:08earlier in the week
14:09to 49 points,
14:10including 16 in the second half.
14:13Salon spots up for three
14:14off the assist by Burton.
14:16And here comes Golden State
14:18within three.
14:19And Janelle Salon,
14:20I mean, she is quite literally
14:21someone who has come off
14:23the bench for this team
14:24and has put the team on her back.
14:2626 points in that last matchup
14:28against Toronto.
14:29A career high for her.
14:30Now a 10-0 run for Golden State.
14:32A chance to tie it
14:33on this potential possession.
14:37Under a minute to go.
14:38Haley Van Litt.
14:40Developmental contract
14:40with Connecticut.
14:41One-on-one with Burton
14:42who had the burst of speed
14:44and she will go
14:45to the free throw line.
14:48Veronica Burton
14:49used to play
14:50in a Connecticut Sun uniform
14:51and her defense was stout then.
14:53Her defense is stout now.
14:54But she's always been
14:55that kind of player
14:56that will just put her head down,
14:57go and attack the basket.
14:59She's got the quickness
15:00and the speed
15:00and she's going to make sure
15:01she draws some contact
15:02on the way there.
15:03There was surprise
15:04around the league
15:05as to whether or not
15:06she would be named
15:07an all-star reserve.
15:09I will say,
15:10regardless,
15:11she has the greatest nickname
15:13I've ever heard of
15:13in my life.
15:14What?
15:15In her time at Northwestern,
15:16and I got this
15:16from Megan McEwen.
15:17Okay.
15:18Known as the
15:20backcourt burglar.
15:23Right?
15:24I mean, come on.
15:25I mean, how is that
15:26not one of the greatest
15:27nicknames of all time?
15:28I mean, that's,
15:28I gotta put that up there.
15:29That's pretty good, VB.
15:34But I mean,
15:35but it makes sense, though.
15:36Like, she will pick your pockets.
15:38Like, she will get it.
15:39And when she's got it,
15:40she's going coast to coast with it.
15:47Two-point lead here
15:49for Connecticut.
15:49Van Litt at the point
15:51as Edwards
15:53showing off the range
15:54and they're going to wave off
15:55the shot attempt.
15:56A whistle on the floor.
16:03It's going to be her first,
16:06just the second team foul
16:07in the quarter for Golden State,
16:09but will put Diamond Miller
16:10at the free throw line.
16:16Diamond Miller is just
16:17one of those players
16:17that just has so much versatility
16:19and her role this season
16:20has been just that,
16:22very versatile.
16:23I mean, she can defend
16:24multiple positions.
16:25She really gives them
16:26a lot of athleticism
16:27and transition,
16:28but I need people
16:30not to forget Diamond
16:31was a number two overall pick.
16:32Like, the girl can play.
16:33Well, Connecticut's now
16:34her third team
16:35since last year
16:36had stops in Minnesota
16:37and Dallas.
16:38Her shooting production
16:39has gone down
16:40since shooting over 40%
16:42in June.
16:42It's down to just over
16:4325% here in the month of July.
16:46But she was an integral part
16:48in the offseason makeover
16:49for the Sun.
16:50Mm-hmm.
16:52Four-point lead
16:53for Connecticut.
16:53Just about a 10-second difference
16:55between game and shot clock.
16:58Here's Chen.
17:00Splits the double team.
17:01Off-class and in.
17:02Kaitlin Chen
17:03having a breakout year
17:05in her second season
17:06with Golden State.
17:07Just so fearless
17:08and so efficient
17:09the way she moves down low.
17:13Miller.
17:14Step back three.
17:16As Salon comes up with it.
17:19So Golden State
17:20ends that first quarter
17:21on a 12-0 run
17:22to cut the deficit
17:24down to two.
17:2519-17.
17:27As we've got a good one
17:28here in Uncas.
17:29For Connecticut,
17:30how have they surprised you?
17:31I'm sorry, I couldn't...
17:32How did Connecticut
17:33surprise you
17:33in that first quarter?
17:35Connecticut's a tough team,
17:36so we already knew
17:36they were going to come out
17:37swinging.
17:37We just had to withstand that
17:38and I think we did
17:39a good job of doing that.
17:40Thank you.
17:41That bench, Tariqa,
17:43in that first quarter
17:44scoring 12 of the 17
17:46for Golden State.
17:47Why has this bench
17:48been so effective
17:49this season
17:50for the Valkyries' success?
17:52Well, certainly
17:52because they understand
17:54everybody has to play a role
17:56and everybody needs
17:57to be able and be capable
17:58of being able
17:59to play every position.
18:00And I think that's something
18:01that Natalie Naconte
18:02has done really well
18:03with ensuring
18:03that everybody understands
18:05everyone's role
18:06so that anyone can fill in
18:07at any moment.
18:07Now Angloma
18:09coming off the bench
18:09for Connecticut
18:10off the vision
18:11from Nelson Adota
18:12and a solid start
18:13for Connecticut
18:14to begin this second quarter.
18:16This is where Golden State
18:17really has shined though
18:18this season
18:18in terms of their
18:19second quarter proficiency.
18:22Just allowing
18:23under 17 points
18:24in the second quarter
18:28as Burton
18:29gives it off to Chen
18:30seeing some value
18:31minutes early on.
18:33Salon spots up
18:35for 3-0
18:35off the mark.
18:36Nelson Adota there
18:37for another rebound.
18:38Yeah, great defense
18:39here on Salon
18:39because that looked
18:40like that could have
18:41been a good shot
18:42for her.
18:44Angloma
18:44too strong
18:45off the bucket
18:47as Golden State
18:48continues to try
18:48to cut into
18:49this deficit.
18:51Go back to that
18:52late May meeting
18:53with a wire-to-wire win
18:56for Golden State
18:57as Hayes
18:57off the reach-in foul.
19:00You know what?
19:00This Connecticut team
19:01is so different
19:02from just May
19:03in general.
19:04I think all season
19:04long they've been
19:05competitive
19:06but once you get
19:07a taste of winning
19:08and you get a taste
19:09of winning consistently
19:10you understand
19:11that you are in
19:12a very different
19:13atmosphere.
19:13They got a win
19:14over Minnesota
19:14which is one of
19:15the best teams
19:16in this league.
19:17This Golden State
19:17Valkyrie team
19:18has yet to get a win
19:19over Minnesota.
19:20So they play
19:21a little differently
19:22now.
19:23Off the inbounds
19:24Chen trying to bounce
19:24past it inside
19:25to Hayes.
19:26Last touch by
19:27Van Liff
19:27will stay
19:28with the Valkyries.
19:31To your point
19:32the Valkyries
19:3316-7
19:34right now
19:35a half game
19:35behind the two teams
19:36they have yet
19:37to defeat the season
19:38in Minnesota
19:39and Las Vegas.
19:41Zandolazzini
19:43gets her first
19:44two points
19:44back on the floor
19:46and it's a
19:47one possession game.
19:49That was a nasty
19:50shot Zandolazzini.
19:53That's the reason
19:54that right there
19:55is the reason
19:55why this second
19:56unit and those
19:57coming off the
19:57bench for Nata
19:58for this
19:58Valkyries team
19:59is so dangerous
20:00because they can
20:00do so many
20:01different things.
20:03Nelson Adota
20:04muscles her way
20:05in off glass.
20:08Up to now
20:09six points
20:10for Olivia
20:10Nelson Adota.
20:16Dia Stokes
20:17off the give
20:17and go.
20:19Zandolazzini
20:19with the block
20:20and Glomach
20:21numbers the other
20:22way on the fast
20:23break for the
20:23Sun.
20:26Miller
20:30Nail
20:31and Glomach
20:32has just
20:32over these
20:33last couple
20:33of games
20:34you've really
20:35seen her
20:35development
20:36and her
20:36growth.
20:37I mean she's
20:37always kind of
20:38played fearless
20:38but all she
20:39needed to do
20:39was get more
20:40accustomed
20:40and more
20:41comfortable
20:41in this
20:42program
20:43and she's
20:44done that.
20:45Zalon
20:45one-on-one
20:46with Burke
20:47wins that
20:48battle.
20:52Salon
20:53that's the
20:53one person
20:54on the team
20:55you hate
20:55to see
20:55get cooking
20:56if you're
20:56the opposition.
20:57Three-point
20:58shooting this
20:59season's been
20:59a trademark
21:00for the
21:00Valkyries.
21:01Danelle Salon
21:02in year
21:02number two
21:03now with
21:04six points.
21:07Rashid
21:08Mezzion
21:08knew that
21:10her three-point
21:12shooting
21:12was going
21:13to be
21:14a problem.
21:17Here's a look
21:18at that foul
21:19as Miller
21:20trying to get
21:21off the screen
21:22from Nelson
21:22Adota
21:23who was
21:26taken down
21:27as a result.
21:28Rashid Mezzion
21:28as we have
21:29spoken about
21:29we joked
21:30prior to the
21:31game.
21:31Spain winning
21:32today in the
21:33World Cup
21:34and so they
21:35will face off
21:36with France
21:36in the
21:37semifinals
21:38and I asked
21:38a boy
21:39Blake
21:39who you're
21:39rooting for.
21:41He said
21:41oh Spain's
21:42very good
21:42but France
21:43I gotta go
21:43with my
21:43home country.
21:44Of course.
21:45Of course.
21:47We know
21:47where your
21:48priorities
21:48Lourish
21:49and Gloma
21:50tried to go
21:51inside
21:51take away
21:52by Chen
21:53on the
21:53steal.
21:54That is now
21:55the fifth
21:55turnover
21:56committed
21:56by Connecticut.
22:01They work
22:01it around
22:02the perimeter
22:02Stokes
22:04Edwards
22:04with the
22:05rebound.
22:07Pushing
22:07ahead is
22:08Miller
22:08to a
22:08striding
22:09Lacan
22:10Lacan
22:11gets her
22:11own rebound
22:12and Gloma
22:14and that
22:15one barely
22:15touched
22:15the iron.
22:17Rashid
22:17wants this
22:18team to
22:18get better
22:18in getting
22:19out in
22:20transition
22:21and that
22:21right there
22:22is the
22:22perfect
22:22example
22:23of what
22:23he means
22:23like once
22:24you've
22:24out there
22:25once
22:25you've
22:25gotten
22:25there
22:26you've
22:26got to
22:26be able
22:27to look
22:27and actually
22:27make great
22:28plays
22:35and now
22:37you see
22:37Caitlin coming
22:38around but the
22:39screen is moving
22:39one thing that
22:40they've noticed
22:40is you've got to
22:41have space there
22:42you've got to be
22:42able to give
22:43the screener
22:43space to move
22:44around and
22:45wasn't able
22:46to do that
22:46and so now
22:47Golden State
22:47has five
22:48turnovers
22:49which is something
22:49that they've
22:50wanted to
22:50kind of
22:51minimize
22:54to the point
22:55gives it off
22:56to Nelson
22:56to try
22:57to go
22:57with the
22:57bounce
22:57pass
22:58but
22:58Connecticut
22:59comes up
23:00with their
23:00sixth
23:01turnover
23:01they did
23:02commit
23:0218
23:03the first
23:03matchup
23:04between
23:04these
23:04two
23:04teams
23:05and
23:05Golden State
23:06as a result
23:06took advantage
23:07with 24
23:08second chance
23:08points
23:09but Golden State
23:10has done a
23:10great job
23:10in this
23:11six game
23:12stretch
23:12of forcing
23:13teams to
23:13take and
23:14commit
23:14a bunch
23:15of turnovers
23:16and that is
23:16now back
23:17to back
23:17possessions
23:18with an
23:19illegal screen
23:20leads to a
23:21turnover
23:22for Golden State
23:22and you have
23:23got to give
23:24once again
23:25you've got
23:25to give
23:25the screen
23:26you've got
23:26to give
23:27the screen
23:28a room
23:28and Kyler
23:30Thornton's
23:30moving
23:31so there's
23:32no way
23:32to get
23:32around
23:34can't be
23:35setting a
23:35moving screen
23:36and that's
23:37something I've
23:37noticed
23:37that the
23:38refs have
23:39been a bit
23:40more consistent
23:41in calling
23:41this season
23:42than they
23:42have in the
23:43past
23:43Nelson
23:44Adota
23:45counted
23:45and won
23:46no they're
23:47going to
23:47wave it
23:48off
23:48an offensive
23:48foul
23:54Nelson
23:54Adota
23:55is just
23:56frustrated
24:07well when
24:08she goes
24:09up
24:09her
24:10left arm
24:10well actually
24:11that's her
24:11right arm
24:12I believe
24:12it is
24:12just kind
24:13of pushes
24:14Kia Stokes
24:16is going
24:17to revolve
24:18around
24:180-0
24:19well you know
24:20you know
24:21Rashid said
24:21multiple times
24:22that the game
24:23plan for tonight
24:23is not going
24:24to change
24:24and that's
24:25playing through
24:25the post
24:26when Brittany
24:26Griner's in
24:27they want
24:27to play
24:27through the
24:28post
24:28and even
24:29when she's
24:29out
24:29they still
24:30believe
24:30that they
24:31have
24:31the kind
24:31of
24:33personnel
24:33that can
24:34allow them
24:34to do
24:34that
24:34and with
24:35Olivia
24:35Nelson
24:35Adota
24:36the way
24:36that she's
24:36playing
24:36he might
24:37be on to
24:38something
24:40shot clock
24:41down to
24:41five
24:41try to work
24:42it inside
24:43to Thornton
24:43one-on-one
24:44with Reagan
24:44Beers
24:45loose ball
24:46and that's
24:46going to be
24:47another
24:47shot clock
24:48violation
24:49against the
24:49Valkyries
24:52I asked
24:53coach about
24:55her inside
24:56presence
24:57against this
24:57team tonight
24:58given how
24:58well Olivia
24:59Nelson
24:59Adota has
25:00played
25:00and the
25:01possibility
25:01of them
25:02trying to
25:03keep
25:04Connecticut
25:04off the
25:04boards
25:05and second
25:05chance
25:05opportunities
25:06specifically
25:06and she
25:07said that
25:07hasn't been
25:08our strongest
25:08suit
25:09we have
25:10to do
25:10a better
25:11job
25:11of defending
25:12the paint
25:12and not
25:12allowing
25:14teams to
25:15get
25:15offensive
25:16boards
25:16and be
25:17able to
25:17continue
25:17to hang
25:18in with
25:18us
25:18in that
25:18way
25:19Burton
25:19a near
25:20steal
25:20in the
25:20corner
25:21as
25:21Lacan
25:21only one
25:22shot
25:22attempt
25:22still has
25:23no
25:23points
25:23tonight
25:24for
25:24Connecticut
25:26sends it
25:27cross-court
25:28to Beers
25:28with three
25:29left on the
25:29shot clock
25:30off to
25:30Ledger
25:31Walker
25:31for three
25:34physicality
25:35underneath
25:35leads to a
25:36foul on the
25:36floor
25:37and it'll
25:37be a fresh
25:3824
25:38for the
25:39Sun
25:39I think
25:40that one
25:41was on
25:41Kayla
25:41Thornton
25:47it should
25:47be mentioned
25:48about how
25:49effective
25:49this
25:49defense
25:50is
25:50for
25:50Golden
25:51State
25:51if you
25:51think
25:51about
25:51this
25:52over
25:52the
25:52last
25:5311
25:53games
25:54Golden
25:55State
25:55has
25:56effectively
25:56taken
25:57out
25:57the
25:57number
25:57one
25:57scoring
25:58option
25:58for the
25:59opposing
25:59team
26:00holding
26:01them
26:01to
26:02under
26:02their
26:03season
26:03average
26:03they did
26:04so
26:04Wednesday
26:05night
26:05against
26:05Marina
26:06Mabry
26:06held to
26:0711
26:07points
26:08when she
26:08averages
26:0821
26:09and look
26:10at
26:10Layla
26:10Lacan
26:11tonight
26:11just
26:11six
26:12minutes
26:13on the
26:13floor
26:14zero
26:14points
26:15which
26:15is
26:15interesting
26:15because
26:16when
26:16they
26:16played
26:16this
26:17team
26:17the
26:17first
26:17time
26:17Layla
26:18Lacan
26:18was
26:18not
26:18with
26:19the
26:19team
26:20at
26:20that
26:20time
26:21another
26:22steal
26:22Burton
26:23bounce
26:23pass
26:24ahead
26:24driving
26:25through
26:25off glass
26:26and in
26:26Kyla
26:27Charles
26:27and Golden
26:28State
26:29has come
26:29all the
26:29way
26:29back
26:30to take
26:30a
26:30one
26:30point
26:31lead
26:31Kyla
26:32Charles
26:32gives
26:32so much
26:33flexibility
26:33in this
26:34lineup
26:34and
26:34she
26:35is
26:35quick
26:36enough
26:36to
26:36get
26:36down
26:36there
26:36and
26:37get
26:37quick
26:37under
26:37the
26:37basket
26:38Edwards
26:39one
26:39and
26:39done
26:40Stokes
26:40the
26:41rebound
26:43a number
26:44of former
26:44UConn
26:44Huskies
26:45on the
26:45floor
26:46tonight
26:48as
26:49Burton
26:51stays
26:52with it
26:53behind the
26:53perimeter
26:53under
26:5410
26:54to
26:54shoot
26:57Dondolazzini
26:59as Miller
27:00with the
27:01rebound
27:02her third
27:03rebound
27:04of the
27:04night
27:04in 12
27:05minutes
27:05of action
27:09fears
27:09long
27:10range
27:11fears
27:12got to
27:12feel
27:12good
27:12about
27:13the
27:13just
27:13the
27:13confidence
27:14that
27:14she
27:14has
27:14and
27:15you
27:15know
27:15you
27:16ask
27:16anybody
27:16in
27:16Connecticut
27:17about
27:17her
27:17and
27:18playing
27:18with
27:18her
27:18and
27:18they
27:19say
27:19she
27:19just
27:19really
27:20excited
27:20about
27:20being
27:21here
27:21and
27:21wanting
27:21to
27:22be
27:22here
27:22and
27:22just
27:23having
27:23a
27:23spot
27:24so
27:24she's
27:24like
27:24a
27:25sponge
27:25soaking
27:25up
27:26everything
27:26and
27:26wanting
27:26to
27:26just
27:27get
27:27better
27:30fears
27:31has
27:31really
27:31come
27:31on
27:32strong
27:32and
27:32we
27:32talked
27:32about
27:33the
27:34veteran
27:34leadership
27:34that
27:35Brittany
27:35Griner
27:35provides
27:36she
27:36has
27:36certainly
27:37been
27:37a
27:37beneficiary
27:38of that
27:39throughout
27:39the young
27:40season
27:40Thornton
27:41reverse layup
27:42no
27:42they're going
27:43to wipe
27:43it off
27:45and it's
27:46going to go
27:46against
27:47Golden State
27:50that's her
27:51third one
27:54very early
27:55here
27:55in this matchup
27:56for Kayla
27:57Thornton
27:58she's such a
27:58key piece
27:59for them
28:00underneath
28:00the basket
28:00and already
28:01she's in foul
28:02trouble
28:02I mean
28:02if you
28:03look here
28:03you see
28:05that same
28:06thing
28:06that Olivia
28:07Nelson
28:07Adolta
28:07just had
28:08to deal
28:08with
28:08on the
28:08other
28:08end
28:09with
28:09her
28:09right
28:10arm
28:10she
28:11sticks
28:11out
28:11her
28:11left
28:12and
28:13now
28:13she's
28:13going
28:13to have
28:13to sit
28:14for a
28:14little
28:14while
28:14two
28:15of those
28:15three
28:15fouls
28:15by the
28:16way
28:16have been
28:16offensive
28:17fouls
28:18also had
28:18the illegal
28:19screen
28:19that we
28:19saw
28:20earlier
28:20in the
28:21quarter
28:21so
28:21she'll
28:21sit
28:22with
28:22three
28:22fouls
28:23Golden State
28:24though
28:24with their
28:24first lead
28:25of the
28:25game
28:25tonight
28:25Lacan
28:26tried to
28:26work it
28:27through
28:27turnover
28:28leads to
28:28a two
28:28on one
28:29and
28:29Lacan
28:30with the
28:30steal
28:31right back
28:32looking for
28:33options
28:34finds
28:34Ledger
28:34Walker
28:35right wing
28:35three
28:37that's the
28:37thing about
28:38Lacan
28:38it's like
28:39even if she
28:39doesn't have
28:40points on the
28:40board
28:40her effectiveness
28:41goes well
28:42beyond just
28:43being able to
28:43score points
28:44she's their
28:45best perimeter
28:45defender
28:46and she's
28:46going to
28:47stay on
28:47you
28:48no matter
28:48what
28:52here's
28:52Charles
28:53on a
28:54mismatch
28:54with
28:54Lacan
28:56to
28:56Connecticut
29:02Lacan
29:02will stick
29:03on her
29:03on her
29:04man
29:05like
29:05glue
29:05like
29:05she
29:06will
29:06not
29:06give
29:06up
29:07on
29:07the
29:07play
29:08at
29:09all
29:10let me
29:11here
29:11comes
29:11off
29:12the
29:12bench
29:13as
29:14Tokes
29:14takes
29:15a
29:15seat
29:20and a
29:21traveling
29:21violation
29:22that will
29:22lead to
29:23the
29:2310th
29:24turnover
29:24here for
29:25Connecticut
29:27a game
29:27that has
29:28seen
29:28great
29:28kinetic
29:29pace
29:29between
29:29the two
29:30it's
29:30Golden
29:30State
29:31the
29:31one-point
29:32lead
29:33and then
29:33tomorrow
29:34it's
29:346 p.m.
29:34Eastern
29:35on Peacock
29:35you've got
29:36Phoenix
29:36and Las
29:37Vegas
29:37you can
29:38always check
29:38out
29:38WNBA.com
29:39or visit
29:40the WNBA
29:42app
29:44down to
29:45three on
29:45the
29:45shot
29:45clock
29:46Burton
29:48as
29:48the
29:48media
29:48has
29:49to
29:49throw
29:49it
29:49up
29:50and
29:51again
29:51strong
29:51half-court
29:52defense
29:53presented
29:53by
29:53Connecticut
29:54Lacan
29:54in stride
29:55to
29:55Ledger
29:56Walker
29:58Connecticut
29:58has
29:59gone
29:59over
29:59five
29:59and
30:00a
30:00half
30:00minutes
30:00without
30:01any
30:01points
30:01and
30:02yet
30:02they
30:02only
30:02trail
30:02by
30:03one
30:05too
30:05strong
30:06off
30:06the
30:06glass
30:06for
30:07Edwards
30:10just
30:10hasn't
30:11been
30:11able
30:11to
30:12kind
30:13of
30:13get
30:13their
30:13rhythm
30:13going
30:14again
30:14on the
30:14offensive
30:15end
30:15but
30:15their
30:15defense
30:16has
30:16been
30:16stout
30:17I
30:17mean
30:17the
30:17shot
30:17clock
30:18violations
30:18the
30:18forcing
30:19in
30:19the
30:19turnovers
30:20they
30:20understood
30:21the
30:21type
30:21of team
30:22they were
30:22playing
30:22with
30:22Miller
30:23is that
30:24one
30:24rejected
30:25by
30:25Amir
30:26my
30:27goodness
30:32I
30:33I
30:33mean
30:33Diamond
30:33Miller
30:33went
30:34up
30:34but
30:34Latisha
30:34said
30:34absolutely
30:35not
30:36today
30:39all
30:39ball
30:42and
30:43an
30:43offensive
30:43foul
30:44that
30:44goes
30:44against
30:45Connecticut
30:46they're
30:46going to
30:46get
30:46beers
30:49check that
30:49they're
30:50going to
30:50Aaliyah
30:50Edwards
30:50for the
30:51foul
30:51so that
30:51leads
30:51to
30:52another
30:52turnover
30:52and that
30:53forces
30:54Rashid
30:54Mezion
30:54to go
30:55back
30:55to his
30:55bench
30:55to get
30:56Kennedy
30:56Burke
31:00just to
31:01go back
31:01to Amir
31:01for a
31:02second
31:02you know
31:03Amir
31:04has been
31:05such a
31:05reliable
31:06source
31:06of just
31:07defensive
31:07effort
31:07and
31:08defensive
31:08hustle
31:08and
31:09she's
31:10got a
31:10lot
31:10of
31:11people
31:11that
31:11consistently
31:12advocate
31:12for her
31:13and her
31:13playing
31:13more minutes
31:14and being
31:14able to
31:15be a
31:15part
31:15of the
31:16starting
31:16lineup
31:17at some
31:17point
31:18Burton
31:19splitting
31:20the defense
31:20and answers
31:21for Golden
31:22State
31:23just three
31:24points for
31:25Veronica
31:25Burton
31:25on three
31:26shot
31:27attempts
31:27but it's
31:27a three
31:28point
31:28lead
31:28nonetheless
31:37that one
31:38rattles
31:38in
31:38for
31:39Connecticut
31:41as
31:41Ledger
31:42Walker
31:42starting to
31:43produce more
31:44and more
31:44leads the way
31:45for Connecticut
31:45with seven
31:46points
31:46yeah
31:47they needed
31:47that basket
31:48badly
31:48because the
31:49drought was
31:49starting to
31:50add up
31:57Tyler
31:58Charles
31:58at the
31:59point
31:59as we
31:59approach
32:00the final
32:00minute
32:00of the
32:00first half
32:02Charles
32:03muscles
32:03her way
32:04in
32:04off
32:04glass
32:04Tyler
32:05Charles
32:06continuing
32:06to
32:07use
32:08that
32:08backcourt
32:09to
32:11continuing
32:11to find
32:12her way
32:12around
32:13those
32:13in the
32:13frontcourt
32:14right now
32:14Reagan
32:14Beers
32:16Gianna
32:17Neapkins
32:17was
32:17right in
32:18front of
32:19her
32:19but she's
32:19just so
32:19quick
32:20especially
32:20when she's
32:20sliding to
32:21her left
32:21she was
32:22able to
32:22just get
32:22around
32:22and easily
32:23go up
32:23for it
32:24this is a
32:24chance to
32:25remind you
32:25you got to
32:26rejoin
32:26Zena Autumn
32:27and Megan
32:28coming up
32:28for the
32:29halftime
32:29we'll also
32:30take a look
32:30back at the
32:31honoring
32:32on this
32:32sunset season
32:33for Connecticut
32:34before they
32:34make the move
32:35to Houston
32:35next year
32:36honoring
32:37Jasmine
32:37Thomas
32:38back on
32:39July 2nd
32:39along with
32:40former head
32:40coach
32:41and general
32:41manager
32:42Kurt Miller
32:43as Janelle
32:43Salon
32:44once again
32:45answers the
32:46call for
32:46Golden State
32:48they are
32:49just being
32:49physical
32:50inside now
32:52fierce
32:53fights her
32:54way through
32:58got a
32:58Neapkins
32:59first time
33:00on the
33:00floor
33:00tonight
33:00for
33:01Connecticut
33:01another
33:02UCLA
33:03draft pick
33:03Lacan
33:04fires off
33:05a three
33:05still
33:06scoreless
33:07is the
33:08French guard
33:08for the
33:09Sun
33:09in this
33:10first half
33:15Golden State
33:16can seemingly
33:17hold for the
33:18final shot
33:18of the first
33:19half
33:19just about a
33:19one second
33:20difference
33:20between shot
33:22and game
33:22clock
33:24bounce pass
33:25to Salon
33:27once again
33:28nearly goes
33:28down
33:29fight for the
33:30loose rebound
33:32and that is
33:33how the first
33:34half
33:34comes to a
33:35close
33:36Golden State
33:37ends the
33:38first half
33:38on a
33:3910-0 run
33:40thanks to a
33:41bench once
33:41again that has
33:42been tops
33:43a year ago
33:44but Golden State
33:45thanks to that
33:46second quarter
33:47surge
33:48that we saw
33:49is the difference
33:50right now
33:51with a five point
33:52lead
33:52is the third
33:53quarter underway
33:54Golden State
33:54trying to extend
33:55their franchise
33:56record winning streak
33:57to seven
33:59Connecticut
33:59trying to make
34:00it four wins
34:00in their last
34:01six games
34:02Connecticut
34:03wants to keep
34:03this a slower
34:04pace
34:05and half
34:06court game
34:06they want
34:07to not allow
34:08them to get
34:09out off the
34:10perimeter
34:11and start
34:11shooting threes
34:12as Lacan
34:13with the steal
34:15nearly taken
34:16away
34:17and it goes
34:18out of bounds
34:19last touched
34:19by the Sun
34:20point guard
34:22and that's
34:23another emphasis
34:24that we've seen
34:24from Golden State's
34:25defense
34:26not so much
34:27holding opponents
34:28to under 80
34:30points a game
34:31but more fact
34:32of taking
34:32the number one
34:33shooting star
34:34out of the equation
34:36this season
34:36and you know what
34:37that was a bit
34:38of a concern
34:38coming into this
34:39matchup
34:40if you're at
34:40Connecticut
34:40about the way
34:41that they're able
34:42to kind of
34:42take you out
34:43because Connecticut
34:44ranks last
34:45in points per
34:46possession
34:46right
34:47100 possessions
34:48they rank about
34:4996 points per
34:49game
34:50and so
34:50Golden State
34:51was
34:52this was already
34:53going to be
34:54a tough one
34:55as Burton
34:56with a burst
34:57of speed
34:57and the
34:58left-handed
34:59finish
34:59Burton now
35:00up to five
35:01points along
35:02with four
35:02assists
35:07Lacan
35:08just two shot
35:09attempts
35:09in that first
35:10half
35:10still looking
35:11for her first
35:12points
35:12a steal
35:13leads to a
35:13fast break
35:14opportunity
35:14bounce pass
35:15on the run
35:16no
35:16Thornton there
35:18off glass and in
35:19for the second
35:19chance points
35:20you want to
35:21see Connecticut
35:22settle down
35:23a little bit
35:24here
35:24and again
35:25you don't want
35:25to speed
35:26this one up
35:26too much
35:27because that
35:27right there
35:28plays right
35:28into the
35:28defensive
35:29transition
35:29of Golden
35:30State
35:30Kyla Thornton
35:31with her
35:31first two
35:32points
35:32at most
35:32of that
35:33first half
35:33because of
35:34three fouls
35:38but they're
35:38making
35:39miscommunications
35:40and mistakes
35:40and all those
35:41mistakes do
35:42is give
35:42Golden State
35:44exactly what
35:45they want
35:45like
35:45your back
35:46court burglar
35:49VB was
35:50all
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