This regular-season series is tied 1-1 in the most dramatic way possible: a 24-point Golden State rout in June, followed by an impressive 31-point Connecticut revenge game in July. That split perfectly captures how, despite the Sun’s ugly record, they can erupt when veterans like Tina Charles (16.2 PPG) get hot and shots fall. Will the Sun step up tonight, or will it be a clean sweep for the Valkyries? Let’s break down the Golden State Valkyries vs Connecticut Sun…
Where to Watch the Golden State Valkyries vs the Connecticut Sun?
Date: Monday, 12th August 2025
Time: 10:00 PM ET (Eastern Time)
Venue: Chase Center, San Francisco, California
Streaming services: WNBA League Pass, FUBO, YouTube TV
Cable services: CBS Sports Network, WTHR Channel 13, Spectrum SportsNet
Injury Report
Golden State Valkyries:
Kayla Thornton: Out for Season (knee)
Connecticut Sun:
No official report has been released by the franchise yet.
Predicted Starting Lineup
Golden State Valkyries
Cecilia Zandalasini – MIN: 22.8 | PTS: 9.5 | REB: 2.6 | AST: 1.6 | STL: 0.9 | BLK: 0.3
Janelle Salaun – MIN: 25.0 | PTS: 10.1 | REB: 4.8 | AST: 1.1 | STL: 0.6 | BLK: 0.1
Temi Fagbenle – MIN: 23.9 | PTS: 7.6 | REB: 5.4 | AST: 1.8 | STL: 1.0 | BLK: 0.5
Tiffany Hayes – MIN: 26.6 | PTS: 11.9 | REB: 4.0 | AST: 3.0 | STL: 0.5 | BLK: 0.1
Veronica Burton – MIN: 28.6 | PTS: 10.8 | REB: 4.2 | AST: 5.0 | STL: 1.0 | BLK: 0.5
Connecticut Sun
Aneesah Morrow – MIN: 16.6 | PTS: 7.1 | REB: 5.7 | AST: 0.5 | STL: 0.7 | BLK: 0.4
Tina Charles – MIN: 29.0 | PTS: 16.2 | REB: 5.9 | AST: 1.7 | STL: 0.8 | BLK: 0.4
Bria Hartley – MIN: 22.9 | PTS: 9.7 | REB: 2.0 | AST: 3.1 | STL: 1.0 | BLK: 0.0
Marina Mabrey – MIN: 30.1 | PTS: 14.7 | REB: 4.6 | AST: 3.9 | STL: 0.7 | BLK: 0.4
Leila Lacan – MIN: 23.3 | PTS: 9.0 | REB: 2.7 | AST: 2.8 | STL: 2.3 | BLK: 0.1
How the Golden State Valkyries vs Connecticut Sun Might Go Down…
The Connecticut Sun’s season has been a brutal test of perseverance, and the cold, hard numbers confirm what the standings show. At 5-25, they are getting outscored by a league-worst 12.1 points per game while carrying a dismal 1-14 road record that makes every away game feel impossible. Their offense has flatlined all season, ranking dead last in scoring (75.5 PPG), assists (17.2 APG), and rebounds (31.1 RPG). Even their lone bright spot – ranking 5th in steals – hasn’t stopped the bleeding.
Golden State, by contrast, embodies true .500 mediocrity (15-15). They have been showing flashes of competitiveness mixed with maddening inconsistency. The Valkyries are strong at home (9-5) and lead the WNBA in assists (18.2 APG). They have proven that their offense hums when the ball moves. They also dominate the glass (36.1 RPG, 3rd). That’s a major edge against Connecticut’s rebounding woes. That said, their defense isn’t exactly lockdown (77.8 PPG allowed). They are barely outscoring opponents by 0.1 points per game.
So, while Golden State arrives fresh off a tight win over the Sparks, and has consistently feasted on weak defenses. Connecticut, meanwhile, is riding a four-game skid, including a 94-86 loss to Las Vegas that exposed their defensive leaks yet again.
For the Sun to shock the world, they must win the turnover battle, catch fire from deep early, and somehow disrupt Golden State’s fluid ball movement. The Valkyries simply need to execute their usual formula – share the rock, own the boards, and avoid careless mistakes. So, when you factor in the stats, home court, and recent performances, all signs point to Golden State.
ESPN’s Matchup Predictor also says: Golden State Valkyries 71.3%
The post Golden State Valkyries vs Connecticut Sun: Injury Report, Starting-5, Prediction and More on Tonight’s WNBA Preview appeared first on EssentiallySports.