After an impressively positive start to its inaugural season, the Golden State Valkyries have lost four of their last five games, culminating in a 95-64 loss at Connecticut against the league-worst Sun. Amidst greater conversation about the league\u2019s condensed scheduling, the Valkyries will hope to get back on track in the second game of a five game road trip that continues Tuesday against the Atlanta Dream. <\/p>\n
The Valkyries committed 23 turnovers and trailed by as much as 31 points in Sunday\u2019s loss to Connecticut who improved to 4-20 on the season. After losing All-Star forward Kayla Thornton to a season-ending knee injury, the Valkyries mounted an all-around team victory Friday evening at home against the Dallas Wings\u2013with four Golden State players scoring in double figures. <\/p>\n
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The Connecticut Sun and Golden State Valkyries tip-off to start the game at Mohegan Sun Arena. \/ David Butler II-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
With a quick turnaround, the Valkyries flew across the country to Connecticut for a Sunday afternoon contest that got out of hand early. First year head coach Natalie Nakase acknowledged that the cross-country trip played a factor in the devastating loss.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got to do a better job,\u201d Nakase told reporters post game on Sunday. \u201cI have to do a better job of navigating this type of West Coast to East Coast trip.”<\/p>\n
Questions about the road trip loom amongst growing calls from media members<\/a> and players for the WNBA to improve scheduling for players. Two All-Stars\u2013Caitlin Clark and Satou Sabally\u2013sat out last week\u2019s All-Star weekend for rest and recovery from injuries. Sabally specifically called out WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert in June, calling the condensed schedule \u201cirresponsible\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n On Saturday, former All-Star and current analyst Rebecca Lobo called on the WNBA Player\u2019s Association to address condensed scheduling with the league when the collective bargaining agreement ends at the end of the 2025 season. <\/p>\n \u201cA priority of @TheWNBPA in the new CBA has to be addressing the condensed schedule,\u201d she wrote in a post on X, \u201cThis season there are too many games in too short a period of time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n