Phoenix visits Golden State following Thomas' 29-point showing
San Francisco; Monday, 10 p.m. EDT
BOTTOM LINE: Phoenix Mercury takes on the Golden State Valkyries after Alyssa Thomas scored 29 points in the Mercury's 79-71 victory against the Minnesota Lynx.
Advertisement
The Valkyries are 5-6 against Western Conference opponents. Golden State is ninth in the WNBA with 80.3 points and is shooting 40.9% from the field.
The Mercury are 8-6 in Western Conference play. Phoenix is fourth in the WNBA with 21.0 assists per game led by Thomas averaging 9.5.
Golden State averages 9.3 made 3-pointers per game, 1.6 more made shots than the 7.7 per game Phoenix allows. Phoenix scores 6.0 more points per game (84.6) than Golden State gives up to opponents (78.6).
The teams meet for the second time this season. The Mercury won 86-77 in the last meeting on June 6. Lexi Held led the Mercury with 24 points, and Veronica Burton led the Valkyries with 16 points.
Advertisement
TOP PERFORMERS: Kayla Thornton is scoring 14.8 points per game with 7.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists for the Valkyries. Tiffany Hayes is averaging 14.4 points and 3.1 assists over the past 10 games.
Thomas is averaging 15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 9.5 assists and 1.6 steals for the Mercury. Satou Sabally is averaging 13.9 points and 6.1 rebounds while shooting 37.6% over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Valkyries: 5-5, averaging 82.5 points, 36.9 rebounds, 18.8 assists, 5.6 steals and 2.8 blocks per game while shooting 42.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 77.3 points per game.
Mercury: 8-2, averaging 90.5 points, 35.6 rebounds, 22.6 assists, 8.9 steals and 3.6 blocks per game while shooting 44.9% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 80.8 points.
INJURIES: Valkyries: None listed.
Mercury: Alexa Held: out (chest).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
🎥 Fifth brace in a row: Messi extends his own record
At 38 years old, Lionel Messi is still breaking record after record. This time, he has surpassed someone very special - himself! In Inter Miami's 2-1 win over Nashville, the Argentine scored both goals tonight, achieving his fifth consecutive brace. With this, the Argentine is building on his own record, as he was the first professional to achieve four consecutive braces in MLS history in the last game. Now the record stands at five consecutive braces. Let's wait and see if Messi can even improve on that. Advertisement This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here. 📸 CHANDAN KHANNA - AFP or licensors
Yahoo
32 minutes ago
- Yahoo
PSG, Chelsea Vie for Club World Title, $40M Prize Money
The 2025 Club World Cup wraps up Sunday with a finals showdown between European soccer giants Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain. The winning club will earn $40 million in prize money, along with the new Voyager-inspired Tiffany trophy. The runner-up receives $30 million. This is the first expanded version of the men's Club World Cup with 32 teams, up from seven. The U.S.-hosted event has been plagued by problems, including the heat, spotty fields, weak attendance and injured stars. President Donald Trump told reporters this week he'd attend Sunday's game at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium. Advertisement More from Chelsea won the 2021 Club World Cup and was runner-up in 2012. This is PSG's first appearance in the final. The $1 billion prize pool is double the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and Brazil's Fluminense is arguably the biggest winner of the revamped club tournament. It lost 2-0 to Chelsea in the semifinals, but the club earned prize money of roughly $60 million, nearly matching their 2024 operating revenue of $72 million, per Sports Value. PSG and Chelsea have earned $78 million and $76 million through the semifinals, with the payouts for the final round pushing both squads over $100 million for the month-long event. The tally will help fund transfer spending for the two clubs as they set their 2025-26 squads. Advertisement It will also help offset operating losses for the teams. PSG lost $60 million during the 2023-24 season after player trading, but it was better than the $117 million and $400 million shortfalls the previous two years. Chelsea lost $89 million during the 2023-24 season if you exclude the $250 million 'profit' on the sale of Chelsea's women's team from one ownership entity to a related one. PSG ranked No. 8 in Sportico's soccer team valuations at $4.26 billion, while Chelsea was two spots lower at $3.57 billion. PSG's 2023-24 revenue was the third highest in the sport, behind only Real Madrid ($1.13 billion) and Manchester City ($901 million). The past season's revenue will get a boost from its first Champions League title on top of its two domestic crowns, which made the French club just the ninth European team to complete the 'treble,' with Barcelona and Bayern Munich both pulling it off twice. Chelsea's revenue was $590 million, and it lags PSG in all three broad buckets: broadcast, a category that includes Champions League winnings ($265 million vs. $206 million); commercial ($422 million vs. $284 million); and matchday ($184 million vs. $101 million). Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) bought control of PSG in 2011 at a roughly $100 million valuation. It owned 100% of the club until Arctos Partners bought a 12.5% stake in 2023 at a $4.3 billion valuation, per the Financial Times. Chelsea's owners—Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital—paid $3.16 billion for the team in 2022. Boehly and Arctos both own stakes in MLB's Los Angeles Dodgers. Advertisement Best of Sign up for Sportico's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Yahoo
37 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Bears Roll the Dice With 4 Bold Signings Before Camp
Bears Roll the Dice With 4 Bold Signings Before Camp originally appeared on Athlon Sports. With two weeks to go until training camp, the Bears are entering the final stretch of roster preparation—and the latest wave of additions has sparked quiet curiosity across Chicago. Four under-the-radar signings have surfaced ahead of camp, and while no blockbuster names were involved, the timing and nature of these deals have raised eyebrows. Depth, upside, and strategy seem to be the play. But what's really going on behind the scenes? Advertisement According to Just Another Year Chicago, the Bears have agreed to terms with offensive lineman Jordan McFadden, running back Travis Homer, and wide receivers Jahdae Walker and J.P. Richardson. Each of these signings falls in line with a low-risk, high-reward mindset that favors camp battles over splashy headlines. LAKE FOREST, IL - JULY 30: A detail view of a Chicago Bears helmet is seen during the the Chicago Bears Training Camp on July 30, 2022 at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, IL. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) It's the kind of gritty, backdoor maneuvering that doesn't turn heads—until it suddenly matters. McFadden, a 6'5', 315-pound tackle out of Clemson, brings size and versatility to the offensive line. A sixth-round pick in 2021, he started 38 games and was a key blocker during Clemson's 2020 title run. His 3-year, $6M deal includes just $1.5M guaranteed—camp competition clearly baked into the structure. If he clicks, the Bears could have a steal on their hands. Advertisement LAKE FOREST, ILLINOIS - JUNE 03: Jordan McFadden #74 of the Chicago Bears takes part in a drill during Chicago Bears OTA Offseason Workout at Halas Hall on June 03, 2025 in Lake Forest, Illinois. (Photo by) Homer, a former Miami standout, signed a one-year, $1.2M 'prove-it' contract. Known for his burst and hands, he also offers special teams value. He's not going to bulldoze linebackers, but he's slippery in space and dependable when the ball finds him. If nothing else, he gives the running back room a jolt of energy—and maybe even forces a tough decision come roster cutdowns. Aug 22, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Chicago Bears running back Travis Homer (20) runs the ball against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Medley-USA TODAY Sports Walker and Richardson round out the group. Walker, undrafted out of Tennessee, posted 1,100 yards and 9 TDs in 2023 and is seen as a red-zone weapon in development. Think long strides, jump balls, and potential mismatch nightmares. Richardson, more polished, comes with reliable hands and route-running instincts but lacks elite speed. Advertisement COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS - MARCH 27: Jahdae Walker of the Texas A&M Aggies participates in a drill during Texas A&M Pro Day at Coolidge Football Performance Center on March 27, 2025 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by) Still, the $2.2M RFA tender says the Bears see something. Maybe it's locker room IQ. Maybe it's leadership. Maybe it's just the edge needed in close games. CINCINNATI, OHIO - NOVEMBER 30: Ormanie Arnold #8 of the Cincinnati Bearcats breaks up a pass intended for JP Richardson #7 of the TCU Horned Frogs in the second quarter at Nippert Stadium on November 30, 2024 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by) These four deals hint at more than just depth moves. They represent a shift toward camp-fueled roster competition and cap-conscious structuring. Whether these players stick or not, their presence forces others to earn their spots—and that's no accident. With camp looming, Chicago's front office appears willing to take risks on talent the rest of the league may have overlooked. In a city hungry for wins, the margin for error is razor-thin—but if even one of these long shots hits, it could quietly reshape the 2025 roster. And in July, that's exactly the kind of bet that makes camp worth watching. Advertisement Related: Two Bears Starters Just Got Placed on a List No Player Wants to See Related: New Rankings Put the Bears' Defense on the Verge of a Major Leap This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
