Golden State Valkyries vs. Toronto Tempo: WNBA preview and prediction

The expansion Toronto Tempo are fighting for a playoff berth in their first season. For the first time, they’ll face last year’s debut darling, the Golden State Valkyries, tonight at home at 7:00 PM ET.

Toronto has dropped two in a row and three of four at home, including Sunday’s 89-76 setback against the Dallas Wings. Marina Mabrey, who’s fourth in the WNBA in scoring, had 19 points, while Nyara Sabally had 14 points and 7 rebounds. 

Golden State is surging, winning a season-high five games in a row. The Valkyries are now 15-7 and just a half game behind Minnesota and Las Vegas. 

The team has won the first two contests of a season-high-tying five-game road trip. Kaitlyn Chen had 14 points off the bench as Golden State set a franchise record for fewest points allowed in a game in a 62-49 victory at Washington.

This is the first of three meetings between the teams. 

Golden State Valkyries vs. Toronto Tempo WNBA Odds and Betting Trends

Golden State is a sizable 7.5-point favourite, with a -310 money line. Meanwhile, Toronto is at +250. The Valkyries are 5-0 against the spread during their current win streak. 

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The Over/Under for this contest is 168.5. Toronto, third in the league in scoring, has played to the Over in seven of nine. 

Golden State, which leads the league in scoring defence at 76.8 points allowed per contest, has played to the Under in six of seven overall and four of five on the road. 

Golden State Valkyries

Despite standing 12th in the league in scoring offence, averaging 82 points per game, Golden State is piling up victories thanks to its suffocating defence. 

No starter scored more than Veronica Burton’s seven points in the win over Washington, as the Valkyries tallied a season-low 62 points. Gabby Williams, who leads the team in scoring at 15.3 points per game, was held to two.

But they got 39 points off the bench, with Chen leading the way, followed by Tiffany Hayes with nine, and Kaila Charles and Janelle Salaun with eight. 

Golden State is healthy, deep, and disciplined. 

Toronto Tempo

Toronto is treading water despite the continued absence of starters Brittney Sykes and Kiki Rice. Sykes was averaging 20.1 points when she went down with a plantar fascia injury last month. The Tempo have gone 2-3 in her absence. 

Rice has now missed more than a month with a Grade 3 ankle sprain suffered on June 3. She was one of the top rookies in the league at the time of her injury, averaging 12.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists. 

Reserve center Tami Fagbenle missed the Dallas game with an eye injury, and she is out tonight as well.  Reserve guard Julie Allemand, who’s been starting with Sykes and Rice sidelined, missed Sunday’s game as well with an ankle injury.  

WNBA Prediction: Who will win Valkyries vs. Tempo?

Mabrey continues to keep Toronto competitive even though the Tempo are missing more than 32 points a game with Rice and Sykes injured. She had 53 in a win over Los Angeles two weeks ago. But Toronto’s offensive options are depleted.

Golden State has won its last five games by an average of 8.2 points, which is just enough to cover tonight’s 7.5-point spread. Nothing about the Valkyries’ roster is intimidating. They just get the job done. Look for them to do it again tonight in an 81-76 victory.