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Valkyries Sweep Tempo as Janelle Salaun’s Bench Scoring Dominates

Golden State’s reserve scoring and tightened defense have moved the team up the standings and exposed Toronto’s depth problems.

Overview

  • Janelle Salaun came off the bench to score 24 points in a 96-79 win Sunday and followed with 21 points in a 92-82 victory Tuesday to complete a season sweep of the Toronto Tempo.
  • Toronto debuted trade acquisition Aneesah Morrow in Tuesday’s rematch and she finished with eight points and five rebounds but was assessed a Flagrant 1 for elbowing Kayla Thornton.
  • The back-to-back wins lifted Golden State into a tie for the WNBA’s second-best record and reinforced the team’s reliance on a deep, high-impact reserve unit.
  • Toronto’s struggles continue with a seven-game losing streak, repeated injuries to rotation players and chronically thin bench production that prompted the Morrow trade for frontcourt and rebounding help.
  • Morrow’s debut showed rebounding and physicality that Toronto needs but the team must convert those traits into more consistent bench scoring and fewer turnovers if it hopes to close the playoff gap.