Laeticia

Amihere

Rupert, injured during Sunday’s loss to the Dream, did not play in Tuesday’s loss to Phoenix. However, her injury has been changed from concussion protocol to a head injury, and the rookie forward is now questionable for Friday night. Laeticia Amihere played 23 minutes off the bench on Tuesday and would likely take on a similar workload if Rupert cannot play.

Injured during Sunday’s game against the Dream, Rupert is in the league’s concussion protocol and is considered day-to-day. While Laeticia Amihere played 14 minutes off the bench against Atlanta, a more realistic possibility is that starter Temi Fágbénlé plays more after receiving the same amount of playing time due to foul trouble.

Zandalasini returned to the starting lineup after missing three games due to left foot injury. This is Zandalasini’s first game since she hit the game winning shot against the Dream on July 29. She replaced stretch big Iliana Rupert at the power forward position. With Rupert moving to the bench, expect minutes to decrease for forward Laeticia Amihere who played in 22 minutes on Sunday against the Aces.

With Cecilia Zandalasini and Monique Billings out due to injury, Amihere has had more opportunities to contribute. She was productive against the Aces, finishing one rebound shy of her second double-double. While Amihere is not at the point where she’s worth the risk in standard fantasy leagues, managers in deeper leagues may want to consider her as long as Golden State remains without Zandalasini and Billings, as the team is already without All-Star Kayla Thornton for the rest of the season.

Zandalasini was the hero for the Valkyries in their game on Tuesday night, leading her team with 18 points and defeating the Dream 77-75. Without her play on the wing and able to stretch the floor the Valkyries will have to rely upon stretch big Iliana Rupert and forward Janelle Salaün to provide the outside shooting from the startling line up that Zandalasini provides. Expect more minutes from Laeticia Amihere as well.

Already without Kayla Thornton (knee) and Monique Billings (ankle), the Valkyries may also be without Zandalasini on Thursday. She’s dealing with a left foot injury and is considered questionable in the first of two games in as many nights for Golden State. If Zandalasini cannot play, Laeticia Amihere, Kate Martin and Iliana Rupert will all have added importance within the Valkyries’ rotation.

Billings was ruled available prior to tipoff on Tuesday night after missing two games following the All-Star break with an ankle injury. But after she took a fall in the second quarter, the came out of the game, and has since been ruled out for the second half. Cecilia Zandalasini, who has led the Valkyries in scoring with 11 points so far, will earn extended minutes along with front court players Iliana Rupert and Laeticia Amihere.

Billings has missed Golden State’s last two games with an ankle injury, but she could be available on Tuesday. Kayla Thornton (knee) is done for the season, so the Valkyries can use the added frontcourt depth. If Billings returns on Tuesday, Janelle Salaün, Cecilia Zandalasini and Laeticia Amihere could all see their minutes take a hit.

Billings will miss a second consecutive game with a left ankle injury. With Kayla Thornton done for the season after knee surgery, the Valkyries will continue relying on starters Janelle Salaün and Cecilia Zandalasini at the forward positions. Laeticia Amihere played 13 minutes off the bench in Friday’s win over the Wings and may be in for a similar workload against the Sun.

After already having lost all-star forward Kayla Thornton to a season-ending knee surgery earlier on Friday, the Vallkyries will be down another frontcourt member as Billings (ankle) is set to miss Friday’s contest against the Wings. Billings is averaging 7.8 points, 4.9 rebounds and 0.5 assists over 20 games this season. With Golden State’s interior taking a hit, Laeticia Amihere and Cecilia Zandalasini should see a lot of the frontcourt minutes against Dallas.