WNBA Player News

ASVEL’s roster included two first-round picks in the April 14 WNBA Draft, Golden State’s Justé Jocyté and Seattle’s Dominique Malonga. While it is unknown when the Valkyries’ first-ever draft pick will head stateside, with training camp opening on April 27, the early elimination from the French league playoffs may increase Jocyté’s chances of being available in time for the start of the regular season on May 16.

Morrow was the seventh overall pick in last month’s draft, but she has yet to make her WNBA debut due to a right knee injury. That may change on Friday, with the Sun listing the rookie forward as questionable. Fellow rookie Rayah Marshall played 10 minutes off the bench in Connecticut’s loss to the Aces on Tuesday, and Kariata Diaby logged 13. They’re the players whose minutes may decrease if Morrow is available.

Leite’s minutes came off the bench when head coach Natalie Nakase wanted to get a smaller and faster look especially after Tiffany Hayes left the game. The French guard made an impact not just through her scoring off the bench. She had the team’s best +/- (+17) aside from Thornton with a +19. While the rookie’s impact was limited in the Valkyries first game against the Sparks, she bounced back in the team’s second game, mixing in some facilitating and getting to the foul line in addition to some shot making. Leite was the second Valkyrie to get a bloody nose on Wednesday night after Hayes left the game in the first quarter. While Leite checked out of the game to get checked out by an athletic trainer in the fourth, she quickly returned with gauze in one of her nostrils.

Could Burton be a legitimate candidate for most improved? She certainly proved it on Wednesday night. In the first few seasons of her WNBA career, she had difficulty putting pressure on the rim and shooting from deep at a consistent clip. While it has only been two games, those are two skills she’s flashed early for the Valkyries. Like Kayla Thornton, the fourth-year player hit clutch threes, including a 38-footer at the halftime buzzer to give Golden State a one-point lead going into halftime and another trey with 29 seconds left to give her team a seven-point lead. Burton was also on triple-double watch as she not only dished out the most assists on her team but also got on the offensive glass and pulled down the most total rebounds out of all her teammates.

Austin had an eventful night in San Francisco, starting with her shoulder into the nose of Valkyries guard Tiffany Hayes during the first half. Unfortunately for the Mystics post, she was assessed a technical foul for the play, her third of the season. Austin, who recorded five turnovers, checked in for starting center Stefanie Dolson (4/5/3/1 in 19 minutes) with 7:16 remaining in the third quarter. She would exit three minutes later and did not return, with Kiki Iriafen playing the entire second half. Following the game, Mystics coach Sydney Johnson said he was told by the team trainer that Austin should not return, but no reason was provided. While she doesn’t impact fantasy basketball, this is something to watch, especially once Aaliyah Edwards returns from her back injury.

Salaün made her debut on Wednesday night in the starting lineup after arriving in the United States to begin her WNBA career less than a week ago. Without a full training camp since she was competing in the playoffs of the Italian domestic league, it shouldn’t be a surprise that she had three of Golden State’s 11 total turnovers. But amid her novice to how her new team wants to play, Salaün proved she fit right into what the Valkyries aim to do on any given night. She scored her team’s first four points, which included a drive and score at the rim and a stop-and-pop jumper at the free throw line.

Iriafen recorded a second straight double-double on Wednesday, finishing the loss two rebounds shy of her tally against the Sun on Sunday. While many have remained focused on Dallas’ Paige Bueckers when discussing rookies, Iriafen and teammate Sonia Citron have gotten off to good starts for the Mystics. Kiki has played 31 minutes in each of Washington’s last two games, and the production makes her a player who needs to be rostered in most fantasy leagues. Iriafen is the fifth player in WNBA history to tally at least 40 points and 30 rebounds in their first three games. That said, Friday’s matchup with A’ja Wilson and the Aces represents a significant test for the rookie forward.

After shooting 11-of-17 from the field in her first two WNBA games, Citron struggled on Wednesday. However, she wasn’t the only one, as the Mystics shot 37.9 percent from the field and the Valkyries were even worse at 31.9 percent. However, Golden State won the free throw battle, outscoring Washington by a 23-17 margin in a game they won by two points. Going back to Citron, she still recorded a complete stat line and played 35 of a possible 40 minutes. While there will be offensive hiccups, as is the case for most rookies, her all-around value makes the first-round pick out of Notre Dame a must-roster player in most fantasy leagues.

With more responsibilities than when she was a role player on the Liberty, Thornton took the most shots for the Valkyries especially when shooting guard Tiffany Hayes had to leave the game early after colliding with Shakira Austin. While it took the whole first half for Thornton to knock down a three-pointer, when she hit them was when it mattered most for Golden State. Her first made trey came with just over a minute left in the third, which gave the Valkyries a one point lead. Her second came in the final minute of regulation when she was fouled on a made three-pointer and gave Golden State a five-point lead with 1:03 left. Thornton, who is known for her physical play as a swing-woman, will find her way to line. She did so four times on Wednesday night and didn’t miss once from the foul line.

While Sug Sutton remains the starting point guard, Melbourne could argue that the job should be hers. The third-year guard played 28 minutes to Sutton’s 14 and was productive in multiple categories. While Melbourne did commit four turnovers, they were countered by six assists. As for Sutton, she went scoreless (0-of-2 FGs) and dished out two assists. Melbourne is rostered in just under 27 percent of ESPN leagues, and that percentage would increase if Mystics coach Sydney Johnson were to insert her into the starting lineup.

For the first time since her rookie season (2017), Sykes has scored 20 points or more in three consecutive games. Against the Valkyries, the veteran guard notched her first 30-point game since August 18, 2023. Sykes’ fantasy value should skyrocket this season with the Mystics in a rebuild. She’s rostered in just over 97 percent of ESPN leagues, and that percentage should increase following Wednesday’s performance. The Mystics continue their road trip Friday night in Las Vegas.