Valkyries Lose 81-72 to Mercury as Tiffany Hayes Exits With Knee Injury

The Golden State Valkyries dropped their third straight game, falling 81–72 to the Phoenix Mercury on Friday night in Phoenix. The defeat adds to a growing injury list for the expansion club, which again played without several regulars and then lost veteran guard Tiffany Hayes to a left-knee injury late in the second half. Head coach Natalie Nakase said post-game that Hayes was smiling in the locker room and told her she was “good,” but the team will evaluate the knee further. Nakase criticized the game’s physical tone, saying she repeatedly asked officials to keep players safe as injuries continue to mount for the Valkyries.