Veronica Burton outshined Caitlin Clark in the latter's return to the court as the Golden State Valkyries snapped a two-game losing streak with Wednesday's 80-61 win over the cold-shooting Indiana Fever.
Burton hit five of six attempts from 3-point range and compiled 21 points, eight rebounds and six assists to help spoil Clark's comeback from a groin injury. The reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year had missed the Fever's last five games.
Clark managed 10 points and six assists in 25 minutes but went just 4 of 12 from the field on a day when all of Indiana's top players struggled.
The Fever's two other All-Stars were both off the mark as well. Kelsey Mitchell was held to 12 points on 3-of-13 shooting, while Aliyah Boston missed six of eight shots and mustered just six points.
Indiana (9-10) has now lost two straight after winning three in a row with Clark out of the lineup.
Golden State (10-9) also got a strong effort from Kayla Thornton, who went 4 of 10 from 3-point range while totalling 18 points and eight rebounds.
The Valkyries trailed 30-23 early in the second quarter before taking advantage of the Fever's shooting woes. Indiana misfired on 10 of its final 11 field goal attempts of the first half, allowing Golden State to close the period on an 18-2 run to take a 41-32 into the break.
Golden State expanded its advantage throughout the second half. Burton scored seven points during a 9-0 run that increased the lead to 64-50 late in the third quarter, and a Thornton 3-pointer with 5:24 left put the Valkyries up 20 at 73-53.
Thomas, Mercury pull away from Lynx
All-Star Alyssa Thomas scored a career-high 29 points and took over down the stretch to help the Phoenix Mercury pull away for a 79-71 home win over the WNBA-best Minnesota Lynx.
Minnesota went ahead 67-60 on Courtney Williams’ 3-pointer with 5:45 remaining, but the Mercury (14-6) closed the game on a 19-4 run to deal the Lynx (17-3) their first loss in four games.
With the game tied at 71 with just over two minutes remaining, Thomas hit a running layup to give the Mercury their first lead since midway through the third quarter and then hit a turnaround jump shot on Phoenix’s next trip down the court to make the score 75-71. The six-time All-Star later drained a 14-foot fadeaway for the final of her 12 points in the fourth quarter.
DeWanna Bonner, Thomas’ fiancée, played in her first game with the Mercury after signing with the franchise on Tuesday, and finished with seven points and six rebounds in 26 minutes.
Monique Akoa Makani added 13 points and made Phoenix’s only 3-pointer as the Mercury misfired on 15 of their 16 shots from beyond the arc.
Williams led the Lynx with 21 points, while Napheesa Collier added 18 points and seven rebounds.
Charles helps Sun snap slide
Tina Charles set season highs with 29 points and 11 rebounds to help the Connecticut Sun end a 10-game losing streak with a 93-83 victory over the Seattle Storm.
Connecticut (3-16) won its first game since June 6.
Charles made a baseline jumper with 5:36 left in the fourth quarter to give Connecticut its first lead of the game at 79-77. She also made two layups in eight seconds - following a steal by Saniya Rivers - for a 91-81 lead.
The Sun pulled away by scoring 11 straight points late in the fourth.
Charles finished 11 of 22 from the field for her sixth 20-point game of the season. Jacy Sheldon added 16 points and Bria Hartley had 15. Rivers scored all 11 of her points in the opening five minutes of the third.
Skylar Diggins led Seattle (13-7) with 23 points and seven assists. Gabby Williams added 21 points and Nneka Ogwumike had 12 points and 12 rebounds.
