Heartbreaker: Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas hits game-winning free throw in final seconds to down Valkyries’ comeback

SAN FRANCISCO For a moment it looked like the Valkyries were going to pull off the improbable Down four points with seconds left Golden State miraculously tied the challenge after rookie Janelle Sala n hit a fading -pointer and a fall away jumper to tie the competition at with just over six seconds left But in a crucial defensive possession the Valkyries got discombobulated and fouled Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas at the rim with one second left Thomas went on to hit one of two free throws to give the Mercury a - win Golden State Valkyries' Kayla Thornton kneels on the court after their - loss to the Phoenix Mercury at the Chase Center in San Francisco Calif on Monday July Nhat V Meyer Bay Area News Group In front of its th consecutive sellout crowd of the expansion association shot from the field Golden State has now lost four of its last five games I was so proud Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase announced The execution down the stretch the fight how hard we played I couldn t ask for a better competition I stated them to keep their heads up I Felt like we did the right things in a very crunch time moment We knew what to run So that type of execution down the stretch was great It s just you know losing off of a free throw to me that hurts Veronica Burton had a team-high points Tiffany Hayes had points and Sala n had DeWanna Bonner led Phoenix with points Thomas finished with points assists and six rebounds Despite not scoring more than points in a quarter Phoenix shot from the field and from the -point line That s a frustrating loss like that s one that we can get and we should have gotten Burton commented And obviously there s chosen things we did well especially down the stretch I think we executed and got the looks that we longed to in the late-game situation but it didn t go our way I think there s a lot of things throughout the battle that we need to clean up Golden State Valkyries' Veronica Burton is fouled by Phoenix Mercury's Monique Akoa-Makani in the third quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco Calif on Monday July Nhat V Meyer Bay Area News Group The Mercury were without star players Satou Sabally right ankle and Kahleah Copper right hamstring who were out with injuries Despite having chosen early offensive struggles the Valkyries went into the fourth quarter down just a point A -pointer from Burton at the mark of the final period briefly gave the Valkyries a - lead The Mercury promptly retook the momentum with a limited timely shots and led by one point with left in the challenge Down three with seconds left the Valkyries had one more opportunity to tie the tournament The Valkyries drew up a drive to the rim for forward Cecilia Zandalasini but the Italian sharpshooter missed a lightly contested shot at the rim Sala n scored five points in a four-second span to tie the contest late On the Valkyries final defensive possession Hayes slipped trying to defend Monique Akoa Makan forcing the defense to rotate which ultimately led to Thomas getting fouled at the rim by Zandalasini Golden State shot from the -point line but made just of its shots inside the arc Phoenix Mercury's Kathryn Westbeld is called for an offensive foul against Golden State Valkyries' Veronica Burton in the third quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco Calif on Monday July Nhat V Meyer Bay Area News Group It was a physical meeting as anyone could see Burton reported Sometimes there s contact in there and sometimes we need to finish through contact But yeah they clog the paint That s what they do They re long they re athletic The Valkyries uncovered themselves in a -point hole just three minutes into the first quarter but recovered to finish the period strong Golden State went on a - run led by a flurry of s from Hayes that gave the Valkyries a four-point lead going into the second quarter Hayes came into Monday s encounter shooting from beyond the arc in her previous five games Related Articles Valkyries release veteran forward Talbot leaving open roster spot Valkyries takeaways Return to Vegas for Martin Nakase Hayes spoiled by Aces Valkyries throttle Indiana Caitlin Clark in big road win Valkyries to face Caitlin Clark when star returns from injury on Wednesday Valkyries now - after losing road championship to Atlanta Golden State s hot shooting cooled down in the second quarter as they shot -for- in the period Despite shooting from the field in the first half Phoenix committed nine turnovers and struggled to stop Hayes who had nine first half points The Valkyries will return to the road on Wednesday when they play the Seattle Storm Golden State will then enjoy a nine-day hiatus as the All-Star tournament is scheduled for Sunday in Indianapolis Kayla Thornton is the Valkyries lone All-Star Golden State Valkyries' Janelle Sala n celebrates her encounter tying basket with second left in the fourth quarter against the Phoenix Mercury at the Chase Center in San Francisco Calif on Monday July Nhat V Meyer Bay Area News Group Phoenix Mercury's Natasha Mack heads to the basket against Golden State Valkyries' Monique Billings in the third quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco Calif on Monday July Nhat V Meyer Bay Area News Group Golden State Valkyries' Veronica Burton blocks a shot against Phoenix Mercury's Sami Whitcomb in the third quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco Calif on Monday July Nhat V Meyer Bay Area News Group Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase reacts to a call during their event against the Phoenix Mercury in the third quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco Calif on Monday July Nhat V Meyer Bay Area News Group Phoenix Mercury's Natasha Mack takes a shot against Golden State Valkyries' Monique Billings in the third quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco Calif on Monday July Nhat V Meyer Bay Area News Group Golden State Valkyries' Monique Billings and Golden State Valkyries' Kayla Thornton guard against Phoenix Mercury's Kathryn Westbeld in the third quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco Calif on Monday July Nhat V Meyer Bay Area News Group Phoenix Mercury's Monique Akoa-Makani shields her ears due to crowd noise as Phoenix Mercury's Alyssa Thomas makes a free throw in the fourth quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco Calif on Monday July Nhat V Meyer Bay Area News Group Golden State Valkyries' Tiffany Hayes heads to the basket against Phoenix Mercury's Kathryn Westbeld in the second quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco Calif on Monday July Nhat V Meyer Bay Area News Group The Golden State Valkyries bench celebrates a basket and foul against the Phoenix Mercury in the second quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco Calif on Monday July Nhat V Meyer Bay Area News Group Golden State Valkyries' Kayla Thornton takes a shot against Phoenix Mercury's Natasha Mack in the first quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco Calif on Monday July Nhat V Meyer Bay Area News Group Golden State Valkyries' Tiffany Hayes fights for the ball against Phoenix Mercury's Sami Whitcomb in the first quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco Calif on Monday July Nhat V Meyer Bay Area News Group Golden State Valkyries' Cecilia Zandalasini fouls Phoenix Mercury's Alyssa Thomas in the final seconds of the fourth quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco Calif on Monday July Nhat V Meyer Bay Area News Group Golden State Valkyries' Kayla Thornton celebrates her -point basket against the Phoenix Mercury in the fourth quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco Calif on Monday July Nhat V Meyer Bay Area News Group Golden State Valkyries' Monique Billings heads to the basket against Phoenix Mercury's Kalani Brown in the first quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco Calif on Monday July Nhat V Meyer Bay Area News Group Golden State Valkyries' Tiffany Hayes takes a shot against Phoenix Mercury's Sami Whitcomb in the second quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco Calif on Monday July Nhat V Meyer Bay Area News Group Show Caption of Golden State Valkyries' Janelle Sala n celebrates her match tying basket with second left in the fourth quarter against the Phoenix Mercury at the Chase Center in San Francisco Calif on Monday July Nhat V Meyer Bay Area News Group Expand