Toronto Tempo - Golden State Valkyries    (lost)

Golden State are clearly one of the hottest teams in the league right now. After beating Washington 62-49 on the road, the Valkyries extended their winning streak to five games and have now won 8 of their last 10. Their record has improved to 15-7, placing them among the top three teams in the standings. They have also climbed to No. 1 in the latest WNBA power rankings, so the market attention around them is very understandable.

However, that strong form also means their price is no longer cheap. Going on the road and covering a fairly sizeable spread against Toronto may not be as easy as the standings suggest. Golden State won their last game, but star forward Gabby Williams had one of her worst performances of the season. She shot just 1-for-6 from the field, missed both of her three-point attempts, and finished with only 2 points, 3 rebounds and 2 steals. Her 2 points, 0 assists and 16.7% shooting were all season lows. If her rhythm remains inconsistent, Golden State’s half-court offense could become less reliable.

Toronto may not have the same record or league reputation, but they enter this game with several positive factors. Marina Mabrey returned from neck discomfort in the previous game and immediately produced 19 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal and 1 block against Dallas. Her performance showed that she is already close to her usual level. She has also just been named a WNBA All-Star reserve for the first time in her career, which should give her an emotional boost.

Toronto also receive another important lift with Julie Allemand confirmed to return from a left ankle issue. She is averaging 6.2 points, 5.1 assists and 1.6 steals this season, leading the team in both assists and steals. Her return should improve Toronto’s organization, ball movement and defensive pressure. On top of that, this game falls on her 30th birthday, which adds another motivational layer in front of the home crowd.

Golden State are the stronger team overall, but Toronto have enough backcourt quality and emotional motivation to keep this competitive.

Pick : Toronto Tempo +7.5