Alyssa Thomas hit a game-winning free throw to hand the Valkyries a 78-77 loss to the Phoenix Mercury at Chase Center on Monday. Janelle Salaün came through in the clutch for the Valkyries, scoring five straight points to tie the game, but a foul in the final seconds allowed Thomas to convert the walk-off. The Valkyries sank a season-high 14 3-pointers in the loss at a 42.4 percent clip.

Veronica Burton led the way with 17 points, six assists and four 3-pointers and Tiffany Hayes added 15 points, four threes and four assists. DeWanna Bonner scored a season-high 22 points and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds to lead the Mercury.

VALKYRIES BREAK OUT OF EARLY HOLE WITH 17-1 RUN
The Valkyries surrendered a 12-2 run to open the game but quickly hit their stride, outscoring the Mercury 17-1 over a five-minute span to take a 20-13 lead. Golden State made five 3-pointers during their run, including back-to-back threes by Tiffany Hayes.

REGAINING THE 3-POINT STROKE
Following their first quarter run, the Valkyries went cold from distance, missing all seven of their 3-point attempts in the second quarter. In a game of ebbs and flows, the Valkyries matched their first quarter 3-point output in the third quarter, going 5-for-8 from behind the arc. Veronica Burton led the way with eight points and two threes in the quarter. After being outscored 20-12 in the second quarter, Golden State won the third quarter 26-23. Overall, the Valkyries overcame their second quarter drought to sink a season-best 14 threes.

SALAÜN IN THE CLUTCH 
Janelle Salaün kept the Valkyries alive down the stretch, sinking a three with 10.3 seconds left that trimmed the deficit to two. On the ensuing possession, Salaün received the inbounds pass drifting to the left sideline and instantly rose into a 17-footer to tie the game. If not for a foul in the final seconds, her late-game heroics could have extended the game into overtime. 

BILLINGS BALLS OUT OFF THE BENCH 
Monique Billings was the only Valkyrie reserve to score in double figures and led the team with nine rebounds in 19 productive minutes against her former team. Billings recorded just her second game this season with 10-plus points and nine-plus rebounds.

UP NEXT
The Valkyries will go back on the road, facing the Storm in Seattle on Wednesday (12 p.m. PT). Bay Area fans can watch on KPIX+, while Sacramento fans can tune in on KMAX.