LA Sparks vs Golden State Valkyries Game Player Stats and Box Score for May 6 | 2025 WNBA preseason

The LA Sparks held on to beat the Golden State Valkyries 83-82 in a preseason clash on Tuesday. Aari McDonald gave the Sparks an 83-79 lead following two free throws with 5.1 seconds remaining. Laeticia Amihere drilled a 27-footer as time expired to settle the final score.

The game was a tale of two halves for the Valkyries. They had trouble finding rhythm because of turnovers and sloppy execution. The lack of familiarity was obvious for a team formed roughly four months ago.

Both teams closed the game with mostly rookies and training camp invitees.

LA Sparks vs Golden State Valkyries player stats and box score

LA Sparks player stats and box score

Player	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	FG	3-PT FG	FT	+/-
Dearica Hamby	4	6	6	2	0	4	2-4	0-0	0-0	+3
Azura Stevens	9	11	0	0	1	0	4-8	1-4	0-0	+2
Rickea Jackson	13	2	0	0	0	1	5-10	2-4	1-2	+7
Kelsey Plum	11	2	5	0	0	3	3-9	0-4	5-5	+3
Rae Burrell	0	1	0	2	0	1	0-4	0-2	0-1	-2
Emma Cannon	5	5	0	0	1	2	1-5	0-1	3-4	-3
Sania Feagin	3	0	1	0	0	0	0-0	0-0	3-4	-4
Liatu King	6	4	0	0	0	1	2-2	1-1	1-2	-2
Mercedes Russell	4	1	1	0	0	1	2-2	0-0	0-0	+4
Odyssey Sims	11	2	3	1	0	1	5-12	1-4	0-1	+1
Aari McDonald	12	0	2	2	0	0	4-11	2-7	2-3	0
Sarah Ashlee Barker	5	3	3	0	0	0	1-2	1-1	2-2	-1
Shaneice Swain	0	1	0	1	0	2	0-1	0-1	0-0	-3
Maria Kliundikova	DNP	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

Golden State Valkyries player stats and box score

Player	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	FG	3-PT FG	FT	+/-
Kayla Thornton	9	5	1	1	0	0	4-7	1-4	0-0	+1
Monique Billings	9	8	1	0	0	1	4-8	1-2	0-0	+5
Temi Fagbenle	2	3	1	1	1	1	1-3	0-2	0-0	-5
Tiffany Hayes	6	3	3	1	0	2	1-7	0-2	4-5	+5
Veronica Burton	6	0	4	0	0	4	2-5	0-2	2-2	-10
Chloe Bibby	3	0	0	0	0	0	1-3	1-2	0-0	+2
Laeticia Amihere	20	2	0	0	0	0	7-11	2-4	4-6	-4
Elissa Cunane	4	0	0	0	0	0	1-1	0-0	2-2	+2
Kyara Linskens	4	8	2	1	1	0	2-2	0-0	0-0	-1
Julie Vanloo	3	1	3	1	0	1	1-4	0-2	1-2	-5
Kate Martin	8	3	0	2	0	1	2-8	1-7	3-3	-3
Kaitlyn Chen	2	3	0	0	0	1	1-3	0-0	0-0	+4
Carla Leite	4	1	2	0	0	3	1-4	0-1	2-4	0
Migna Toure	2	0	1	0	0	1	0-0	0-0	0-0	+4
Janelle Salaun	DNP	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

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LA Sparks vs Golden State Valkyries Game Summary

The LA Sparks opened their preseason slate without Cameron Brink, who is recovering from an ACL injury sustained last season, but emerging star Rickea Jackson suited up.

The Sparks and the Valkyries were sloppy to open the game. Neither team found rhythm because of poor execution and turnovers. LA had the upper hand at the end of the first quarter with a 16-13 lead.

Jackson and Plum fueled the Sparks on offense while their defense limited the Valkyries to 12 points in the second quarter. Golden State made only 5 of its 18 shots and committed four turnovers. LA pushed its lead to 39-25 at halftime.

The Valkyries finally gave their home fans something to cheer about when they strung together a 15-4 run to open the third frame. They outscored LA 32-18 in the period to tie the game 57-57 entering the fourth quarter.

Both teams exchanged haymakers throughout the final 12 minutes. LA, though, never relinquished the lead after Aari McDonald hit a 3-pointer to start the period. The shooting guard, the only veteran left to close the game for the Sparks, ended her night with free throws that sealed her team's win.