Associated Press<\/p>\n
Phoenix Mercury<\/a> (14-6, 8-6 Western Conference) at Golden State Valkyries<\/a> (10-10, 5-6 Western Conference)<\/p>\n San Francisco; Monday, 10 p.m. EDT<\/p>\n BOTTOM LINE: Phoenix Mercury takes on the Golden State Valkyries after Alyssa Thomas<\/a> scored 29 points in the Mercury’s 79-71 victory against the Minnesota Lynx<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Valkyries are 5-6 against Western Conference opponents. Golden State is ninth in the WNBA<\/a> with 80.3 points and is shooting 40.9% from the field.<\/p>\n The Mercury are 8-6 in Western Conference play. Phoenix is fourth in the WNBA with 21.0 assists per game led by Thomas averaging 9.5.<\/p>\n Golden State averages 9.3 made 3-pointers per game, 1.6 more made shots than the 7.7 per game Phoenix allows. Phoenix scores 6.0 more points per game (84.6) than Golden State gives up to opponents (78.6).<\/p>\n The teams meet for the second time this season. The Mercury won 86-77 in the last meeting on June 6. Lexi Held led the Mercury with 24 points, and Veronica Burton<\/a> led the Valkyries with 16 points.<\/p>\n TOP PERFORMERS: Kayla Thornton<\/a> is scoring 14.8 points per game with 7.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists for the Valkyries. Tiffany Hayes<\/a> is averaging 14.4 points and 3.1 assists over the past 10 games.<\/p>\n