The Golden State Valkyries will be without Gabby Williams and Janelle Salaun for Friday night's Fire vs Valkyries matchup, while Carla Leite is set to return after being removed from the injury report.
It is the first game back after the WNBA break for the FIBA Women's World Cup, and the availability update adds another layer to a matchup that already carried different levels of urgency for both teams. Golden State enters at 29-11 and has won four straight, with a chance to stretch that run to five. Portland is 16-25 and trying to steady itself after a Thursday night loss at home to the Phoenix Mercury.
Who is out and who is back
Williams was ruled out because of reconditioning, while Salaun also will not play. Those absences come from a final injury report that included five Portland players and four Golden State players, making availability a major part of the story before tipoff.
On the other side, Carla Leite was off the injury report and set to return for Golden State. That is a notable development for a team that is trying to keep its momentum going as the season resumes.
Golden State already handled Portland on the road on Aug. 30 before the break, and Friday's meeting gives the Valkyries a quick chance to build on that result. With the roster situation shifting on both sides, the game will be shaped not only by standings, but by which players are actually available to help.
For the Valkyries, the main task is simple: manage the absences, get Leite back into the mix, and try to keep the winning streak moving against a Portland team that has already been dealing with a crowded injury report of its own.
