



The Valkyries waived veteran forward Stephanie Talbot on Sunday as they reshape their rotation after the end of the EuroBasket tournament that featured several of their players.
Talbot, 31, started 10 games for the Valkyries this season, including eight consecutive starts over the last month, as the European tournament necessitated roster adjustments. But she played just six minutes last Monday in Atlanta against the Dream, then did not play in a win over Indiana or a loss Saturday to the Las Vegas Aces.
French center Iliana Rupert may end up filling the open spot on Golden State’s roster. She missed the first two months of the WNBA season but previously indicated plans to return to the league after EuroBasket.
Talbot averaged 3.6 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game for the Valkyries, who acquired her in last winter’s expansion draft from the Sparks. She had career lows in field goal percentage (33.9%) and 3-point shooting (25%) with the Valkyries.
Talbot has previously played for Phoenix, Minnesota, Seattle and the Sparks over her seven WNBA seasons out of Australia.
Rupert was the Valkyries’ first pick in the expansion draft from Atlanta, where she played in 2023. She previously played two seasons working with Golden State coach Natalie Nakase in Las Vegas, where Nakase was an Aces assistant coach.
Talbot’s $125,000 contract, which she signed as an extension with Los Angeles before the expansion draft, is guaranteed, according to Spotrac.com.
— Michael Nowels
Sunday’s games
Mystics 74, Storm 69: Brittney Sykes scored 19 points, Sonia Citron added 17 and Washington beat host Seattle.
Kiki Iriafen finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds for Washington (11-10) and her six double-doubles this season are tied with Chamique Holdsclaw for franchise’s single-season rookie record. Ezi Magbegor scored a season-high 19 points, Nneka Ogwumike added 16 for the Storm.
Fever 102, Wings 83: Caitlin Clark helped Indiana dominate the second quarter, leading her team past visiting Dallas. Clark had 14 points and a season-high 13 assists, needing only 25 minutes to earn the 19th double-double of her two-year career.
Paige Bueckers had 21 points, four rebounds, four assists and four turnovers in 33 minutes in a head-to-head matchup with Clark between the past two No. 1 overall picks.
Liberty 79, Dream 72: Leonie Fiebich scored 21 points and host New York rallied from a 19-point deficit in the first half to beat Atlanta. Breanna Stewart added 18 points and 10 rebounds for the Liberty.
Fiebich’s hot shooting helped rally New York from an 11-point halftime deficit. Her consecutive 3-pointers near the end of the third quarter gave the Liberty their first lead since early in the game. New York led 60-58 early in the fourth quarter before going on a 12-2 run.
Sparks 92, Sun 88: Kelsey Plum scored 18 of her 23 points in the second half as host Los Angeles beat Connecticut.