The injuries have piled up for the Golden State Valkyries.
Center Monique Billings has been ruled out with an ankle sprain and will be reevaluated in three weeks, the team announced on Friday.
In a corresponding move, the Valkyries have signed guard Kaila Charles to a seven-day hardship contract. Charles averaged 5.3 points and four rebounds for the Dallas Wings this season.
Billings started eight games for the Valkyries, averaging 7.5 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. She’s been in the midst of a career shooting year, making 49.6% of her shots from the field.
The former UCLA standout missed the Valkyries’ game against the Dallas Wings last Friday with a right ankle injury and Sunday’s contest vs. the Connecticut Sun with a left ankle injury. Billings returned to the starting lineup on Tuesday against the Atlanta Dream, but re-aggravated her left ankle injury in the second quarter and did not return.
Billings’ injury is a big blow to the Valkyries who are in the middle of one of their most important stretches of the season. Golden State already lost All-Star Kayla Thornton to a season-ending knee injury and did not have sharpshooter Cecilia Zandalasini for Thursday’s game against the Washington Mystics.
French center Iliana Rupert figures to see more time at center, rotating with starter Temi Fágbénlé. Coach Natalie Nakase has experimented with playing two centers in her starting lineup for the last two games and could use that strategy going forward.
Charles had her best game against the Valkyries earlier this season. In Golden State’s 80-71 loss to the Wings on June 17, Charles played a season-high 24 minutes and scored 10 points, grabbed five rebounds and dished out four assists.
The Valkyries are 13-13 and would be the last team in the playoffs if the postseason started today. Golden State will finish their road trip with a games against the Chicago Sky today and the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday.
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