Valkyries News: Tiffany Hayes and Cecilia Zandalasini ‘day-to-day’ with minor injuries

SAN FRANCISCO– Golden State Valkyries guard Tiffany Hayes and forward Cecilia Zandalasini received updates on their respective injuries after exiting midway through the team’s 91-80 season opener victory over the Seattle Storm.

Hayes sustained a dislocated left pinky in the first quarter of Friday’s game, while Zandalasini has been diagnosed with a concussion after suffering a jaw injury in the second quarter, the team announced Saturday afternoon.

Both players will be evaluated on a day-to-day basis, with Zandalasini in concussion protocol, and have been ruled out for the Valkyries’ home opener against the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday.

At Chase Center Saturday morning, Natalie Nakase said neither player practiced, with both observing in street clothes off to the side, according to Matthew Walter of IX Sports.

With Hayes and Zandalasini sidelined for the near future, Golden State loses two more returning players, shortening their already sparse rotation. With Iliana Rupert out for likely the season due to her pregnancy, redshirted rookie Justė Jocytė still overseas, and the team having waived Kate Martin earlier this week, the Valkyries will have to rely on some new faces to the roster.

Golden State will look to forward Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda, the rookie from Vanderbilt whom they signed to a replacement contract after Rupert’s pregnancy news, as well as guard Miela Sowah, on one of their development contracts, to fill in for Hayes and Zandalasini.

That leaves the Valkyries with 10 healthy players in the coming days, which means they cannot afford any other injuries to pop up. Fortunately for Golden State, they only have two games over the next 11 days, giving Hayes and Zandalasini ample time to recover from their respective injuries.

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