Sun vs. Valkyries Best Bet for August 11: Ride Golden State’s Hot Streak
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Spread Astaire
- August 11, 2025
We have one game on the slate for WNBA action tonight: the Golden State Valkyries will host the Connecticut Sun. Connecticut is having a tough season, and tonight’s game is an opportunity to find a glimmer of hope in an otherwise dismal campaign.
When these two teams take the floor, who should you back to make a winning pick at the WNBA odds boards?
Connecticut Sun vs. Golden State Valkyries
Monday, August 11, 2025 – 10:00 PM EDT at Chase Center
Connecticut Sun’s Road Woes
The Connecticut Sun are mired in last place in the league with a record of 5-25. They’ve only won 17% of their games, and they have a point differential of -12.1.
The Sun are in the middle of a road trip. After losing 94-86 in Las Vegas last night, Connecticut has lost 12 straight games on the road. The defeat was disappointing for the Sun, who started all strong with a 31-point first quarter and a 12-point second quarter lead. This was similar to their 102-91 loss on Thursday night in Los Angeles, where they once again jumped out to a lead, but crumbled in the second half.
One of the Sun’s main problems is the ability to get stops. They average 87.6 points per game allowed, the second worst in the league, with the only team higher being the Los Angeles Sparks. However, the Sparks average 85.9 points per game, so that is a product of pace and not defensive inability.
The Sun have lost four games in a row. Their most recent win was against the Golden State Valkyries, however. On July 27th, Tina Charles scored 24 points, leading the way, as the Sun got a 95-64 win at home over the expansion team. That win was the Sun’s season high in points. Since then, the Valkyries have clamped down on defense.
How the Valkyries Are Turning Their Season Around
The Golden State Valkyries are currently 15-15 and are in 8th place in the league and 5th place in the Western Conference.
This is the definition of an average team. They average 77.7 points per game scored and 77.8 opponents’ points per game allowed. This gives them a point differential of -0.1. This is the closest to the middle of the pack of any team in the league.
Historic Success for an Expansion Team
The Golden State Valkyries are coming off a win over the Los Angeles Sparks, which gave them a 3-1 edge in the series and made them hold the tiebreaker against the Sparks.
The win also made them the fourth team in WNBA league history to win at least 15 games in their inaugural season. They are the second fastest to do so (30 games), the first being the Detroit Shock in 1998-9 (27 games). That 1998 Detroit Shock team holds the record for the most ever wins by an expansion team with 17 victories. The Valkyries will most likely match or exceed that before this season ends.
Burton Leads Valkyries to Victory
Veronica Burton led the way in the Valkyries’ 72-59 win over the Sparks on Saturday night. The win over the Sparks was the Valkyries’ third win in a row. Burton’s strong pace so frustrated her opponents that Kelsey Plum ended up tripping Burton when she was unable to defend her, which led to a flagrant foul and a confrontation on court.
Not only is Burton putting up solid statistics, but she is also frustrating her opponents with her ruthless efficiency. After a slow start to the season, the Valkyries have improved their level of play. This team is getting hot at the right time.
Defense Fuels Winning Streak
The Valkyries have been winning with an increased emphasis on defense. Holding the Sparks, who have a ton of talented offensive players, under 60 points is an impressive feat. It’s no coincidence that the increased emphasis on defense has led to this winning streak. The Valkyries are one of the top defensive teams in the WNBA, only allowing 77.8 points per game.
Game Prediction: Backing the Valkyries Tonight
Fatigue will be a factor in this game. The Sun have shown they do not have the stamina to compete with the top teams in the league for 40 minutes. If you want to back the Sun in this game, I would play them in the first half.
However, my play for this game will be to take the Valkyries full game against the spread. The fact that the Valkyries lost by so many points in Connecticut should give them a little bit of extra motivation and the realization that they cannot overlook this team.
Revenge will be in the air in Golden State. The Sun beat the Valkyries at home, but they embarrassed them. Even though the Valkyries are playing well, that loss has to have their attention with every game mattering so much in the Valkyries’ fight for the final playoff spot.
One team can get stops and play excellent defense, and the other one cannot. If a team can’t defend, I can’t trust them to win or even cover. Give me the Golden State Valkyries at BetOnline.
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
