WNBA Team Announces Unfortunate News Before Facing Chicago Sky

WNBA Team Announces Unfortunate News Before Facing Chicago Sky originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Golden State Valkyries have quickly become one of the most intriguing stories of the 2025 WNBA season. As an expansion team in their inaugural year, expectations were modest, but the Valkyries have exceeded them with a competitive 13-13 record and a strong push to stay in the postseason conversation. 

However, their impressive resilience has not come without challenges – the team has been battling with injuries, including the absences of key players Kayla Thornton and Cecilia Zandalasini. Now, ahead of Friday’s matchup against the struggling Chicago Sky, who are already without star forward Angel Reese, Golden State faces yet another major setback after being dealt some unfortunate news.

Valkyries Announce Monique Billings Injury Before Tip-Off

The Valkyries announced on social media Friday that forward Monique Billings has been ruled out and will be re-evaluated in three weeks after suffering a sprained left ankle.

“INJURY UPDATE: Forward Monique Billings, who missed the last game due to a sprained left ankle, has been ruled out and will be re-evaluated in three weeks,” the team posted.

INJURY UPDATE: Forward Monique Billings, who missed the last game due to a sprained left ankle, has been ruled out and will be re-evaluated in three weeks. pic.twitter.com/GEooJjysTZ

— Golden State Valkyries (@valkyries) August 1, 2025

Billings exited the July 29 game against the Atlanta Dream early in the second quarter and has not returned to action since. Her absence will extend through at least mid-August, adding to a growing list of injuries the Valkyries are navigating during a crucial stretch of the season.

A Major Blow to Golden State’s Frontcourt

Billings’ injury is a major blow to Golden State’s interior rotation as she is one of the team’s most reliable finisher in the paint. Already missing Thornton, the Valkyries now lose their top rim protector and one of their most reliable paint scorers.

• Billings is averaging 7.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 21 games this season
• Billings leads the Valkyries in blocks per game (0.8) this season.

Golden State ranks near the bottom of the league in paint production, and the loss of Billings only adds to their challenges in that area. Head coach Natalie Nakase will now have to lean more heavily on the likes of Janelle Salaün, Temi Fagbenle, Iliana Rupert, and Laeticia Amihere to fill the void.

Valkyries Sign Kaila Charles to 7-Day Deal

In response to mounting injuries, Golden State signed Kaila Charles to a seven-day hardship contract. The 6-foot-1 wing is available to play in Friday’s game against Chicago, the team announced on Friday.

Charles brings added depth to the Valkyries’ rotation and has previous experience this season with the Dallas Wings, where she appeared in 17 games and averaged 5.3 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. Her defense and rebounding ability could come in handy as Golden State looks to stay afloat in the playoff race.

Related: "It's Over": WNBA Fans React to Angel Reese News After Chicago Sky's 6th Straight Loss

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 1, 2025, where it first appeared.