One way or the other, a way, the Golden State Valkyries emerged from their five-game highway journey with a profitable file.
Taking part in with simply 9 gamers on most nights and with out All-Star ahead Kayla Thornoton, the Valkyries went 3-2 throughout their longest highway stint of the season: 5 video games in eight days throughout three totally different time zones.
“It’s been about resilience,” Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase stated. “We’re down players, but that’s what I love about this team. It’s not just the next one woman up mentality. It’s next woman and let’s play tougher together and play more connected.”
Golden State discovered contributions from nearly each participant on its roster this previous week.
Veronica Burton #22 of the Golden State Valkyries dribbles the ball through the sport in opposition to the Las Vegas Aces on Aug. 3, 2025 at Michelob ULTRA Enviornment in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Picture by David Becker/NBAE through Getty Photographs)
The Valkyries had 4 totally different main scorers and used 5 totally different beginning lineups throughout this stretch. On Friday, the Valkyries gutted out a formidable win over the Chicago Sky on the second evening of a back-to-back whereas using a closing lineup that included guard Kaila Charles, who was signed that morning.
“I think it just shows you know what we’re capable of,” place to begin guard Veronica Burton stated after Friday’s win over the Sky. “We’ve simply such a selfless group that it doesn’t matter who’s scorching on that given day. If somebody’s going, then we’re going to search out them and we’re going to maintain feeding them.
“It’s a fun brand of basketball when it’s hard to guard and hard to prepare for when you don’t know who it’s going to be on a given night. So I think it’s a testament to us reading the defense and just playing the game the right way.”
Though the highway journey ended with a loss to the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday, the Valkyries sit in eighth place within the standings with 16 video games left. The season may have simply gone off the rails had the Valkyries come out of the week with a shedding file.
However now, the Valkyries are in a greater spot than they have been earlier than the All-Star break with a three-game homestand developing – two of that are in opposition to the Los Angeles Sparks (tenth place) and the Connecticut Solar (thirteenth). With Thursday’s commerce deadline looming, Golden State is in a great place to be a purchaser if it desires to proceed to make a push for the playoffs.
Right here’s what labored and what didn’t on the Valkyries’ highway journey:
Labored: Natalie Nakase
The primary-year head coach had her work lower out for her.
Not solely did she not have Thornton, however key rotation gamers Tiffany Hayes, Cecilia Zandalasini and Monique Billings all missed time through the five-game stretch.
Nonetheless, Nakase discovered a method to determine all of it out.
She threw out a large number of lineups, together with beginning two facilities and three guards. She tried out totally different zone appears to be like and adjusted her offensive philosophy from sport to sport. The primary-year coach even obtained productive minutes from Charles, who struggled to discover a function with the lowly Dallas Wings earlier this season.
“I think it’s a credit to the team,” Nakase stated. “This is who we are. We’re a tough love team. We’re gonna have high expectations for you, but at the same time, we just want you to have fun. But also just know if you’re struggling, we’ll be there to support you.”
Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase (35) coaches throughout their sport in opposition to the Phoenix Mercury within the third quarter on the Chase Middle in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, July 14, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Space Information Group)
Didn’t work: Temi Fágbénlé
It was a tough stretch of video games for the veteran heart.
Whereas she had her moments defensively, Fágbénlé struggled to supply something on offense. She averaged 5 factors per sport, shot 38.7% from the sector and hit simply 1-of-7 pictures from past the arc.
Towards Las Vegas, Fágbénlé didn’t rating a degree and struggled as a defender on off-ball screens. Guarding Aces celebrity A’ja Wilson is not any straightforward feat, however the reigning MVP seemingly obtained no matter she needed as Fágbénlé couldn’t transfer her off her spots.
With backup heart Monique Billings out for the subsequent three weeks, Fágbénlé should be on the ground to present Golden State some dimension. However she was completely outplayed by teammate Iliana Rupert, who may substitute Fágbénlé in sure beginning lineups relying on the matchups.
Golden State Valkyries’ Temi Fagbenle (14) blocks a shot in opposition to Minnesota Lynx’s Napheesa Collier (24) within the first quarter on the Chase Middle in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, June 1, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Space Information Group)
Labored: French rookie duo
French rookies Carla Leite and Janelle Salaün gave the Valkyries large scoring boosts once they wanted it essentially the most.
Salaün began each sport, and whereas she wasn’t all the time environment friendly, her intuition to create pictures for herself did simply sufficient to make opponents have to protect her. Her greatest sport got here when she scored 16 factors and grabbed 9 rebounds to assist carry the Valkyries over the Sky.
Salaün has additionally taken on Thornton’s function of guarding the opposing group’s greatest wing. Taking up the task of All-Star Allisha Grey of their matchup in opposition to Atlanta, Salaün held the sharpshooter to 12 factors on 2-of-11 taking pictures.
Leite has had her fair proportion of rookie struggles, however the 21-year-old performed effectively because the Valkyries’ off guard.
She averaged 9.2 factors per sport and shot 30.7% from past the arc. Leite made simply three of her first 35 3-point makes an attempt by the primary 15 video games of the season, making this highway journey a giant step up from earlier within the season.
With Hayes’ standing nonetheless unknown after lacking the final two video games, Leite may get some much-needed taking part in time to proceed her growth.
Carla Leite of the Valkyries drives within the first half in opposition to Erica Wheeler of the Seattle Storm on the Chase Middle in San Francisco, CA on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Don Feria for Bay Space Information Group)
Didn’t work: Perimeter protection
Whereas the Valkyries performed stable defensively by the 5 video games, opposing guards torched the enlargement group.
Rotation guards equivalent to Connecticut’s Bria Hartley, Atlanta’s Jordin Canada and Chicago’s Rachel Banham all had double-digit scoring outputs on good effectivity in opposition to the Valkyries.
Aces star guard Jewell Loyd obtained no matter she needed in opposition to the Valkyries to the tune of 27 factors on Sunday evening.
Whereas Veronica Burton is an above-average perimeter defender, Golden State didn’t have the defensive depth on the guard place when Hayes was out of the lineup.
Labored: Newcomers
It appeared like there was no transition time wanted for Rupert.
Rupert, who joined the group after the All-Star break, has gotten off to a scorching begin with the Valkyries as she has posted averages of 9.4 factors and 4.2 rebounds in six video games performed.
She led the Valkyries in scoring in two video games through the highway journey and has given them a real stretch 5 that may unlock extra offensive-minded lineups. She is taking pictures 57.1% from the 3-point line on simply over 4 makes an attempt per sport.
Charles was thrust into changing into a rotation participant the second she was signed. Nakase has praised the previous College of Maryland standout for being prepared and offering a lift of power within the Valkyries’ two video games in opposition to the Sky and the Aces. She scored in double figures in opposition to the Aces and performed 17 minutes in Chicago.
In all probability, Charles won’t be introduced again after her hardship contract ends on Thursday however she is a testomony to the Valkyries’ system of plug-and-play.
