Three days could have handed because the injury-plagued Valkyries misplaced to the Mercury within the Bay Space, however a controversial foul nonetheless a subject of dialog because the scene shifted to Phoenix for the rematch.
Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts responded to criticism directed at certainly one of his gamers by Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase.
“I don’t think Mo is a dirty player at all,” Tibbetts mentioned. “I mean, she’s probably one of the sweetest girls we’ve got on our team.”
He later added, “I’m not too worried about what Natalie says over there.”
On the 6:13 mark of the fourth quarter, rookie Monique Akoa Makani was referred to as for a tripping foul as she tried to cease Valkyries’ guard Veronica Burton from driving to the rim. It was deemed a standard foul by the officers, a call that drew the ire of Nakase, who referred to as the foul “unacceptable.”
Nakase, a first-year coach however no stranger to voicing her opinions about fouls or officiating, defined why she had bother with the foul in the course of the postgame press convention.
“I saw Makani kick (Veronica) and I don’t like it,” Nakase mentioned. “When I see someone kick one of our players like that’s a red flag for me. I don’t like that type of physicality. … Tripping a player, for me, that’s not basketball.”
Burton didn’t point out the foul throughout her postgame media availability at Chase Middle.
Whereas the foul didn’t end in any main harm, the Valkyries are nonetheless coping with quite a lot of illnesses, even when beginning two-guard Tiffany Hayes is again within the lineup after sitting out the final recreation for relaxation functions.
Sharpshooter Cecilia Zandalasini, who had scored in double-figures in every of her previous 5 video games, will now miss a second recreation in a row with a left calf harm. Carla Leite (foot) and Iliana Rupert (concussion) had been each listed as questionable.
After enjoying at Phoenix, Golden State may have at some point to relaxation up earlier than heading to Dallas for a showdown with the Wings and rookie celebrity Paige Bueckers. The Valkyries entered Friday seeded seventh with 9 video games left to play.
The Valkyries introduced they’ve signed guard Kaila Charles to a remainder of season contract. The 27-year-old had beforehand performed on a trio of seven-day hardship contracts to remain on the roster, however wanted to signal a remainder of season contract with the intention to keep on the roster previous Friday. She has averaged 5.3 factors and 4.0 rebounds per recreation, becoming a member of the crew after All-Star Kayla Thornton was misplaced for the season with a knee harm.
The crew introduced that veteran ahead Monique Billings is now day-to-day after lacking virtually three weeks with a left ankle harm. She has averaged 7.5 factors and 4.7 rebounds this season.
Initially Printed: August 22, 2025 at 5:40 PM PDT
