SAN FRANCISCO — For the final two weeks, Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase has been piecing collectively her rotation on the fly.
Since dropping 4 key rotation gamers to EuroBasket, Nakase and her teaching employees have been piecing collectively the puzzle of figuring out who will play on a nightly foundation.
Since June 8, the Valkyries have added 5 new gamers to their roster and welcomed again guard Tiffany Hayes, who had been out with a nostril harm. In that timeframe, Golden State has had a special closing lineup in every of its 4 video games.
Whereas she mentioned she hasn’t fairly figured every little thing out simply but, Nakase mentioned she has loved the problem.
“It’s a constant conversation with my coaching staff, you know, what do we see? What do we like? Which is kind of fun,” Nakase mentioned. “It makes it actually difficult for us. However fortunately, once more, nearly all of the gamers that we introduced in have been right here at coaching camp, so that they actually didn’t miss a beat.
“It actually ran a lot smoother than I thought. So again, just credit to our staff for making sure those players were ready.”
Thus far, the ever-changing lineups have been a optimistic for the Valkyries (6-6). Nakase has had rotations that go 9 deep and sometimes closes with the gamers who’ve the recent hand.
“It makes it fun,” ahead Chloe Bibby mentioned. “You might have a quick rotation in there, so it just means you can play as hard as you possibly can for those minutes that you’re out there.”
Opposing groups have needed to put together for the uncertainty of the Valkyries’ lineups as properly.
“What I know about this team is that they have been playing well and they’ve had good results,” Connecticut Solar coach Rachid Meziane mentioned earlier than Sunday’s sport. “Every time they bring in someone different, they continue to play well.”
Golden State Valkyries’ Kayla Thornton (5) speaks to her teammate after defeating the Indiana Fever throughout their WNBA sport at Chase Heart in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, June 19, 2025. The Golden State Valkyries defeated the Indiana Fever 88-77. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
Bibby discovering groove
In her season debut on Thursday, Bibby performed herself right into a rotation spot.
Bibby scored 12 factors and grabbed three rebounds in 24 minutes of play within the Valkyries’ 88-77 win over the Indiana Fever on Thursday. She shot 4-of-9 from the sphere and 2-of-6 from 3-point vary.
“I was really impressed with her ability to knock down 3s,” Nakase mentioned. “I think having that comfortable confidence and safe space kind of really allowed her to excel in the space that she got.”
Bibby was with the Valkyries throughout coaching camp, however was minimize two days earlier than the season opener. She mentioned spending time with the crew helped ease the transition when she returned.
“It definitely made it a lot easier to be able to jump right back in,” Bibby mentioned. “I mean, we went through everything in training camp, so I was just taking the training wheels off really.”
In Thursday’s sport, Nakase used Bibby at energy ahead, and even at middle in sure lineups, regardless of her 6-foot-2 body.
“I haven’t really been down there, so it’s all new,” Bibby mentioned. “But it’s fun taking it all in.”
Golden State Valkyries’ Chloe Bibby (55) shoots and makes a 3-point basket previous Indiana Fever’s Aliyah Boston (7) within the second quarter of their WNBA sport at Chase Heart in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, June 19, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
EuroBasket updates
Valkyries rookie ahead Janelle Salaün has been a power for France at EuroBasket.
Salaün is averaging 20.7 factors and three.7 rebounds for the French nationwide crew, which is presently undefeated and the highest seed going into the match quarterfinals.
Salaün’s teammate, Iliana Rupert, who has but to report back to the Valkyries after being chosen in December’s enlargement draft, is averaging 10 factors and 6 rebounds.
Golden State’s beginning middle Temi Fágbénlé ought to be again within the Bay Space quickly after Nice Britain was eradicated from the match on Sunday. Based on the WNBA Collective Bargaining Settlement, Fágbénlé has 48 hours to return to the Valkyries following the completion of play.
Golden State Valkyries’ Temi Fagbenle (14) leaves the court docket following their 86-75 loss to the Minnesota Lynx on the Chase Heart in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, June 1, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Space Information Group)
Initially Revealed: June 22, 2025 at 5:13 PM PDT
