SAN FRANCISCO — Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase didn’t maintain again on Phoenix Mercury guard Monique Akoa Makani following Tuesday night time’s loss.
On the 6:13 mark of the fourth quarter, Makani was known as for a tripping foul as tried to cease Valkyries’ guard Veronica Burton from driving to the rim.
Referees deemed the foul to be widespread, however after watching the play after the sport, Nakase stated she believed there was harmful intent behind the foul.
Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase reacts after a referee’s name within the second quarter of a WNBA sport towards the Phoenix Mercury at Chase Middle in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Could 19, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Space Information Group)
“I saw Makani kick (Veronica) and I don’t like it,” Nakase stated after the sport. “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.”
“Kicking a player, I’m not really happy with that. So the physicality can be what it is, but that’s unacceptable.”
Burton didn’t deal with the incident after the sport and didn’t have a response on the courtroom after the foul.
Golden State Valkyries’ Veronica Burton (22) reacts after she was hit on the mouth throughout a defensive play towards the Phoenix Mercury within the fourth quarter of a WNBA sport at Chase Middle in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Could 19, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Space Information Group)
“If you get kicked by a player, what are your antennas going to do?” They’re going to be a bit of nervous as a result of the refs aren’t calling a kick. We’re not enjoying soccer,” Nakase stated. “It’s too bad that I didn’t see it at game time. I had to actually see it after the game. But that’s going to make players not want to attack again.”
Whereas Nakase has criticized referees earlier than, that is the primary time this season she has publicly known as out an opposing participant after a sport.
The Valkyries have been ravaged by accidents, having to scratch ahead Cecilia Zandalasini (calf) and Tiffany Hayes (relaxation) simply minutes earlier than sport time. Golden State went into Tuesday’s sport with out facilities Iliana Rupert (concussion) and Monique Billings (left ankle sprain), and don’t have All-Star Kayla Thornton for the remainder of the season.
Burton had a historic sport regardless of the loss, turning into simply the third participant in league historical past to have 14 assists and nil turnovers. She additionally set the franchise file for assists in a single sport. Burton completed with a game-high 24 factors whereas making all 10 of her free throw makes an attempt.
The Valkyries have misplaced back-to-back video games at house and can get one other crack on the Mercury on Friday after they journey to Phoenix.
Golden State Valkyries’ Veronica Burton (22) dribbles towards Phoenix’s Monique Akoa Makani (8) within the third quarter of a WNBA sport at Chase Middle in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Could 19, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Space Information Group)
