„Ballhalla“ and past has been Helheim for Golden State Valkyries opponents this season.
BROOKLYN—Down by the Bay, chanting „scoreboard“ is not a lot trash speak as it’s a well mannered suggestion to the Golden State Valkyries‘ opponents.
It might seem this trip of the Valkyries has flown over the dreaded sophomore stoop: the purveyors of purple, contemporary off their memorable growth showcase, are closing in on the WNBA playoff bracket’s second seed thanks in sturdy half to fudging the finesse that the trendy recreation has turn out to be identified for.
Golden State has hit groups with a strict weight loss program of protection and fundamentals in a showcase of comparatively misplaced artwork throughout the skilled circuits. It has performed to their profit with a 28-11 document that trails solely mighty Minnesota coming into this weekend, the final earlier than the league embarks on a two-week break to look at and have interaction in FIBA Basketball World Cup play. Golden State took an 80-66 determination from Minnesota on Monday, tipping off a victorious, if not compacted, three-game tally that featured wins over Connecticut and New York on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.
Purple Folks Beaters
Establishing a defense-first identification in any trendy basketball setting is a daring endeavor. Golden State’s 2026 offensive averages trace at struggling, perhaps even desperation:
Getting into this landmark weekend, the Valkyries place second-to-last in factors, free throw makes an attempt, and profitable discipline targets per recreation. There isn’t any one behind them in discipline aim share.
However a perimeter-busting, gap-clogging defensive mindset that veteran Tiffany Hayes dubbed „Valkatraz“ in reference within the notorious Alcatraz Island landmark that sits a couple of half-hour’s drive from the Valkyries‘ residence of Chase Middle has created a purple paradise … or, poetically sufficient, jail, relying in your place.
Averages are much more sympathetic within the opponents‘ classes: Golden State is letting up the fewest factors, discipline targets, and assists within the league going into FIBA.
“You guys perceive how laborious it’s to play protection the way in which we do?“ head coach Natalie Nakase rhetorically requested. „We’re undersized, so we now have to hit and punch and be tremendous bodily so as to get the rebounds. Diving on the ground takes a variety of effort, and getting up and you recognize going the opposite manner … They did so much. I might say these three video games in 4 days, by way of taking good care of their our bodies, they did so much. They have been disciplined. They sacrificed.“
The Chase for Chase
The smashmouth model of basketball is little doubt led by first-year Californian Gabby Williams, who has introduced her harrowing, pestering work stateside after placing a scare within the final American Olympic gold effort. Golden State additionally continues to profit from the contributions of championship co-stars that departed from their title-winning houses in pursuit of purpler pastures.
Kayla Thornton, wearer of a 2024 New York Liberty ring, continues to trip the wave of All-Star momentum after being the primary in Valkyries historical past. Kiah Stokes got here into this yr averaging lower than two factors a recreation over her final 5 excursions. That did not cease her from donning three championship adornments (two earned beneath Nakase’s watch with the Las Vegas Aces) and sitting within the beginning 5 to play a impolite host within the paint.
„I am trying on the statsheet now I am shocked she solely had one block as a result of I really feel like simply her presence in the important thing, it saves all the pieces for us,“ Williams mentioned of Stokes. „We type of snigger after we see folks nonetheless making an attempt to get pictures up towards her. It permits us to be extra aggressive as guards as a result of we all know that we now have a very good backline, so it permits us to really choose up ball stress, which ends up in extra deflections and results in extra transition. Loads of issues do not present up on the stat sheet, however she is certainly the anchor of our protection.“
Maybe most rhythmical within the Valkyries‘ rush is their capacity to dish it out in addition to they will take it: the Thursday win in Brooklyn capped off a string of three victories in 4 nights and three cities, laying siege to Minneapolis and Uncasville earlier than arriving on Atlantic Avenue. Valkyrie opponents have been outscored by 58 factors in that span.
Thursday figured to be an evening off for Veronica Burton, because the league’s most up-to-date Most Improved Participant was compelled to the locker room by an elbow harm after a collision with Pauline Astier. Although in seen ache, Burton got here again to the ground and contributed to a different shutdown defensive outing whereas including one other landmark to her sterling two-year tear along with her fifth recreation that includes not less than 10 assists and no turnovers. Burton ended the night time with 13 in a scoring effort headlined by one other Cecilia Zandalasini scoring breakout.
With a 20-point outing on Thursday in New York, Zandalasini is one in every of 9 ladies to guide the staff in factors not less than one this yr. The go to to New York, nonetheless, was headlined by the toughness of Burton, who was maybe playfully perplexed by the truth that she needed to depart her native New England to get to Brooklyn.
„We’re not as revered, I believe, as different groups, and that features like what sort of whistles we get,“ Williams professed. „We have needed to play via that each one season, particularly she’s needed to play via some powerful ones. So it truly ended up working in our favor [on Thursday] as a result of she wasn’t phased by the physicality tonight.
Solely Sue Chook has amassed extra field scores and it took her 17 excursions to try this. Burton has performed it, once more, in slightly below two.
„Veronica Burton is resilient. She’s relentless,“ Nakase lauded. „I did get very nervous at one level for her well being, simply because I noticed my assistants go loopy, and so they often do not present an excessive amount of emotion … Then once more, 13 assists, zero turnovers, it is simply her composure.“
„She’s gaining this sense of once I have to punch the paint, however she’s additionally seeing that subsequent stage,“ Nakase continued. „She’s seen the protection beforehand. That is what’s actually cool about B, is that she’s consistently studying angles, studying the place sure gamers need the ball, after which persevering with to seek out the new hand. She’s rising into, I believe, the most effective level guards within the league, for positive.“
Veronica Burton has 35 relations and buddies in Connecticut tonight together with her dad Steve who’s a longtime sportscaster for @wbz.
It solely made sense for him to take over our pregame interview. @SteveBurtonWBZ pic.twitter.com/YCRpkFA2Dw
— Matt Energetic (@mattblively) August 26, 2026
No Wait-y For 80
Thursday’s win over the Liberty is the tenth Golden State triumph the place the victorious column has a quantity smaller than 80 this yr. The typical margin on these events is simply over 11.
To place that quantity in a league (and basketball world typically) that has expressed additional devotion to the offense in an try to seek out its fortune in perspective, no different staff has greater than 4 such wins this season. Within the final decade, solely the trendy Valkyries and the 2021 Connecticut Solar have put up not less than 10.
It is a stat that makes the court-focused gamers blush however brings a smile of Nakase, who believes it exemplifies the resilient sense of accomplishment her squad has put up this season. Nakase believes it is a demonstration of „totality of our power in numbers.“
„It is all 14 gamers,“ Nakase mentioned utilizing the current street journey for instance. „Having a again to again after which touring, getting in late, I mentioned, ‚look, keep prepared, regroup.‘ [After Thursday I said], this was you. This was you guys tonight. You guys performed a full quarter. A few of you guys performed 1 / 4 and a half to relaxation our starters. Our starters, I believe, did not even play greater than 20 minutes [on Wednesday.“
„It’s a collective effort of strength in numbers. All 14 players doing their job, being ready to go, winning in multiple ways. I think that’s really our key: is that strength in numbers. We got 14 players that could play.“
Golden State’s last flight before the World Cup is Sunday when it returns west to face the Portland Fire (4 p.m. PT, KMAX/KPIX+). Williams and Janelle Salaun will rep France in Berlin afterward.
Geoff Magliocchetti is on X @GeoffJMags
