I think I hear @kenzofuku.bsky.social asking Steve Kerr the Valkyries/Warriors crossover question, cleverly getting a quote he can use in two different articles, efficient
youtu.be/36j-o2minvg?...
On coaching while suffering personal loss:
“It's tough because she's a lot like me. I went through the same type of stuff in Cleveland,” Lue said. “When you dive into it, you know, you're diving all the way."
Lots of other stuff in the article...
NEW 📝📝📝:
From Day 1, Natalie Nakase had her players bought into her vision for Valkyries basketball.
I talked to one of her mentors in Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue about why Nakase’s players gravitated to her so easily.
clutchpoints.com/wnba/golden-...
Get ready to learn Drake Maye buddy (and Mac Jones)
NEW 📝📝📝:
Valkyries’ Natalie Nakase continues to break barriers as she became the 2nd Asian-American coach across the major American sports to win Coach of the Year.
More on this landmark moment in Asian-American representation in sports:
clutchpoints.com/wnba/golden-...
NEW 📝📝📝:
What comes next for the Valkyries after an unprecedentedly successful inaugural season in the WNBA?
With uncertainty surrounding the CBA and free agency, everything is up in the air. Here are the takeaways from the Valks’ exit interviews:
clutchpoints.com/wnba/golden-...
NEW📝📝📝:
Golden State Valkyries’ Veronica Burton has officially won the 2025 WNBA’s Most Improved Player of the Year
“Honestly, just grateful think our team is full of most improved players… I'm grateful to play on a team like this.”
More here: clutchpoints.com/wnba/golden-...
NEW 📝📝📝:
The Valkyries understand the juggernaut that stands in their way.
“For sure, they are a tough team to beat. They are the top team in the league. But we don't have to be afraid about that.”
More on GSV’s mindset headed into Game 1: clutchpoints.com/wnba/golden-...
NEW 📝📝📝:
The Valkyries will be heavy underdogs in their first round matchup with the juggernaut Minnesota Lynx.
But that doesn’t mean there’s no hope because the Valks believe. Here are my 3 bold predictions for Golden State this series:
clutchpoints.com/wnba/golden-...
NEW 📝📝📝:
After a lot of Veronica Burton high PnR and some inconsistency on both ends. Valkyries’ HC Natalie Nakase took the blame for the narrow loss to Seattle last night.
“I can't make any errors down the stretch.”
More here on the puzzling loss👇👇👇
clutchpoints.com/wnba/golden-...
@ericapricot.bsky.social at a certain point Close Enough to Hurt becomes, It Just Hurts All The Time 😂
Golden State Valkyries have waived center Elizabeth Kitley (who was an 7-day injury hardship replacement).
Cecilia Zandalasini listed as questionable for tomorrow’s game at Seattle and is day to day.
NEW 📝📝📝:
The Valkyries fought Napheesa Collier and the StudBudz down to the final minute, but fell just short due to a couple specific issues.
“I think that our lack of communication in transition was super poor.”
Here are my 3 takeaways from the loss:
clutchpoints.com/wnba/golden-...
NEW📝📝📝:
Lynx, Aces, Dream, Mercury.
None of the Valkyries' possible playoff opponents will be easy to play. But with how Golden State’s been humming, anything is possible.
I dove deep into the Valkyries potential playoff matchups here:
clutchpoints.com/wnba/golden-...
Good piece on Coach Nakase and her father.
Also, Nakase at her intro press conference talked extensively and emotionally about her dad and how grateful she was to Becky Hammon for helping her deal with her dad’s passing.
NEW 📝📝📝:
Before clinching the playoffs, Valkyries’ first-year head coach Natalie Nakase’s thoughts were on her father who passed in 2021.
“I wish my dad was here. Especially with my first job being a head coach, and this was part of my dream, with him.”
More👇👇👇:
clutchpoints.com/wnba/golden-...
NEW 📝📝📝:
It took a wild comeback but the Valkyries have CLINCHED a spot in the WNBA playoffs.
“It's a testament to all the work we put in, it's a testament to the belief our coaching staff had in us.
More on the historic achievement here:
clutchpoints.com/wnba/golden-...
Asked Kate Martin and Temi Fagbenle about the crowd being especially loud tonight:
“The fact our crowd stayed with us like they always do, it really helps us, it gives us a boost of energy.”
But Fagbenle had a different tangent about cheering for opposing teams in walk-outs.
Gotta give credit where credit’s due 😁
EXCLUSIVE 📝📝📝:
“Her leadership style is she's a winner. She's the type of person where you either get on board… or you get left behind.”
I talked to Natalie Nakase’s assistant coaches about her historic first-year as the architect of the Valkyries.
clutchpoints.com/wnba/golden-...
NEW📝📝📝:
As the Valkyries inch closer to the playoffs, Natalie Nakase reflected on what she learned from Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla.
“Everyone has a voice, everyone is empowered, and that's what I got to take. Along with a lot of other things.”
More here:
clutchpoints.com/wnba/golden-...
NEW 📝📝📝:
The Valkyries’ exorcised their demons with a hard-fought 66-58 win over the Liberty.
From a hot Kate Martin shooting night to Temi Fagbenle and the bigs shutting Breanna Stewart down, here are my 3 takeaways from the game 👇👇👇:
clutchpoints.com/wnba/golden-...
@ericapricot.bsky.social asked Valkyries’ Natalie Nakase on taking out Carla Leite after a TO and then immediately subbing her back in:
“I told her I don’t care about the turnovers… I told her I don’t care, I’m gonna put you back in and you’re going to go kick some ass. And that’s what she did.”
EXCLUSIVE 📝📝📝:
Valkyries’ Natalie Nakase and Kaitlyn Chen are intertwined. By firsts. By basketball. But also by North-South.
I talked to them about their 30-year connection to one of the oldest Asian American HS tournaments in California.
clutchpoints.com/wnba/golden-...
NEW 📝📝📝
“This was for KT.”
The Valkyries got a much needed win in the wake of Kayla Thornton’s season-ending knee injury.
Here are my 3 takeaways from their win over the Dallas Wings (hint: one of them is about The French Connection 🇫🇷)
clutchpoints.com/wnba/golden-...
Valkyries trail 21-10 to the Wings after the 1st QTR. Dallas closed the quarter on a 16-1 run over the last 4:26.
Golden State is shooting 3/17 FGs (17.6%) and 2/10 3FGs (20%), along with 6 TOs. Defense hasn't been much better as the Wings are just walking into transition 3s.
Natalie Nakase was visibly emotionally talking about the loss of Kayla Thornton for the season:
“Again, I’m gonna keep it private and wait for her so she can speak on it… But again, it wasn’t the same. We’re missing our leader. We’re missing the energy and the enthusiasm.”
Valkyries Natalie Nakase’s official statement on Kayla Thornton’s season ending knee injury:
“I’m really devastated. KT is a huge part of who we are, what we stand for and where we are today… what we’re going to try to do tonight is come together and play our hearts our for her.”
BREAKING: Golden State Valkyries forward Kayla Thornton will be out for the remainder of the season. She suffered an injury to her right knee earlier this week in practice, underwent a successful surgery earlier today in San Francisco.
Earlier today Natalie Nakase was asked if Kayla Thornton was okay because she hadn’t been at practice this week.
She stated that Thornton was “just resting” at the time.
