Latest news with #NatalieNakase
CBS News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBS News
Valkyries nearly upset WNBA champs Liberty but fall short, 82-77
The Golden State Valkyries nearly pulled off an impressive road win Thursday but fell to WNBA champions New York Liberty on their home court for the second time in three days. In a game that was broadcast live on KPIX/CBS San Francisco, the lead went back and forth throughout, and the Valkyries held a slight lead in the closing minutes. But the Liberty clawed back in the final seconds, hanging on to win by a score of 82-77. Janelle Salaun #13 of the Golden State Valkyries fights for the rebound with Rebekah Gardner #7 of the New York Liberty in the first half at Barclays Center on May 29, 2025 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Elsa / Getty Images The Valkyries fell to 2-3 in their debut season. Even with the loss, it was a solid bounce-back after getting torched by the Liberty by nearly 30 points on Tuesday. Before the game, head coach Natalie Nakase - the WNBA's first Asian American head coach - scored a pregame gift from actor Jackie Chan. It was a pair of stuffed pandas. Jackie Chan just gifted Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase two stuffed animals before the game. That's a valuable souvenir. — Matt Lively (@mattblively) May 29, 2025 The Valkyries head back to the Bay for Sunday's game against the Minnesota Lynx. That game will be broadcast live on PIX+, 44 Cable 12. Coverage starts with the Valkyries Pregame Show at 5 p.m.
USA Today
17-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Las Vegas Aces vs. New York Liberty: TV channel, time and how to watch
Las Vegas Aces vs. New York Liberty: TV channel, time and how to watch Show Caption Hide Caption Natalie Nakase is still learning about her new WNBA expansion team New WNBA team the Golden State Valkyries' coach Natalie Nakase told For The Win's Meghan Hall that the whole coaching staff is learning as they go. Sports Seriously The WNBA's 2025 season tipped off Friday, but the league's reigning champions aren't going to be in action until Saturday. The New York Liberty will open their title defense with an anticipated clash against the Las Vegas Aces. The Liberty are once again expected to be one of the WNBA's best teams in 2025. Led by Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones, New York sported an efficient offense and the second-best rebounding team in the league. They are expected to continue to thrive in both areas area, while new arrival Natasha Cloud will help replace Courtney Vandersloot and some punch to New York's defense. Meanwhile, the Aces will continue to rely on A'ja Wilson, who averaged 26.9 points, 11.9 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game last season while winning her third MVP award. Las Vegas acquired six-time All-Star Jewell Loyd to play alongside her and Jackie Young in 2025, which should provide the team extra scoring depth. Here's how to watch the early season battle of the WNBA contenders on Saturday. The New York Liberty put together an outstanding second quarter, outscoring the Las Vegas Aces 28-13 to take a 14-point lead into the locker room. It could have been worse for the Aces, only for Breanna Stewart's potential buzzer-beater three being ruled out on replay as the half came to a close. Stewart leads the Liberty with 13 points, while Natasha Cloud (10 points, three assists) is showing out in her first game since joining the team this offseason. For Las Vegas, A'ja Wilson's 13 points have been a bright spot, but the Liberty have dominated on the glass to take charge of the game. With A'ja Wilson in dominant form, Las Vegas holds a 20-19 lead at the end of the first quarter. The 2024 MVP already has 11 points in this one, along with four rebounds. A more balanced Liberty have gotten points from all over, with Nyara Sabally leading the team with six despite playing just three minutes off the bench. The Las Vegas Aces and New York Liberty have tipped off at Barclays Center, with both teams officially off and running in the 2025 WNBA season. The Las Vegas Aces vs. New York Liberty game will tip off at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 17 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. How to watch Aces vs. Liberty: TV, stream Time: 1 p.m. ET 1 p.m. ET Location: Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York TV: ABC ABC Stream: Fubo, ESPN+ Stream Aces vs. Liberty with Fubo
NBC Sports
17-05-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
The Valkyries bring WNBA basketball to the Bay Area in their franchise debut
SAN FRANCISCO — The fans in the packed arena were decked out in matching purple T-shirts emblazoned with the phrase 'First of a Lifetime.' After years of hoping the WNBA would come to the Bay Area and more than 18 months after the expansion team was awarded by the league, the Golden State Valkyries made their debut Friday night, hosting the Los Angeles Sparks. The environment produced by a sellout crowd of 18,064 fans at the 84-67 loss to the Sparks was everything the Valkyries hoped it would be. 'It was amazing,' guard Tiffany Hayes said after the game. 'I enjoyed myself. We got a lot to work on. It was a tough game. But all in all, the crowd really gave us a lot of life out there. I wish we could have gave a little bit more back, but at the end of the day, it's first game from us. We know we have a lot to learn. 'But I had a lot of fun out there and I enjoyed the energy from the crowd.' Coach Natalie Nakase said she had this day circled on her calendar since the schedule was released and spent the entire day at the arena after waking up at 6 a.m., attending meetings and a shootaround and taking a walk around the empty arena. While she said the approach should be like any game on any court, she acknowledged the historic moment as well. 'It's special,' she said before the game. 'Not everyone gets to be chosen to be the first. I do feel lucky that they chose me. They could have chosen a million other candidates that were more qualified. So I take this with a lot of responsibility, but be present and enjoy it the best I can.' Kayla Thornton scored on the opening possession for the first basket in franchise history and there were quickly chants of 'G-S-V! G-S-V!' The crowd was at its loudest in the third quarter when Julie Vanloo made three straight 3-pointers to cut the deficit to six points in the type of flurry fans in the Bay Area are used to seeing at Chase Center from Warriors star Stephen Curry. Vanloo said she was inspired by seeing Warriors coach Steve Kerr in the crowd just before that shooting spree. 'That's why people come here,' she said. 'This is the Bay Area. This is Chase Center. Magic happens here. I hope I can have a lot of moments like that.' The WNBA's first expansion team since 2008 has been welcomed with great fanfare in the Bay Area. The team has more than 10,000 season-ticket holders at Chase Center and the arena was packed for a celebratory opener for a night that included a scheduled halftime show from famed Bay Area rapper E-40. The arena had been transformed from its usual Warriors-themed look with Valkyries purple and the fans delivered in a major way. 'Loud. That's exactly what I wanted,' Nakase said. 'If I could have dreamed of an environment, the hostility of it, just the roars, the screams, the shouts. Even when Julie hit a couple of 3s coming back, that crowd is gonna support us regardless. To have that type of crowd, is just surreal.' The team also has some high-profile supporters with San Francisco Giants shortstop Willy Adames wearing a Martin jersey to his game down the street and former U.S. soccer star Brandi Chastain and longtime NBA coach Doc Rivers — one of Nakase's coaching mentors after she worked for him on the Los Angeles Clippers staff — in attendance. There were also several members of the NBA's Golden State Warriors on hand, including Kerr, Kevon Looney, Buddy Hield, Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski. 'I couldn't be more excited,' Kerr said. 'I think watching everything unfold over the last year, year and a half since the franchise was formed, it's been incredible to watch. I think the branding has been amazing, the name, the colors, just kind of the unveiling of the team. ... I know tonight is going to be packed. This is just an incredible story. 'We have a lot of people here in this building who deserve a lot of credit for what's about to unfold, so a lot of fun.'
USA Today
17-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Indiana Fever vs. Chicago Sky: TV channel, time, how to watch Caitlin Clark season opener
Indiana Fever vs. Chicago Sky: TV channel, time, how to watch Caitlin Clark season opener Show Caption Hide Caption Natalie Nakase is still learning about her new WNBA expansion team New WNBA team the Golden State Valkyries' coach Natalie Nakase told For The Win's Meghan Hall that the whole coaching staff is learning as they go. Sports Seriously Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever will host Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky on Saturday afternoon in a high-profile showdown part of the WNBA's opening weekend. Clark returns for her second season in Indiana after starting all 40 of the games she played in as a rookie last season. Clark averaged 19.2 points, 8.4 assists and 5.7 rebounds in 35.4 minutes per game during the regular season. Reese started in all 34 of the games she played in as a rookie, averaging 13.6 points, 13.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists. in 13.6 minutes per game. The LSU product spent the WNBA offseason competing as a member of the Rose Basketball Club and winning the Unrivaled Championship. She was also named the 3-on-3 league's Defensive Player of the Year. It will serve as the season-opening game for both teams. What time is the Fever vs. Sky game? The Chicago Sky traveled to play the Indiana Fever at 9 a.m. ET, Sunday. The game will be played at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana and will air on ABC, ESPN+ and Disney+. How to watch Fever vs. Sky: TV, stream
Associated Press
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
The Valkyries bring WNBA basketball to the Bay Area in their franchise debut
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The fans in the packed arena were decked out in matching purple T-shirts emblazoned with the phrase 'First of a Lifetime.' After years of hoping the WNBA would come to the Bay Area and more than 18 months after the expansion team was awarded by the league, the Golden State Valkyries made their debut Friday night, hosting the Los Angeles Sparks. 'I definitely feel very grateful,' guard Kate Martin said before the game. 'I think right now you can't understand how big of a moment this is now that we're in it. When I look back on this in a few years, I'll be very grateful and can't believe I was a part of the inaugural season and got to play in the first game. It's very cool. We're just trying to soak it all in and take nothing for granted.' Coach Natalie Nakase said she has had this day circled on her calendar since the schedule was released and spent the entire day at the arena after waking up at 6 a.m., attending meetings and a shootaround and taking a walk around the empty arena. While she said the approach should be like any game on any court, she acknowledged the historic moment as well. 'It's special,' she said. 'Not everyone gets to be chosen to be the first. I do feel lucky that they chose me. They could have chosen a million other candidates that were more qualified. So I take this with a lot of responsibility but be present and enjoy it the best I can.' Kayla Thornton scored on the opening possession for the first basket in franchise history and there were quickly chants of 'G-S-V! G-S-V!' The WNBA's first expansion team since 2008 has been welcomed with great fanfare in the Bay Area. The team has more than 10,000 season-ticket holders at Chase Center and the arena was packed for a celebratory opener for a night that included a scheduled halftime show from famed Bay Area rapper E-40. The team also has some high-profile supporters with San Francisco Giants shortstop Willy Adames wearing a Martin jersey to his game down the street and Warriors coach Steve Kerr saying he planned to be in attendance. 'I couldn't be more excited,' Kerr said. 'I think watching everything unfold over the last year, year and a half since the franchise was formed, it's been incredible to watch. I think the branding has been amazing, the name, the colors, just kind of the unveiling of the team. ... I know tonight is going to be packed. This is just an incredible story. We have a lot of people here in this building who deserve a lot of credit for what's about to unfold, so a lot of fun.' ___ AP WNBA:
