Latest news with #Valkyries'
NBC Sports
5 days ago
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Highlights: Aces' win streak continues vs. Liberty
Watch the top highlights from Wednesday's WNBA Rivals Week matchups, including the Dream's sixth consecutive win, the Aces' Jewell Loyd dropping 21 points and Valkyries' Veronica Burton's career-high 30 points.
Axios
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Axios
Fans split on Golden State Valkyries' new mascot
The Golden State Valkyries' new mascot was unveiled this week — and she's a cutie (to me, at least). Driving the news: Violet, easily identifiable by her round glasses and big grin, is a raven who knows how to break it down on the dance floor. Our Instagram followers reacted with divided fervor. What they're saying:"Instantly iconic," @anoyes commented, while @shaketini said, "I like her glasses!!" "I could see her visiting different areas of the Bay, learning the dances, getting to know all the cultures that make up the Bay Area," @spottedgiraffe2777 added. One of our readers, Margaret R., also wrote in enthusiastically: "I am OBSESSED with Violet. Liberty can't take up all the mascot rizz." (The New York Liberty's mascot is Ellie the Elephant.) Yes, but: Not everyone reacted with cheer. "I feel like it would have been a bit cooler to lean into the actual valkirye theme and maybe ... give her some cool armor or a weapon," @soaphia.g noted. "Too much cute," @garden22nd agreed. "Why is she portrayed as SEXY? ... And not in a cool, swaggy way, but more like in a designed-for-the-male-gaze-Dallas-Cowboys-Cheerleaders style? It's just not right for our team of strong, capable women," @goldenstatehaze commented. Between the lines: Ravens are known as Valkyries' counterparts in Norse mythology and are considered guardians of good fortune.
San Francisco Chronicle
03-08-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
How sharp-shooting Iliana Rupert has had an instant impact on Valkyries' offense
It's early in her Golden State Valkyries' tenure, but Iliana Rupert has already shown how she can change an offense. The 6-foot-4 Rupert was advertised as a 3-point scorer, and through her first few games, she's been the Valkyries' go-to shooter. She's shooting a team-best 57.1% from 3-point range while trailing just Janelle Salaün and Kate Martin in attempts per game. Rupert hit three fourth-quarter 3-pointers in Golden State's 73-66 win at Chicago on Friday night. She went 4-for-5 from distance overall, a night after shooting 3-for-5 from behind the arc. 'It's pretty much why we chose her,' in the expansion draft, head coach Natalie Nakase said. 'Because she could space the floor and she doesn't hesitate as a big. The nice thing about (Rupert) is she wants those moments. She just knocked them down again and again.' Rupert's 47 total points in her five games trail just Salaün and Veronica Burton, both of whom have played significantly more minutes. While Rupert has been reliable, Golden State has shot 21.7% from 3-point range in the fourth quarter over the past five games. The fourth quarter has been the Valkyries' weakest from a scoring standpoint, with 17.3 points per game. They've won games — especially over the course of this road trip — by closing out defensively. 'It's never easy to win on the road,' Rupert said. 'We've been really together and stayed confident with each other. … This team has given me a lot of confidence in being who I am as a player, so I've been trying to do that since I've been here.' But having someone who can pull out a consistent 3-point shot late is something the Valkyries just haven't had. The first Rupert 3-pointer of the fourth frame broke a 56-56 tie with 6:55 to go, taking a pass from Chen and her defender gave her space to fire from deep. Just under two minutes later, Rupert put the Valkyries ahead by eight — their largest lead of the game — while Kamila Cardoso once again didn't jump to defend the arc, then she gave the Valkyries more separation to go ahead 67-62 with 3:13 to go off a pick-and-roll. 'Credit to her finding pick-and-rolls,' Nakase said. '(Rupert) did a great job. … They should watch film, that's who she's been since she was in Vegas.' With 44 seconds to go, she snagged a steal off a Kia Nurse pass that essentially sealed the game for the Valkyries with free throws ensuing. The Valkyries have the second-worst 3-point percentage in the WNBA at 31.5% despite their 30.1 attempts per game leading the league. Since Rupert has joined the Valkyries, the team's 3-point percentage has jumped to 35.2, the fourth-best in the league in that time. Golden State has desperately needed a reliable perimeter threat. Cecilia Zandalasini has provided that to a degree, shooting 41.3%, but hasn't played more than four games in a row all season between injuries and EuroBasket. Tiffany Hayes is also shooting a career-best 44.2% from distance, but has been banged up throughout the season. In the Valkyries' 67-66 win at Washington, Rupert scored nine of her 11 points as a part of a 30-point first frame that Nakase said was key to 'punch them in the mouth.' Rupert's output was nearly the opposite in Chicago. Nine of her career-high 14 points came in the fourth frame when the Valkyries needed to keep the Sky at bay. 'She can shoot the ball and I think that's our identity,' Salaün said of Rupert. 'She can also impact inside the paint and I think we need that stuff.' Rupert has a long way to go on the defensive end, with a 105.4 rating according to WNBA Stats, despite getting late minutes in close games, and eight turnovers in five games are too many for a player not tasked with handling the ball often. With Kayla Thornton out for the season and injuries piling up, Rupert's scoring might be the most important development in Golden State's push for playoff positioning. 'I think it says a lot about each other and the ability to step up when people go down,' Burton said. 'But at the end of the day, we really rely on each other, trust in each other.'
San Francisco Chronicle
16-07-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
What's behind Kate Martin's dwindling minutes for Valkyries, and could she see an uptick?
SEATTLE — Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase concedes she is still learning the best approach to her rotation. With a deep bench, she feels like her team has plenty of options for any scenario. Sometimes that means a player seeing extremely limited minutes, or someone like Kayla Thornton ending up with 38 minutes, as she did in Monday's loss to Phoenix. It's a tricky balance of planning and letting the players with the hot hand take control, especially as fatigue has begun to impact some of the Valkyries' starters. 'Something I'm continuing learning for myself is matchups,' Nakase said before the Valkyries' game at Seattle on Wednesday. 'It's also energy and who might be rolling. I have players right now down the line who can play heavy minutes.' Kate Martin has had a few scoring spurts in recent weeks despite limited minutes. The second-year guard entered Wednesday averaging 16.7 minutes per game but 13.9 over the past five. There have been times when Martin goes off, such when she knocked down two third-quarter 3-pointers in Atlanta, then barely plays again. She was shooting 42.3% over the past five games entering Wednesday, but had played just 12 total fourth-quarter minutes in that stretch, none in the losses to Minnesota and Phoenix. One of the best late-game lineups for the Valkyries over the past five games entering Wednesday, though, had been with Martin, Veronica Burton, Thornton, Cecilia Zandalasini and Monique Billings. The team's third most-used second-half unit was a plus-5 while shooting 50%, the best of any grouping in that stretch averaging at least seven minutes after halftime. 'Kate practices at game speed, so (coming off the bench and shooting) is never something difficult for her,' Nakase said. 'She always has energy. She mentally trains herself to go game speed and, like, for really tough shots, and so that's just credit to her hard work.' After playing 20-plus minutes in four of five games to end June — four of those being wins — Martin had played 19 minutes just once so far in July entering Wednesday. Her 4 minute, 40 second stint Monday was her shortest of the season. Part of that has been the return of Zandalasini and Janelle Salaün from EuroBasket, but entering Wednesday Martin had shot 42.9% in the second half and 40% from 3-point range in that stretch while Salaün had shot 33.3% and 14.3% from that distance. The back-and-forth has been an adjustment for Martin, who also started and was tasked with defending a much bigger Natasha Howard in Indiana. But Martin still is averaging more than five minutes more than she did in her rookie season with Las Vegas, where Nakase was an assistant coach. 'You have to be ready for your opportunity,' Martin said in Seattle. 'You don't always know if you're going to get a lot of minutes, or if you don't get many at all, so you have to control what you can control when you're out there. You have to know the game plan and stick to it, and when maybe you're not getting as much minutes that night, just being the best teammate that you can possibly be.' Billings entered Wednesday having played 16.5 minutes per game since Temi Fagbenle returned from EuroBasket, which is lower than her 18.9-minute season average, but she shot 51.7% in that stretch with 4.6 rebounds per game. The 29-year-old has had varying roles over her WNBA career, but when the Valkyries are at full strength, she mostly has been Fagbenle's backup at center. 'You just have to be present,' Billings said. 'You don't know when your number is going to be called. You have to contribute any way you can when you do get that chance.' Nakase has tightened her bench late in games, relying often on her starters to close out contests. A lot of what the Valkyries do is matchup related, and that's why they've had success against Indiana's Caitlin Clark and some other top scorers. As opponents adapt their game plan, though, there are still more looks the Valkyries can show late. 'I have to control my own game,' Martin said. 'I never try to force anything, but I have to make the right reads and get my shots off. It's been working out, but whenever you're coming off the bench, it's just getting out there and knowing your game plan, knowing your scout, and controlling what you can control, and letting the game flow to you.'
Hindustan Times
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Storm make first visit to short-handed Valkyries
The Golden State Valkyries are expected to be without three key players when they host the Seattle Storm on Saturday night in the continuation of the Commissioner's Cup in San Francisco. Among those expected to be away from the team at FIBA EuroBasket 2025 for potentially more than two weeks is Janelle Salaun of France. Salaun contributed 21 points for Golden State in an 89-81 overtime road victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on Monday. The win improved the Valkyries' record in Commissioner's Cup play to 2-2 with two games remaining in conference play. Julie Vanloo, who made her second start against the Sparks, will play for Belgium in the EuroBasket tournament, while Cecilia Zandalasini, who had 18 points in the Valkyries' most recent home game a 95-68 thrashing of the Las Vegas Aces will represent Italy. FIBA EuroBasket 2025, critical for European national teams attempting to qualify for the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup, concludes June 29. "We have a plan. You have to be ready," said Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase, whose team added veteran free agent Aerial Powers to fill one of the roster vacancies. "Obviously we want them to go with their heart. We're supporting if they want to go to Eurobasket; we're supporting if they want to stay." The Valkyries' roster also includes England native Temi Fagbenle and Carla Leite of France. Leite is expected to remain with Golden State, while Fagbenle is on England's roster, but neither she nor the Valkyries have announced her intentions. The Storm seem to have survived the exporting of WNBA talent, with Gabby Williams and Dominique Malonga, a pair of French standouts, electing to stay with the club. Seattle gained the upper hand in the Western Conference standings of the Commissioner's Cup at 3-1 with a 94-84 home win over the previously unbeaten Minnesota Lynx on Wednesday. The win was the third in a row for Seattle . The Storm and Lynx currently are tied for the West's top spot in the Cup standings, with Seattle owning the tiebreaker edge. Each team has two games remaining, with the conference's top club earning a spot in the Cup finals on July 1. Seattle's visit to San Francisco will be its first in the Valkyries' inaugural season. It serves as a homecoming of sorts for former Stanford star Nneka Ogwumike, who had a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double in the win over Minnesota. The 14-year WNBA veteran, a Texas native, recognizes her decision to attend Stanford was life changing. "I'm from Houston, so I'm Southern, I'm officially a West Coast girl," Ogwumike said. "I've been in the Bay , I've been in L.A. , and now I'm in the PNW . The West Coast just feels good for me." Field Level Media
