Nobody anticipated the Golden State Valkyries to make the playoffs.
ESPN projected the Valkyries to be the worst crew within the WNBA.
The Athletic projected they’d be the third-worst.
However these projections had been manner off. As a substitute, Golden State is on monitor to complete the season with the league’s Sixth-best file, securing a playoff spot with per week to spare. It’s a greater file than the Seattle Storm, who’re headlined by veteran All-Stars like Skylar Diggins, Nneka Ogwumike, and Gabby Williams. It’s a greater file than the Kelsey Plum-led Los Angeles Sparks, and the Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah-Boston led Indiana Fever.
The success has come even though their solely first-round 2025 draft decide, Juste Joyce, remained abroad this season.
It’s come even though their main scorer, Kayla Thornton, suffered a season-ending damage halfway by means of the yr.
It’s come even though they principally whiffed in free company, securing just one massive title (Tiffany Hayes).
And, although we’ll by no means be capable of pinpoint precisely why Golden State has outplayed so many different groups this season, a lot of the credit score has to go to their completely ready head coach, Natalie Nakase. It’s clear that Natalie Nakase has put collectively an unbelievable rookie teaching season.
As media members, it may be powerful to judge teaching. We’re not within the locker room at halftime or within the movie room at apply. And, we are able to’t at all times glean how a lot poor execution is because of the employees and the way a lot is just the gamers struggling to implement ideas that had been successfully introduced.
However oftentimes, it’s one thing you possibly can really feel – how gamers reply when a coach pulls them to the sidelines, the authenticity with which they gush about their coach to the press when given the chance.
On the Valkyries, Veronica Burton performs with a pleasure she’s by no means exhibited within the WNBA. She performs freely. Rookies Carla Leite and Janelle Salaün don’t typically current as first-year gamers.
Almost the complete Valkyries roster is overachieving. Burton received the Most Improved Participant, having upped her common from 3.1 to 12 factors per recreation. Cecilia Zandalasini has upped her common from 4.6 to 11.2 factors per recreation. Leite and Salaün are adjusting to the WNBA superbly.
And the Valkyries are successful. That’s an important factor.
They’ve received extra video games than any growth crew in WNBA historical past, and everybody has taken discover.
In speaking to folks across the league, there’s a powerful sentiment {that a} ton of Golden State’s success ought to be tied to their head coach.
Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve — one of many winningest coaches in WNBA historical past — lately praised what the Valkyries have been capable of do underneath Nakase in a pregame press convention.
“While you mix a stage of compete with expertise and buy-in, that’s probably the most harmful factor you will get,” Reeve mentioned.
And in an interview with the Chicago Tribune final week, when Angel Reese sounded off about her personal crew’s stage of compete, she used the Valkyries as a reference level.
“Watching Golden State — no offense, however I don’t suppose they’re extra proficient than us on paper,” Reese mentioned. “However they play laborious as hell.”
