NFL
Gabby Williams joined the Valkyries for her first press conference last Saturday afternoon. She was joined by Ohemma Nayin and head coach Natalie Nakase, who were grinning throughout. The moment was comparable to a girl group celebrating one person’s major accomplishment, a moment for the girls.
Nayin opened the conference with her thoughts on Williams joining Golden State. “We’re elated to officially welcome Gabby to this organization. What she does on and off the court speaks for itself,” Nayin said. “We couldn’t be more grateful for the alignment, and we know the best is yet to come,” Nayin closed her statement with. The trio clapped in celebration.
The Valkyries made it clear during their inaugural season last year that this team is here to win. Natalie Nakase doubled down on that mindset during Saturday’s pregame presser when asked to evaluate how the players handle training camp and the preseason. She mentions how that will factor into their decision-making for the final roster. “We’re here to win, bottom line,” Nakase said.
Along with her stellar performance with the Storm last season, Williams was named Defensive Player of the Year for the third time in the Euroleague.
“To me, she is one of the best two-way players in the world,” Nakase added.
Williams signed a three-year contract with the Valkyries. Golden State now has an elite defender on its roster who can attack up front and serve as a veteran leader for the team.
The veteran defender has close ties with the Bay Area, which also helped her decision. She grew up in the Bay Area, played for the Bay Area Bulldogs, and understands the importance of basketball there. It also helps that her brothers are a quick 15-minute drive away now. “My brothers are still here living 15 minutes away, which hasn’t happened in 14-15 years, and it’s really special.” Williams shared that the most important thing she was looking for in the offseason was a team that could win. “Where am I going to win? Even though this is a newer team, I strongly believe, and I feel the competitiveness and the want to win here.”
“She will also enjoy the support of her French compatriots Janelle Salaün and Iliana Rupert, who both signed multiyear contracts with the Valkyries over the weekend. Together, they won a silver medal at the Paris Olympics, and Rupert and Williams also won silver in Tokyo, and that makes things very interesting.” (Sourav Ganguly, Yahoo Sports)
The All-Star did not play in the team’s first and only preseason matchup. She has been practicing with the team during this week’s training camp. Her first observation was “everyone’s energies and excitement to be there (with the team).”
It feels poetic that the Valkyries open the season and face the Seattle Storm. The second unit figured out a way to close out the preseason game with a win. However, May 8th’s matchup will hold a different energy. It will be everyone’s first time seeing the Valkyries updated roster in full force, and watching Williams face her former team.
