NFL
By: Ashmere Prasad
Golden State’s first game out of the FIBA break was rusty; both teams struggled to score. After a slow start, the second unit stayed composed in the second half and led the Valkyries to their fifth straight win, 82-66, against Portland.
Both teams opened the game with multiple missed shots and looked off-beat. An outlier stat to help paint a picture: Veronica Burton committed three turnovers in the first quarter. Uncharacteristic for someone who usually has one or two per game. The last time Burton had three turnovers total was July 15, in their win against the Indiana Fever.
On a brighter note, her six steals set a new franchise record for steals in a game, so although the turnovers may be frustrating, her hustle on both ends of the floor is undeniable.
Kayla Thornton ended the drought with a layup at 7:40. It took some time for the Valkyries to get into rhythm offensively, and they closed out the first quarter 8-of-21 from the field (38%).
The Valkyries were without Janelle Salaun, Gabby Williams, and Cecilia Zandalasini, who were resting after the FIBA tournament. Williams and Salaun were in the building cheering on the sidelines alongside their teammates. Even without their star shooters, the Valkyries’ bench kept hustling until they found their rhythm.
The momentum shifted when Laeticia Amihere checked in.
Without a doubt, the crowd always welcomes Amihere with a roaring cheer. The 6’3 forward immediately made an impact to start the second quarter. She forced Carla Leite into a turnover and, a minute later, blocked Emily Engstler’s shot attempt as the shot clock expired. On the other end of the floor, she bullied her way to the basket on multiple possessions.
“It’s so much fun to play with her today, and well, every day,” Kaitlyn Chen gleefully answered postgame. “She does that every day in practice, and to see her do it here in Ballhalla it makes it extra special.”
The second half mainly featured the “stay ready group”: Juste Jocyte, Laeticia Amihere, Kaitlyn Chen, and two starters would alternate. Amihere and Chen found an offensive flow with one another, and if one found open space, they passed, shot, and scored.
“She bailed me out a lot,” Laeticia Amihere shared, partly smiling. “I think driving and being able to find her, and her knocking down the shots was great. I think she’s very patient in the ball screen and finding the open man.”
The Valkyries played team defense in the second half, forcing seven turnovers, four of them being steals. Head coach Natalie Nakase always reiterates that their offense is dependent on their defense. Tonight’s victory against the Fire marks the fifth straight opponent they’ve held to 70 points or fewer.
Playoff Push Looming
Everyone is asking the same two questions: How is Golden State preparing for this looming playoff push? Did the FIBA break conflict with the momentum they built two weeks ago?
The entire team and Nakase said they are worried about one game at a time; for now, the focus is on facing Seattle in less than 24 hours. They’ve also individually shared how the coaching staff prepared for this split. The players who remained in the Bay Area for two weeks focused on “intentional practices,” Chen shared. Those who traveled to Germany, excluding Nakase, of course, are taking the extra time to rest and recover.
“When you have a schedule, and you talk about how we’re gonna manage things, there are no surprises,” Nakase said.
Nakase constantly says she is looking for players to empty the tank, especially with the minutes distribution over the next three games. If someone is in for three minutes, they’d better give it their all.
Now that the team has one victory in the bag and the second unit has showcased its strengths, Saturday’s matchup will focus on fixing the first-quarter slump.
