NFL
By: Ashmere Prasad
San Francisco — The Dallas Wings held the Aces to 66 points on the same night the Valkyries held the Sparks to a season-low 58 points. Tonight the two face off for the first time this season in Ballhalla.
Natalie Nakase was not pleased with Golden State’s defensive performance against the Seattle Storm, even though they won. Nakase said she felt like the team did not showcase its elite defensive effort. If there is one thing this team does not enjoy, it’s negative criticism from their head coach.
They took her criticism and multiplied it tenfold; they held the league’s highest scorer, Kelsey Plum to only nine points on the night and forced her to foul out. Her final foul was certainly paired with her own frustrations.
Tonight they have a new four-headed snake to tackle: Paige Beuckers, 2026 first-overall pick Azzi Fudd, Arike Ogunbawale, and Jessica Shepard.
Jessica Shepard is coming off a 15 point 15 rebound game against the Aces and will be a major pain point for Golden State under the basket.
“[She] has a high motor. She is almost very similar to how AT is the motor and engine for Phoenix,” Nakase said. “We have to be mindful that she can play point guard from the top, be mindful that she plays point guard from the post which releases a lot of decision making from Paige. Jose’s dynamic offensive philosophy is really creative, given how many passers they have. What’s dangerous about this team is that they don’t care about scoring and they have multiple passers. We’d better empty the tank tonight.”
The Wings and Valkyries share a lot of similarities. They focus on ball sharing, team chemistry, and assists. If one player is having a hot night, you feed them the ball. The Wings are currently tied for first in the league in assists with 23.4%.
Tonight’s matchup is all about matching the Dallas Wings’ flow and making sure Golden State avoids making mistakes.
