Analysis: Valkyries kept playoff hopes alive with successful road trip

Somehow, some way, the Golden State Valkyries emerged from their five-game road trip with a winning record. 

Playing with just nine players on most nights and without All-Star forward Kayla Thornoton, the Valkyries went 3-2 during their longest road stint of the season: five games in eight days across three different time zones. 

“It’s been about resilience,” Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said. “We’re down players, but that’s what I love about this team. It’s not just the next one woman up mentality. It’s next woman and let’s play tougher together and play more connected.”

Golden State found contributions from just about every player on its roster this past week. 

The Valkyries had four different leading scorers and used five different starting lineups during this stretch. On Friday, the Valkyries gutted out an impressive win over the Chicago Sky on the second night of a back-to-back while utilizing a closing lineup that included guard Kaila Charles, who was signed that morning. 

“I think it just shows you know what we’re capable of,” starting point guard Veronica Burton said after Friday’s win over the Sky. “We have just such a selfless team that it doesn’t matter who’s hot on that given day. If someone’s going, then we’re going to find them and we’re going to keep feeding them. 

“It’s a fun brand of basketball when it’s hard to guard and hard to prepare for when you don’t know who it’s going to be on a given night. So I think it’s a testament to us reading the defense and just playing the game the right way.”

Even though the road trip ended with a loss to the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday, the Valkyries sit in eighth place in the standings with 16 games left. The season could have easily gone off the rails had the Valkyries come out of the week with a losing record. 

But now, the Valkyries are in a better spot than they were before the All-Star break with a three-game homestand coming up – two of which are against the Los Angeles Sparks (10th place) and the Connecticut Sun (13th). With Thursday’s trade deadline looming, Golden State is in a good spot to be a buyer if it wants to continue to make a push for the playoffs. 

Here’s what worked and what didn’t on the Valkyries’ road trip: 

Worked: Natalie Nakase 

The first-year head coach had her work cut out for her. 

Not only did she not have Thornton, but key rotation players Tiffany Hayes, Cecilia Zandalasini and Monique Billings all missed time during the five-game stretch.

Nonetheless, Nakase found a way to figure it all out. 

She threw out a multitude of lineups, including starting two centers and three guards. She tried out different zone looks and changed her offensive philosophy from game to game. The coach even got productive minutes from Charles, who struggled to find a role with the lowly Dallas Wings earlier this season. 

“I think it’s a credit to the team,” Nakase said. “This is who we are. We’re a tough love team. We’re gonna have high expectations for you, but at the same time, we just want you to have fun. But also just know if you’re struggling, we’ll be there to support you.”

Didn’t work: Temi Fágbénlé

It was a rough stretch of games for the veteran center. 

While she had her moments defensively, Fágbénlé struggled to produce anything on offense. She averaged five points per game, shot 38.7% from the field and hit just 1-of-7 shots from beyond the arc. 

Against Las Vegas, Fágbénlé didn’t score and struggled as a defender on off-ball screens. Guarding Aces superstar A’ja Wilson is no easy feat, but the reigning MVP seemingly got whatever she wanted as Fágbénlé couldn’t move her off her spots.

With backup center Monique Billings out for the next three weeks, Fágbénlé will have to be on the floor to give Golden State some size. But she was thoroughly outplayed by teammate Iliana Rupert, who could replace Fágbénlé in certain starting lineups depending on the matchups. 

Worked: French rookie duo

French rookies Carla Leite and Janelle Salaün gave the Valkyries huge scoring boosts when they needed it the most.

Salaün started every game, and while she wasn’t always efficient, her instinct to create shots for herself did just enough to make opponents have to guard her. Her best game came when she scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds to help lift the Valkyries over the Sky. 

Salaün has also taken on Thornton’s role of guarding the opposing team’s best wing. Taking on the assignment of All-Star Allisha Gray in their matchup against Atlanta, Salaün held the sharpshooter to 12 points on 2-of-11 shooting. 

Leite has had her fair share of rookie struggles, but the 21-year-old played well as the Valkyries’ off guard. 

She averaged 9.2 points per game and shot 30.7% from beyond the arc. Leite made just three of her first 35 3-point attempts through the first 15 games of the season, making this road trip a big step up from earlier in the season. 

With Hayes’ status still unknown after missing the last two games, Leite could get some much-needed playing time to continue her development. 

Didn’t work: Perimeter defense

While the Valkyries played solid defensively through the five games, opposing guards torched the expansion team. 

Rotation guards such as Connecticut’s Bria Hartley, Atlanta’s Jordin Canada and Chicago’s Rachel Banham all had double-digit scoring outputs on good efficiency against the Valkyries. 

Aces star guard Jewell Loyd got whatever she wanted against the Valkyries to the tune of 27 points on Sunday night. 

While Veronica Burton is an above-average perimeter defender, Golden State did not have the defensive depth at the guard position when Hayes was out of the lineup. 

Worked: Newcomers

It seemed like there was no transition time needed for Rupert.

Rupert, who joined the team after the All-Star break, has gotten off to a hot start with the Valkyries as she has posted averages of 9.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in six games played. 

She led the Valkyries in scoring in two games during the road trip and has given them a true stretch five that can unlock more offensive-minded lineups. She is shooting 57.1% from the 3-point line on just over four attempts per game. 

Charles was thrust into becoming a rotation player the moment she was signed. Nakase has praised the former University of Maryland standout for being ready and providing a boost of energy in the Valkyries’ two games against the Sky and the Aces. She scored in double figures against the Aces and played 17 minutes in Chicago. 

In all likelihood, Charles will not be brought back after her hardship contract ends on Thursday but she is a testament to the Valkyries’ system of plug-and-play.