Author: moepea

I like lilacs, mist and cold air.

Demystified: Valkyries Complete Season Sweep Of The Mystics With 99-62 Blowout

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–An extended break from game action was just what the Valkyries needed. Coach Natalie Nakase felt her team’s defense had slipped a notch, and she used the additional practice time to address that issue.

The message was delivered so acutely, the team produced its best defensive first half of the season on the path to a 99-62 blowout of the visiting Mystics at Chase Center on Saturday night.

Could the expansion Valkyries have come up with a better start to their week-long push at home that will undoubtedly decide their playoff fate? Probably not.

The season-low 22 points allowed to Washington in the first half fueled a 29-point lead at the break, and ultimately kept all 10 healthy players comfortably under 30 minutes of playing time for the game. With five games in eight days to conclude their home schedule, wear and tear matters greatly. Especially with Cecilia Zandalasini and Tiffany Hayes currently unavailable due to injury.

Without those two, Nakase had her available group pack the paint defensively and rush the passing lanes. That plan was followed succinctly as the Mystics were limited to 35 percent shooting  for the game while the hosts racked up nine steals, four by Leticia Amihere in the first half alone.

That allowed the Valkyries to coast, leading by 35 after three quarters along with a slew of 37 point leads in the fourth.

“Maybe we can improve our reading (of the defense) but tonight was a perfect execution of our gameplan,” Janelle Salaun said of the team’s 40-minute defensive effort.

Balanced scoring seems preordained at this point for the selfless Valkyries, and they did it again on Saturday with Salaun leading with 20 points Carla Leite adding 19, Kaila Charles with 16 and Veronica Burton 15. The team’s assist total of 21 lead to 23 made field goals.

The Valkyries remained in the eighth and final slot for the playoffs with the win, but increased their lead over the ninth place Sparks to 2 1/2 games. They completed the four-game season sweep of the Mystics with the win as well.

The Valkyries have an opportunity to sweep the Fever on Sunday and leap ahead of Indiana in the standings. Home games against the Liberty, Wings and Lynx follow Sunday’s showdown before the Valkyries finish the regular season with two road games.

It Was Just A Dream: Valkyries’ Solid First Quarter Devolves Into Streak Ending 79-63 Loss To Atlanta

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Like fog making a dramatic entrance from the Pacific Ocean, defense descended on the Chase Center Sunday night and almost didn’t leave.

The Atlanta Dream starting five got the first taste of the weather in the first quarter in which they were limited to one made basket from Brionna Jones.

The Valkyries found out how sparse made baskets would be in a 10-point second quarter that saw the Dream’s defense take hold.

Throughout the gritty defense included scary collisions that saw the hosts lose Iliana Rupert to concussion protocol for the remainder of the game and Veronica Burton for a critical stretch at the end of the third quarter.

From the Valkyries’ perspective, what was beautiful turned ugly quickly and decisively in a 79-63 loss that ended their four-game win streak.

The Dream simply started slow and finished fast by eventually finding the gaps in the Valkyries’ defense on their way to 38 points in the paint.

“In the first half our spacing wasn’t very good,” said Naz Hillmon, who finished with 12 points and five rebounds. “We know that the Valkyries are a team that really wants to make sure they pack the paint and help each other rotate. I think in the second half we made the right plays. First by spacing out, getting good hits on our ball screens and going from there.”

The game was a defensive struggle at the break with the scored tied at 25. But Burton’s absence signaled the breaking point as a 30-8 run spanning the third and fourth quarters swung the game to the visitors.

“They beat us in all the hustle categories and that just can’t happen,” coach Natalie Nakase said. “You can’t win a game if you’re getting out hustled.”

“Credit to Atlanta. They just did a hell of a job on both ends of the floor.”

The Valkyries fell to 18-16 with ten regular season games remaining. Their cushion over ninth place Los Angeles is two games, but this was the beginning of a closing stretch that will see Golden State play a number of teams with winning records. They’ll need some wins against those teams to maintain a playoff spot.

Violet, Cecilia and the rest of the Valkyries On Point In Big 74-57 Win Over The Connecticut Sun

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Violet the Raven, just like some other Valkyries, hasn’t been around for the entire inaugural season, but on Monday, the team’s mascot hit the floor running in her debut.

The feathery Violet hit a sequence of dance moves, looking the part as the lead in a tightly choreographed dance troupe. She also missed a couple of point blank shots against minimal defense. The verdict would have to be she’s not a finished product, but loaded with potential.

Sound like a true Valkyrie? Yes.

The team itself used Monday night to show their quest to reach their potential continues in earnest with a convincing 74-57 win that displayed their defense has arrived ahead of schedule. The visiting Sun were held to 34 percent shooting and turned the ball over 14 times. For the second game in a row, the Valkyries’ opponent was held to fewer than 60 points allowing the hosts to move above .500 in the league standings (16-15) for the first time in a month.

Cecila Zandalasini nearly posted a new personal best in scoring with 17 points while helping key a defensive effort that flustered the undermanned Sun. The hosts’ lead hit 20 points a couple of times in the fourth quarter as the Sun continued to faltering from three where they converted just 20 percent of their 25 attempts.

“It’s the minimum we have to do every game, and it’s given us some rhythm in each of the last two games,” Zandalasini said.

The reserved Zandalasini made three of the Valkyries’ 13 made threes, one which prompted her seemingly understated three-finger celebration. But that move drew a technical foul that shocked coach Natalie Nakase.

“She didn’t do anything… I don’t understand why someone would give this a technical foul,” Nakase said on a night that a referee’s bizarre reaction was rendered to a moment of humor.

Tiffany Hayes also scored 17 points for the Valkyries, and Janelle Salaun had 16. The team’s 41 percent shooting wasn’t anything to trumpet but their 39 percent shooting from three was, as they continue to successfully leverage their uptempo attack into a number of uncontested looks from distance.

The Valkyries have road games Mystics and Sky up next, two opportunities to improve their stature in the playoff picture against two struggling teams.

Valkyries Apply The D: Sparks Stopped Cold in 72-59 Loss

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–The streaking Sparks arrived at Ballhalla having scored at least 100 points in each of five wins over their last six games. All that offense came to a halt Saturday night with an  uncurteous assist from the Valkyries.

The hosts clamped down, holding Los Angeles to 32 percent shooting in a 72-59 win that was critical for playoff positioning. The Valkyries clinched the season series between the clubs with a third win in four meetings, and created a one game cushion in the fight for the eighth and last playoff seed.

The visitors were essentially limited to a credible offensive showing in the second quarter then through two surges in the third quarter. That brought the Sparks to within 43-40 with 4:52 remaining in the quarter but they would get no closer the remainder of the game. The Valkyries closed beautifully, surviving a scoreless finish over the final 3:41 without relinquishing their double-digit lead.

Veronica Burton was a two-way menace with a team-best 16 points along with suffocating defense on Kelsey Plum, who was limited to 4 points and one made basket. In the season-opener, Plum exploded for 37 points, but this time was left visibly flustered.

“We were really connected defensively,” Burton said. “The communication was at an all-time high, we were in our shifts. Obviously I was guarding her a lot but I never felt like I was on an island.”

“Just Vee understanding the game plan, asking questions at shootaround… We understand the talent of Kelsey Plum, scorer on all three levels. Credit to Vee, and credit for her teammates having her back,” coach Natalie Nakase said.

The Valkyries scoring was characteristically balanced Cecila Zandalasini contributing 14 points, all in the first half, and Janelle Salaun adding 11. Twelve made threes were most damaging to the Sparks with Zandalasini leading the way with four of those. Also, the Sparks were plagued by turnovers early with eight of their total of 12 coming in the game’s first 15 minutes.

Dearica Hamby led Los Angeles with 15 points, and Julie Allemand and Rae Burrell scored 10.

Julie Vanloo was greeted with a warm welcome in her return to Chase Center after her controversial release following her return from the Eurobasket tournament. Vanloo had two points and four rebounds in 13 minutes for the Sparks.

Steph Curry and his wife Ayesha were present in support of family friend Cameron Brink. Brink had five points and two rebounds off the bench.

The Valkyries conclude their home stretch on Monday at 7:00pm against the Connecticut Sun.

Valkyries Fall In Return Home To Focused Aces, 78-72

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–If the Valkyries’ unprecedented path to the WNBA playoffs involves beating the teams at and below their level in the standings, the Las Vegas Aces made it clear that they’re not in that group.

A’ja Wilson’s efficient 27 points and 7 rebounds led the Aces to a 78-72 win at Chase Center on Wednesday night that was easily the visitors’ most focused effort against the expansion Valkyries in their now completed four-game set.

Physical play throughout limited scoring, and proliferated the referee whistles, but didn’t deter the Aces’ gritty defensive effort that limited the Valkyries to 39 percent shooting from the floor.

“We needed to fight for 40 minutes, not 20 or 25,” Janelle Salaun said afterwards on the KPIX-TV post-game show.

The Valkyries fell below .500 to 14-15, but remained in the top eight of the standings, a half game ahead of the Sparks and a full game in front of the Mystics. The top eight qualify for the playoffs, and the Valkyries still have critical home games against the Sparks and Mystics.

Both teams wasted their opportunities at the 3-point line, shooting just 18 percent but made up for it with near flawless free throw shooting. Wilson navigated both areas by shooting 11 for 11 at the stripe and not attempting a three, while making 8 of 11 from two. The former MVP and two-time champion also had two steals and two blocks. When pressured, she drove. When afforded space, Wilson cooked the Valkyries from the free throw line extended.

Tiffany Hayes led the hosts with 14, Salaun added 13, and Carla Leite and Kaila Charles had 11 each.

The Valkyries next host the Sparks on Saturday evening.

Giants Allow The Dodgers To Breathe in 5-2 Loss That Concludes the Season’s First Half

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San Francisco Giant starter Robbie Ray pitched six innings allowing three hits and two runs and six strikeouts against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Oracle Park in San Francisco on Sun July 13, 2025 (Bay Area News Group photo)

By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Needing a big win, the Giants instead got another reminder that their struggling offense needs a break.

That break comes over the next five days for the All-Star festivities in Atlanta after they squandered an opportunity to tighten the race in the NL West with a 5-2 loss in 11 innings to the first-place Dodgers.

The Giants conclude the first 96 games of the season with a competitive 52-44 record that has them in position to grab one of the six NL playoff spots. But their .230 team batting average ranks 26th of 30 teams, and serves as a constant reminder the season could go south quickly.

“We have some guys that are coming around a little bit,” manger Bob Melvin said of his team’s offense. “We have some guys that will come around a little bit more. We have some guys in the middle of the lineup that are going to do more damage.”

“I think the win-loss, the standings are great,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “But I think there’s just a lot of improvement that we need to do, we need to be better at.”

On Sunday, in front of a sold out Oracle Park crowd, the Giants went scoreless over the first eight innings only to be rescued by Luis Matos’ game-tying, pinch-hit home run. After starter Yoshinobo Yamamoto and crafty reliever Alex Vesia manipulated the Giants into a string of outs, Matos gave the home team unexpected life. But they barely breathed, going hitless the rest of the game.

Robbie Ray was All-Star worthy, allowing just two runs in six innings, but he got no support. That lack of help prevented Ray from gaining a 10th victory before the All-Star break. Ray expertly avoided Shohei Ohtani and allowed just three hits, but departed trailing 2-0. Miguel Rojas surprised Ray with his home run in the fifth that increased the Dodgers’ lead.

The two extra frames offered a baseball-only juxtaposition with the Dodgers stringing together three hits despite all coming off weak contact to plate three runs. Meanwhile, the Giants were denied when Rafael Devers’ rocket to center in the 10th was tracked down by James Outman.

“Ball 106 mph off the bat there,” Melvin recounted. “They hit balls like what 40 mph in the last inning? It’s just the way it is sometimes.”

Spencer Bivens took the loss despite retiring Mookie Betts and Will Smith after the decision was made to walk Ohtani to leadoff the inning. Ben Casparius got the win despite almost getting victimized by Devers.

The Giants open the season’s second half in Toronto against the AL East-leading Blue Jays on Friday night.

During the game’s final inning the Giants selected Tennessee Volunteers’ shortstop Gaven Kilen with the 13th overall pick of the 2025 MLB Draft.

Valkyries Mythological Performance: Golden State Buries Vegas, 95-68

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–For the Valkyries, this game started in an encouraging manner, and then, nothing went wrong. Pause.

Nothing went wrong.

Coming off a three-game losing streak, concluding with an 18-1 closing run that turned victory into defeat in Phoenix, the Valkyries hit the heights by blowing out the Aces, 95-68 at Chase Center on Saturday afternoon. The win in front of ABC’s national audience displayed that the expansion Valkyries have heft now, months, if not years, before anyone expected.

The Aces, just two seasons removed from their 2023 championship, and well-equipped with their core players, played sluggishly from the beginning. In concluding, their sloppy ball handling and lack of attention defensively, suggested a talented team, currently 4-3, that could ultimately go either way.

“It was a good old-fashioned ass-kicking, and there’s no other way to put it,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said. “This is one of the worst games I’ve ever seen the Aces play.”

The fourth consecutive sellout crowd, some who came to see A’ja Wilson for the first time, instead were treated to the Valkyries’ Veronica Burton and Kayla Thornton, who led a balanced output with 22 points. Burton was flawless, finishing with a career-best 12 assists and a plus/minus of +40 in 32 minutes on the floor.

“V found KT early. I thought KT started us off amazing. She was just super confident,” coach Natalie Nakase said. “She just walked right into her threes. She’s aggressive, attacking players.”

The Valkyries spent a section of the first quarter suffering from the same malaise that struck the Aces, but they took off in the second quarter with a 34-15 advantage on the scoreboard that was capped by Kate Martin’s successful long-distance heave before the buzzer.

The second half started the same way with consecutive baskets from Thornton and Monique Billings in transition that boosted the lead to 60-31. That was the biggest margin of 29, but the Valkyries won by 27 displaying the staying power of their effort.

“When we’re locked in, we’re connected offensively and defensively, this is what we’re capable of,” Nakase said.

Undefeated Lynx Survive Valkyries’ Big First Half, Win 86-75 At Chase Center

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–Believe me when I tale you. It was a tale of two halves.

The expansion Valkyries, in their biggest test to date, delivered an exemplary first half to lead the undefeated Lynx, 52-51. But the second half disintegrated into a massive tutorial as the visitors in a full display of their championship aspirations took control.

“We don’t mind pain,” coach Natalie Nakase said pointedly. “I told you we’re killers. If you’re not feeling pain then that’s a problem.”

The 86-75 result kept the visitors as the only undefeated team (7-0) in the WNBA. But it also kept the Valkyries (2-4) engaged, and striving to reach their potential as opposed to being frustrated by an 0-3 stretch against last season’s two finalists.

The next move for Nakase and her team? An already typical, laborious stretch at their Oakland practice facility in preparation for Thursday’s game in Phoenix against the Mercury.

“Just stay together,” Veronica Burton said when similarly asked about frustration. “That’s this league, that’s this season. The W is hard. There’s a reason we’re all here, and I think each player has experienced a certain level of pain or hardship. That’s allowed us to bounce back and just use it as motivation as well. Stay connected off the court. Teams that stay together succeed typically in this league.”

The Valkyries’ 52 points in the first 20 minutes was all hustle and resolve as their 45 percent shooting didn’t headline the effort as much as did their 35 shot attempts and 14 of 16 shooting from the foul line. To be the fair, the experienced Lynx didn’t renounce the fast pace, but they didn’t settle in immediately either.

The highlight of the half was the 12-2 run thay gave the Valkyries a brief 36-34 lead. Kate Martin took over during that stretch, scoring 11 of her career-best 14 points in her first five minutes floor.

But while the Valkyries individually platued and dipped, the steady Napheesa Collier ran the evening, finishing with 24 points, 11 rebounds and four assists that almost appeared understated. Courtney Williams and Kayla McBride efficiently supported Collier with a combined 36 points, including five made threes. Collier appeared completely healthy after missing the previous game with right knee soreness.

The first 13 minutes of the second half saw the Valkyries score just eight points and trail 75-60 with 6:58 remaining. Martin failed to score, with all of her 14 coming in the first half. But Burton came up with much of her team-best 21 points in a furious, late rally that sliced a 22-point Lynx lead to 11 with 1:56 left.

Janelle Salaun and Carla Leite, the Valkyries’ promising pair of rookies from France, both struggled with just five combined points in 31 minutes on the floor.

First Ever Win For The Valkyries: Gritty Effort Rewarded in 76-74 Win Over The Mystics

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–When the stated goal is the process over results, the first 17 missed 3-point attempts could simply be termed artistic flaws.

Flaws? Why not. When those consecutive misses without even one make don’t leave a team dead and buried for the night, being loose with defining  major deficiencies is okay.

And years from now, the Valkyries first-ever win will be best known as a masterpiece.

Veronica Burton came up with a career-best 22 points, including a buzzer-beater before halftime and another 3-pointer with 1:38 remaining to give the home team the lead for good and the Valkyries won 76-74 in only their second ever game in front of a sellout crowd at Chase Center.

Coach Natalie Nakase, the author of “process over results” was just as impressed by her staff’s attention to detail in anticipation of a close game, and Burton’s early arrival, as she was by the win itself.

So with that myopic approach, it wasn’t surprising  that Nakase wasn’t thrilled by being ambushed by her team’s celebratory tactics that she every intention of side-stepping.

“I hate cold water, but they had me cornered,” Nakase conceded.

The visiting Mystics could have easily had the Valkyries cornered with an 18-0 run that gave them an early nine-point lead. Instead, Janelle Salaun finally made one from distance and the Valkyries trailed by only one, 25-24, early in the second quarter.

That was the first of many examples throughout the game that clearly stated the home team, supported by their forgiving crowd, wasn’t going to be deterred by a few anxious moments. The Mystics were put on notice as the Valkyries fast pace and physical approach bothered Washington, threatening their own feel good story and 2-0 start to the season. At halftime, the visitors found themselves trailing by a point despite holding Golden State to 30 percent shooting.

When Tiffany Hayes was floored by Shakira Austin in the second quarter and left bleeding on the floor, the Valkyries were without their most experienced offensive player for the remainder of the game. But that’s when Burton, normally cast as a shutdown defender, went to work offensively.

Kayla Thornton (18 points) and Salaun (10) also contributed as did Carla Leite, who did so while dealing with a bloody nose.

Brittney Sykes led Washington with 30 points, and rookies Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron added 10 points each.

The Valkyries hit the road for their first time in Los Angeles against the Sparks on Friday night.

Very Valkyries: Spirited Comeback Thrills Big Crowd Despite Narrow 83-82 Loss

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By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–“We’re working on everything,” Laeticia Amihere admitted when asked what’s next for her and her newly-heralded teammates.

In fact, the wildly popular expansion Valkyries and the newly ambitious WNBA have already put in the work resulting in the league’s first expansion since 2008 and a raucous crowd that was thrilled to see their new heroines for the first time in an exhibition game.

Coach Natalie Nakase was touched by the numbers of fans, and even admitted the noise may have contributed to her team’s uneven start.

“Everyone had first-game jitters because of the crowd,” Nakase said. “For all these fans that showed up for a pre-season game.”

The home team coughed up five turnovers and managed just two assists in a first quarter that ended with the visiting Sparks leading by three. But a 14-point halftime deficit was erased in the third when the Valkyries began to run the floor, share the ball and attack the basket. The crowd grew more responsive as the Sparks lead disappeared.

An offensive possession with 30 seconds remaining and Golden State trailing by three was the night’s biggest prize eventhough the Valkyries couldn’t convert and resorted to a foul to extend the game.

Amihere’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer drew more cheers even if it left her team a point short from overtime. The buzz in the crowd was significant enough that nearly everyone was forced to check the scoreboard for an undisclosed, additional point.

“It almost felt like we won for a minute,” Nakase said.

From the standpoint of impact, the Valkyries did win by entertaining their fans that had anticipated the evening for months, even years. The team remains a work in progress, replete with veteran performers but short on top-shelf offensive talent, but for now, that’s nearly the last thing anyone will notice.

GM Ohemaa Nyanin strategy of populating her first roster with league veteran role players without feeling stressed to immediately include a superior talent felt smart as the game unfolded. The team settled in and competed after initially seeming unsettled. Amihere and fellow reserve Julie Vanloo organized the team after Kate Martin and Tiffany Hayes couldn’t covert early on.

Rickea Jackson and Kelsey Plum paced the Sparks starters with a combined 24 points, and Aari McDonald and Odyssey Sims turned defense into offense off the bench. But the crowd and the Valkyries still managed their way back into it.

The Valkyries have a couple of days of needed practice before traveling to Phoenix to face the Mercury on Sunday afternoon for their final tune -up.