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.
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