Marisa Ingemi

1 week ago | sacbee.com | Marisa Ingemi

May 27-NEW YORK - When WNBA rookies enter the league, they usually have a "welcome to the WNBA" moment sometime in their first few games. Sometimes that's being knocked down by a hard screen or getting deked by an opponent driving to the hoop. The Golden State Valkyries had such a moment Tuesday against the defending champion New York Liberty. After a surprising 2-1 start, reality checked the expansion team hard with a 95-67 defeat at Barclays Center.

1 week ago | sacbee.com | Marisa Ingemi

May 26-NEW YORK - Kayla Thornton's New York Liberty chapter will officially close Tuesday night. The Golden State Valkyries forward will get her championship ring seven months after winning her first career title, and five months after she learned she would spend her 13th WNBA season in the Bay Area. Over the first three games in franchise history, Thornton has quietly been the Valkyries' most consistent player.

1 week ago | sfchronicle.com | Marisa Ingemi

Valkyries forward Kayla Thornton scores against the Washington Mystics during Golden State’s 76-74 win at Chase Center last Wednesday. It was the expansion team’s first regular-season win in franchise history. Scott Strazzante/S.F. ChronicleThe New York Liberty, including Jonquel Jones (35), Kayla Thornton (5) and Breanna Stewart (30), celebrate oncourt after defeating the Las Vegas Aces 76-62 in Game 4 of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs semifinals to win the series 3-1 in Las Vegas.

1 week ago | sacbee.com | Marisa Ingemi

May 25-The first time the Golden State Valkyries took the court in the regular season, they debuted a surprising look: a zone defense. A rarely used approach in the WNBA, head coach Natalie Nakase didn't implement it during the Valkyries' two preseason games. Throughout their three regular-season contests, Nakase has called for the zone a handful of times. She started the May 16 season-opener against the Los Angeles Sparks with it and used it at times against the Washington Mystics five days later.

1 week ago | sacbee.com | Marisa Ingemi

May 23-LOS ANGELES - Head coach Natalie Nakase said before Friday's game that the Golden State Valkyries offense was built to be "next person up" every game. Without Tiffany Hayes, that was guard Carla Leite and forward Janelle Salaün.