Golden State's slow, significant shift of identity Before the season, the Valkyries set out to play a run and gun style. They're still gunning, but they've almost stopped running. What changed?

Before the season, the Golden State Valkyries set out to play a run and gun style. They're still gunning, but they've almost stopped running. What changed?

I took a closer look at the numbers and speculated on some recent film: riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/golden-sta...

Wanted to go back and clip this tremendous steal by Sonia Citron. Kate Martin catches off the elevator, turns, and just gets it ripped away.

IMO that should also have been a F2. The official language for F1 is “unnecessary” and for F2 it’s “unnecessary and excessive” which, just in my opinion, this is. It’s not a heinous act by any means; it was a mistake. No further action warranted.

Might not even recap this game. Save the effort for a broader check-in post in between this game and Wednesday’s. No. 1 adjustment, anyways, is “don’t be weary on long road trip with few players”

Salaün and Jewell Lloyd got into it a bit earlier in the game, when Lloyd tied up Salaün for a jump when sinking into the lane on Salaün's cut. Then, the pretty clear flagrant two.

As of this halftime, the Valkyries are third in the league with 34 (Chicago, with 38, leads the league in total and per game, while Dallas is in second with 36)

Yes, I’ll pull those numbers now during this nailbiter

It's 50-25 at halftime. Amihere missed two threes, including one with 9 seconds in the half with the shot clock differential at three, and now Janelle Salaün has been assessed a flagrant two and ejected. Did hit a three on a good pass from Kaitlyn Chen, dotting the nail help. Hello, Kaila Charles.

Spain from Las Vegas, an action which has worked well against Golden State this year in limited reps. And-one by Wilson, who's just the best player on the floor.

Valks try the old tap assist play on a high-win probably jump involving Salaün, but it goes over Temi and it's another turnover in a TO-heavy quarter (Vegas on a TO streak of their own, keeping this game close).

Nakase picks up a tech. Trying to get the team going.

I don't advocate for it often, but when Laeticia can isolate NaLyssa Smith, she absolutely should. Six points for Amihere off the bench. Vegas pretty switch-happy right now, the path to points is there for GSV, just have to convert. Getting stops defensively would help too.

Valks have gotten solid looks, but are shooting just 30% from the field. Aces at 57.1% French Connection a combined 4/16. Lot of game left.

At least Carla Leite's been looking more explosive in isolation—super high pickups have turned into easy, speedy layups at the rim lately.

GSV (r-1) and LVA (2) take corner threes at the highest frequency in the W. Aces winning that battle early. They get one on the ball movement and then keep the ball movement going with no X out to take away the hash three. Five to one made threes early here.

Vet move from Chelsea Gray. Knows Rupert will be in drop vs. PnR, patiently puts Kate Martin in jail behind her, gets the and-one middie to drop. Aces up 27-14 after one; each player in the LVA big four has 5+ points. Burton with 5 for GSV.

Twirl (stagger, curl, first screener takes top screen) into DHO with Leite/Rupert, who pops for a wide open look, no good. Charles the board, Wilson picks the pass.

The flare screen flags I've been waving finally come home to roost. Young takes Charles in on the cut and pins Salaün in on the weakside, and Las Vegas finds the open shooter for a three.

Lot of Twirl actions for GSV early on offense.

The game is experiencing technical difficulties. Not sure why Carmax wants to present that, but apparently they do.

Veronica Burton gets downhill for a free layup, and then poaches the inbound pass and earns a foul on Jackie Young.

Getting the Aces-Valks thread going here. Big matchup with the teams splitting the season series thus far. Wouldn't be surprised to see A'ja Wilson have a big game; give me a big Janelle Salaün performance too. Valks still without Hayes, Zandalasini, and of course Billings/Thornton.

What a pull! WNBA stats lying to me. Thanks for the catch!

h/t @mingemi.bsky.social for the call!

Finally, compare the disjointed CHI help (two in the paint vs. roll, not helping each other, good lift from Salaün) vs. the jointed, per se, GSV help (Kate helps on the lob, Temi and Carla in unison rotate to help positions, Kate with another good stop at the rim).

Carla Leite getting baseline in empty, a tale as old as time. Goes back to her right hand for the finish, good 45 cut from Charles with it too.

Kaila Charles with a very nice assist!

Couple of clips that didn't make it: Golden State's been running a lot more of their Twirl variation in recent games. Here, Salaün takes it into an empty ballscreen, and I prefer this middie to a deeper stepback version.

Valkyries beat the Sky (again), move above .500 (again) Clutch offense late, strong defensive performance proves there's no "sky" in team.

Looked at some interesting notes and stats from Valkyries-Sky, including leading scorers, season-low free throw rates, and more. Also, Golden State's drop coverage and the stellar 94-foot defense of Veronica Burton. riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/valkyries-...

Probably won’t get tonight’s recap post up until Sunday morning at the earliest; might just do a whole weekend recap.

Also—No Mo :( but yes Kaila Charles!

Read the Mystics game post and subscribe 👀

Teams LOVE signing players who played well against them (cc Chloe Bibby)

The Mystics got some good looks on actions on actions involving a guard and a screen such as this 21 flare or their upscreen handoff plays for Sonia Citron.