Natalie Nakase’s honest thoughts on potentially shaking up Valkyries’ starting unit

SAN FRANCISCO– It’s going to be really hard to keep Janelle Salaün out of the Golden State Valkyries starting lineup if this is the kind of offense she’s going to produce. And Laeticia Amihere, too, for that matter. 

In the Valkyries’ 95-79 home opener victory over the Phoenix Mercury, Salaün collected a game-high 21 points on a perfect 4-of-4 from beyond the arc and 70.0% from the field, while Amihere added 13 points, six rebounds, three blocks, and a +33 plus/minus, as the bench duo powered Golden State to an early-season statement win.

After the game, coach Natalie Nakase talked about how Salaün and Amihere changed the game off the bench after the Valkyries began the game 1-of-9 from the field. 

“Both of them can attack closeouts, and then they’re long, and they rebound,” Nakase said. “So extra possessions. When [Amihere] was getting in there, she was grabbing boards, putting it back up. I think she had an advantage versus her matchup. And so anytime where we could, change the matchups and attack certain matchups, that’s just the versatility that we have.”

“Credit to just their willingness [to come off the bench]. Ja [Salaün] sometimes could be a starter, sometimes not. But again, it’s the selflessness. That goes back to who they are as a person, and their ability to play anytime, any moment, doesn’t matter, whatever minutes they get, they’re putting 100% into it.”

Given how the Valkyries have started 1-of-7 and 1-of-9 the last two games, Nakase was asked if she’s considering moving either Salaün or Amihere, or both, into the starting lineup. The Valkyries coach answered, “Depends on the matchup.”

“To me, starting doesn’t matter. It’s how you finish. It’s always how you finish,” Nakase said. “That’s is the luxury of our team– the selflessness and the humility of, ‘Coach, you want me to start? Do you not want me to start?’ wanting to start. It’s unbelievable, and it’s rare. I have a special group.”

Gabby Williams and other standouts

Beyond Salaün and Amihere’s big nights, the Valkyries got good contributions all the way down the rotation. Veronica Burton notched another double-double with 13 points and 12 assists, recording zero turnovers in the process. Kayla Thornton, in her first regular season game back since her knee injury, collected 19 points in 30 minutes on 8-of-14 shooting.

But it was star free agent acquisition Gabby Williams looking like the player the Valkyries paid for, doing everything for them on both ends. Williams finished with 19 points, five rebounds, and four steals on 7-of-13 shooting.

After a slow start, Williams got going on the defensive end, racking up three second-quarter steals to break the game wide-open for Golden State. From there, she began to rain jumper after jumper, whether it was running off of a curl, spotting up on the wing, or getting her own off the dribble.

“Her size, her length, being disruptive, steals, offensive boards, defensive boards, all that,” Thornton said of Williams’ defensive impact matter-of-factly.

“Her versatility to guard multiple positions… Gabby can guard one through five,” Nakase explained. “She does a great job with her physicality, if it’s in the post. And she has these active, long hands that are dangerous. What’s really cool about Gabby is, you don’t know when she’s gonna throw her hands out.”

Between Williams, Thornton, and Salaün, the Valkyries have real talent on the wings. If this game is any indication of Golden State’s potential, they are at their best when those three are wreaking havoc defensively and turning it into transition opportunities.

The Valkyries will face the Chicago Sky at home on Wednesday.

The post Natalie Nakase’s honest thoughts on potentially shaking up Valkyries’ starting unit appeared first on ClutchPoints.