Golden State Valkyries, and Other WNBA Teams

9,220 Views | 90 Replies | Last: 17 hrs ago by ClayK
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11:12a, 6/28/25
Good SF Chronicle piece (gift link) on the Valkyries ownership and the excitement/success of this launch. It really is quite the experience to be in "Ballhalla" for a game--truly electric and this team is just so much fun to watch. I hope we can leverage this obvious love of basketball to our own Bears in some fashion. A Cal season ticket holder happened to sit next to me last night so we talked both Bears and Valkyries. Good stuff!

'I'm actually blown away': Joe Lacob on Valkyries' start, $500M valuation and signing a star or two

Quote:
Joe Lacob was beaming. Wearing his lavender Golden State Valkyries pullover and about to dig into his pregame burger at the Bridge Club, Lacob's enthusiasm about his new team bubbled over.
"It's a great atmosphere," Lacob said, before tip-off of the Valkyries-Sky game. "I mean, honestly, it's almost better than a Warriors game. It's different. I'm not gonna say it's better, but it's almost better. It's really loud. The energy is palpable. I love it. I think it's fantastic."

Lacob is a demanding team owner, who has a lot going on with his other basketball team right now. But he can't contain his excitement over his new team.




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SFCALBear72
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11:32a, 6/28/25
I think there's going to be a Cal Night at the Valkyries (maybe August?). Coach Eliza Pierre gave a brief "tease" about it on Instagram yesterday.
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Woodacre
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In reply to SFCALBear72 • 11:25a, 6/29/25
From other thread:
For all of you hoping for a Cal/Valkyries co-branding event...circle Wednesday, August 6, Valkyries vs Aces. Details soon.
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CalWSportsFan
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In reply to Woodacre • 11:31a, 6/29/25
Woodacre said:
From other thread:
For all of you hoping for a Cal/Valkyries co-branding event...circle Wednesday, August 6, Valkyries vs Aces. Details soon.
This is great news!
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Finnish Oski
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11:38a, 6/29/25
Quote:
From other thread:

For all of you hoping for a Cal/Valkyries co-branding event...circle Wednesday, August 6, Valkyries vs Aces. Details soon.
That was already going to my first Valkyries game, now I'm extra psyched.
"I'm just here so I won't get fined."
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BearBint
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10:29a, 6/30/25
The Valks are just the beginning: https://www.wnba.com/news/wnba-expansion-cleveland-detroit-philadelphia?lid=zhgvwri6g0g2
"Don't get distracted, myself. Don't get distracted." Self-talk from a young relative
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mbBear
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In reply to BearBint • 11:44a, 6/30/25
BearBint said:
The Valks are just the beginning: https://www.wnba.com/news/wnba-expansion-cleveland-detroit-philadelphia?lid=zhgvwri6g0g2
Big excitement to be getting a team here in Philly!

Just to keep up with some of the dollars being added in the WNBA-the teams are putting up 250 mil each to enter the league...
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CalFanatic
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12:50p, 7/9/25
Valks just stomped Indiana. Again.

Coach Nakase has to be the WNBA COY
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HairOfTheBear
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In reply to CalFanatic • 1:17a, 7/10/25
CalFanatic said:
Valks just stomped Indiana. Again.

Coach Nakase has to be the WNBA COY
It is funny, I've heard several teams say after losing to the Valkyries, we didn't shoot well and Indy for sure has said this. At some point, teams and fans gotta recognize that the Valks are not messing around on defense. They communicate pretty well and they hound the tish out of shooters and push people around in the paint. Mix that with general hustle and some pretty dang good rebounding, these Valks are part of your shooting problem. It is not just a one off now. Somebody wants "it" more and clearly the Valks are that somebody. Man I hope they make the playoffs.
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OBear073akaSMFan
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6:09p, 7/10/25
First time I saw Layshia do the post game. Damn she's good. Very comfortable in front of The TV and knowledgeable in her comments. Enjoy her while you can but think she definitely could be snatched up by the national broadcast.
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SFCALBear72
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10:43a, 7/15/25
It's a shame that the refs couldn't see fit to let last night's game vs. the Mercury go into overtime. Instead, they called a foul against the Valkyries with one second left! Alyssa Thomas hit one of two free throws. Game over.

I guess the refs had dinner or travel plans and needed to leave.
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CalWSportsFan
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In reply to SFCALBear72 • 2:55p, 7/15/25
That was beyond lame. Coach had nothing but praise for her players but was clearly unhappy that the refs had the game decided at the free throw line.
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SFCALBear72
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3:17p, 7/15/25
She is a classy coach and one helluva human being!!

Coach Nakase loves her players!
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ClayK
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8:36a, 7/16/25
Two things:

1) The Valkyries let the best player on the floor, one of the best in the league, find an uncontested path to the basket with one second left. No help, no rotation. So ...

2) Blame the refs. Zandalisini bumped Alyssa Thomas with her body as AT released the ball. Clearly a foul. If you rotate properly -- or make sure the best player doesn't beat you -- no need for Zandalisini to have to try to get there. And she clearly didn't.



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CalWSportsFan
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In reply to ClayK • 3:09p, 7/16/25
It's the inconsistency that's more the issue with W refs.
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SFCALBear72
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4:12p, 7/16/25
Midseason grades for all 13 teams.
Valkyries highly regarded.

https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/45746019/wnba-2025-midseason-grades-13-teams-mvp-mercury-lynx-mystics
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philbert
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In reply to CalWSportsFan • 12:22p, 7/17/25
CalWSportsFan said:
It's the inconsistency that's more the issue with W refs.

https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/45740425/wnba-all-star-break-officiating-criticism
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ClayK
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6:55a, 7/18/25
As always in these collections of whining, there is not a single practical suggestion as to how to improve the officiating.

It's a very difficult job, in every professional sport, and the best basketball referees work in the NBA. In fact, the best W refs are promoted to the NBA, so there's a constant talent drain. (The college track is different, as I understand it, and few cross over.)

So instead of simply criticizing the officials, how about some concrete suggestions as to how to improve it? (And no, calling for more "consistency" isn't a suggestion. A suggestion would address precisely how to do that.)

The answer? There isn't a way to make the officiating better unless there are more talented people willing to do it.
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stu
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In reply to ClayK • 1:10p, 7/18/25
ClayK said:
The answer? There isn't a way to make the officiating better unless there are more talented people willing to do it.

I personally would like the league to direct officials to pay more attention to hard fouls. I want basketball, not combat.
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philbert
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In reply to ClayK • 1:26p, 7/18/25
ClayK said:


The answer? There isn't a way to make the officiating better unless there are more talented people willing to do it.

Pay them more
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ClayK
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7:14a, 7/19/25
Good WNBA officials do get paid more -- because they move to the NBA. That's another problem.

As for the level of contact, that is under the control of the league. The officials will call more fouls if directed to do so. But there's always a fine line between protecting players and turning the game into a free-throw contest. Yes, players will adjust to what's called, but that's not a smooth process.

Also, the W is promoting itself as a tough league, and leaning into the physical rivalries between players. You can't have that if there's limited contact. That said, I would expect an adjustment next year.
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