"Our Spacing Was Really Selfless" — Nakase on What Made Tonight Different

Head Coach Natalie Nakase spoke after the Valkyries' impressive win over the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx, and much of the conversation centered on execution and growth. Nakase took ownership of her play calling in the previous two games, saying it wasn't very good, but praised the dramatic improvement tonight in spacing discipline and decision-making. She highlighted how the team maintained selfless spacing, resisting the temptation to call for the ball once positioned, and instead letting the guards get to work.

Nakase called tonight a huge leap for the Valkyries, specifically pointing to executing all four quarters without a dip in intensity. She said what she liked was the team keeping punching and staying locked in from start to finish, maintaining the mentality of emptying the tank every single quarter. Keeping the top-seeded Lynx to just 66 points was a source of pride.

On individual performances, Nakase praised Kiah Stokes' phenomenal effort defending a scorer, noting her length, footwork, and ability to defend without fouling while also anchoring the boards. On Cecilia Zandalasini, Nakase said she didn't even realize Zandalasini was 0-for-5 from three because in the Valkyries' eyes, every shot she shoots goes in. That poise and composure, closing with difficult end-of-clock shots, gave the team confidence down the stretch.

Nakase also highlighted Veronica Burton's elite performance, calling her the leader the team knows and loves. Burton had no letdown, made all the calls, kept her poise and composure on the floor, almost had a double-double, and understood timing down the stretch without ever letting up.

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Golden State Valkyries | WNBA | Press Conference | Natalie Nakase, Veronica Burton | Minnesota Lynx | 2026

00:00 — Spacing Discipline and Selflessness on Offense
00:35 — Executing All Four Quarters
01:31 — Playing With No Dips Against Elite Competition
02:35 — Fast Break Defense and Turnover Management
03:03 — Cecilia Zandalasini's Poise and Late Shot Making
04:15 — Kiah Stokes' Phenomenal Defensive Work
05:17 — Veronica Burton's Elite Leadership and Composure