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Valkyries Coach Nakase Urges Team to Avoid Slow Start in Game 7
· Confirmed
In Short: Natalie Nakase, coach of the Golden State Valkyries, is determined to correct her team's poor start in Game 6.
Natalie Nakase, coach of the Golden State Valkyries, is determined to correct her team's poor start in Game 6 against the Atlanta Dream, which forced a decisive Game 7 at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Saturday night.
In Game 6, the Valkyries struggled out of the gate, allowing the Dream to take a commanding 32-15 lead in the first quarter. Nakase expressed frustration over the team's lack of defensive intensity, noting that the Valkyries had shown their defensive prowess in previous games.
"Shout out to the crowd, being able to come here at 12:30 on a Thursday and so many things going on in the world from school to work, to everything else," said Nakase, acknowledging the support of the fans.
"For me, I need clarity. I need some information," Nakase added, emphasizing her need to understand the reasons behind the team's poor start.
"We knew they were going to play desperate. We knew they were going to play like their life depends on it. For us not to match that is disappointing and frustrating. So, yeah, I need to make sure my team is prepared," Nakase said, highlighting the importance of matching the Dream's intensity.
The Valkyries will need to improve their defensive performance to avoid another slow start in Game 7. Nakase emphasized the need for her team to be ready from the opening tip.
The home team has won 11 of the 13 decisive Finals games, according to ESPN, adding pressure on the Valkyries to perform well in San Francisco.
"For me, I think I let my team down last game not really contributing as much as I could in the second half," Reese said, reflecting on her performance in Game 6.
"I didn’t like my last game. I didn’t like who I was in that last game," Williams said, showing her determination to improve in Game 7.
The Valkyries fans are gathering at Thrive City as Golden State gets a chance to win the 2026 WNBA Finals in Atlanta.
"It feels fitting that this historic 30th WNBA season, that began with a hard-fought CBA that elevated player compensation into a new echelon, is ending in the league's first-ever Game 7," Gibbs said, highlighting the significance of the moment.
What this adds
The Valkyries' Game 6 loss was a significant setback, as they had previously shown strong defensive performance in earlier games. The team's defensive intensity will be crucial in Game 7.
The Dream's performance in Game 6 was a stark contrast to their previous games, with a 73.3% shooting percentage in the first quarter.
The significance of Game 7 cannot be overstated, as it will determine the winner of the 2026 WNBA Finals.
Background
Natalie Nakase, coach of the Golden State Valkyries, is determined to correct her team's poor start in Game 6.
The Golden State Valkyries are determined to avoid another slow start as they prepare for Game 7 against the Atlanta Dream at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Saturday night.
What's confirmed
- She was baffled that her team somehow left behind its defensive intensity at the start of Thursday's 80-69 loss to the Dream that forced Game 7 at "Ballhalla" in San Francisco on Saturday night.
- "We knew they were going to play desperate. We knew they were going to play like their life depends on it. For us not to match that is disappointing and frustrating. So, yeah, I need to make sure my team is prepared."
- Even after the Valkyries showed fight by attempting a second-half comeback, Nakase was still struggling to comprehend the lackadaisical start so she could make sure it's not repeated in Saturday night's decisive game.
- Former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom said he was going to be at the game.
What's still developing
- Smesko previously noted the urgency of the moment, stating, "I just think we have to create better shots in this game."
- The rapper issued signed permission slips Tuesday on social media for everyone to be excused from work on Thursday to watch Game 6 of the WNBA Finals.
- Williams, a Reed High graduate, also got off to a slow start, missing eight of her first nine shots before finding a rhythm and ending with a game-high 26 points on 8-of-22 shooting.
- All season long, the Dream have poured into each other.
- Facing elimination at a lunchtime tipoff, the Dream overwhelmed the Golden State Valkyries 80-69 on Thursday afternoon to force a decisive seventh game in the WNBA finals, rediscovering their offensive touch just as their title hopes were threatening to slip away.
- Reese became the third player with at least 30 points and 15 rebounds in a Finals game, joining Jonquel Jones for Connecticut in 2019 and Breanna Stewart for Seattle in 2020.
- Kanter Freedom demanded he be allowed to sit in his purchased seat, and for the second time this season didn’t make it through a WNBA game.
- The Golden State Valkyries have won their first playoff series in franchise history and advance to the Semifinals with a 77-73 victory over the Dallas Wings at Chase Center on Friday.
- ATLANTA -- While the Atlanta Dream and WNBA play the blame game and the outside world expresses outrage and condemnation over the midday Game 6 of the WNBA Finals, Dream players and head coach Karl Smesko are staying laser-focused on the task at hand: evening the series against the Golden State Valkyries and keeping their hopes of a WNBA championship alive.
Sources
- ABC7 Bay Arealink
- Bleacher Reportlink
- Bozeman Daily Chroniclelink
- CBS Sportslink
- Enlink
- Espnlink
- FOX 5 Atlantalink
- Los Angeles Timeslink
- NBC Bay Arealink
- NBC Newslink
- Nevadasportsnetlink
- Presstelegramlink
- The Atlanta Journal-Constitutionlink
- The Guardianlink
- The Rome News-Tribunelink
- Theshadowleaguelink
- Golden State Valkyries — video link