- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 550,110
- Reaction score
- 47
In the new home of her former assistant, Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon delivered high praise for the job Natalie Nakase is doing at Golden State.
“When you’re pushing teams like New York and Minnesota to the brink, I think she's doing things right,” Hammon said on Saturday ahead of her first time coaching against Nakase. “I think eventually they’ll find success.”
It came quicker than Hammon likely anticipated. Nakase’s expansion Valkyries didn’t merely defeat the Aces, the recent league standard in success. They ran them out of the blooming-violet sold-out Chase Center in one of the most eye-raising results of the young season that raises early questions about each team.
“Just really one of the worst games I’ve seen from us,” a praise-less Hammon said afterward.
The Valkyries' 95-68 win served as a season-high offensive outing, a sharp pivot from their 74.4 scoring average that ranked second worst heading into the day. Hammon correctly jabbed after the loss that she wasn’t sure Golden State had even “come close” to scoring 100 all year; they dropped a previous season-high 82 on Los Angeles on May 23. Connecticut is now the only team yet to crack 90 points in a game.
The team of cast-offs — as, by nature, an expansion team designed via a “draft” of other team’s unprotected players is — became the first team this season to have three players notch double-doubles in a single game. Kayla Thornton, the reigning Liberty champion, scored a career-high 22 points with 11 rebounds. Veronica Burton dished 12 assists with 14 points and set a record for plus/minus (+40). Monique Billings (14 points, 11 rebounds) and Kate Martin (12 points) contributed off the bench.
It was the most complete game the Valkyries, who assisted on 24 of 34 field goals, have put together amid a tough opening schedule of New York twice, Minnesota, Phoenix and Vegas. More impressive was the defense, which is undefeated when keeping teams below 75. While Chicago, Dallas and Connecticut continue to stumble in their own ways (though the Sun delivered the other eye-opener with a win over Atlanta), the Valkyries appear a valid contender for a playoff spot.
The Aces (4-3) are closer to the brink of collapse. It is the first time in Hammon’s tenure the team has lost two games by that many. They’ve played only seven games on the young season, and the loss to New York came close to the delineator (a 14-point margin on opening day). Las Vegas has one 20-point win, and two by single digits.
“Right now that’s not an Aces team that we’re used to seeing,” Las Vegas point guard Chelsea Gray said, describing the landscape as uncharted territory.
The porous Aces defense is one of their worst efforts under Hammon (opponents are shooting 46.2%), and the swap of Jewell Loyd for Kelsey Plum — the front office’s sole change in the starting lineup — isn’t netting offensive results. Loyd is in a shooting slump (29.4%) with an even swifter nosedive in efficiency inside the arc (17.2%). The lack of offensive contributions from starting center Kiah Stokes necessitates more from the guards.
It’s tough to view the Aces right now as anything other than a semifinals contender, and that’s if the chips fall their way. Nothing indicates they can compete on either side of the ball with undefeated Liberty and Lynx. It further showcases the special nature of those 2022-23 championship teams, the core four stars they collected and the coaching staff that dissolved in the offseason.
After another loss Hammon characterized as a “good old fashioned ass whoopin’,” in which her team was thoroughly outplayed in “every aspect of the game,” she embraced her former assistant near halfcourt. They exchanged a few words and went on their way to the locker rooms, emanating opposing emotions.
“She said great job,” Nakase said. “And I literally said, I learned everything from you.”
Lynx Star Napheesa Collier — currently the odds favorite to win 2025 WNBA MVP at -370 on FanDuel Sportsbook — continues to will Minnesota forward as one of two remaining undefeated teams in the league. Over her last two games (vs. Mercury, at Wings), Collier is averaging a double-double, and the Lynx defeated both opponents by double-digit points.
New York Liberty at Indiana Fever, Saturday at 3 p.m. ET on ABC: Their first matchup ended in controversy, and this one between title contenders could decide the Commissioner’s Cup Eastern Conference victor. Fever point guard Caitlin Clark (quad) and Liberty forward Jonquel Jones (ankle) are both questionable. Either’s absence shifts the margin closer to the other’s end.
WNBA power rankings (Mallory Bielecki/Yahoo Sports illustration)
*Team record in parentheses
1. New York Liberty (8-0)
2. Minnesota Lynx (9-0)
3. Indiana Fever (4-4)
4. Atlanta Dream (5-3)
5. Seattle Storm (5-4)
6. Phoenix Mercury (6-4)
7. Las Vegas Aces (4-3)
8. Golden State Valkyries (4-5)
9. Washington Mystics (4-6)
10. Los Angeles Sparks (3-7)
11. Chicago Sky (2-5)
12. Connecticut Sun (2-7)
13. Dallas Wings (1-9)
*Last week's ranking in parentheses
1. New York Liberty (1)
2. Minnesota Lynx (2)
3. Seattle Storm (6)
4. Phoenix Mercury (3)
5. Atlanta Dream (4)
6. Indiana Fever (7)
7. Las Vegas Aces (5)
8. Golden State Valkyries (9)
9. Washington Mystics (8)
10. Los Angeles Sparks (11)
11. Chicago Sky (10)
12. Connecticut Sun (13)
13. Dallas Wings (12)
Continue reading...
“When you’re pushing teams like New York and Minnesota to the brink, I think she's doing things right,” Hammon said on Saturday ahead of her first time coaching against Nakase. “I think eventually they’ll find success.”
It came quicker than Hammon likely anticipated. Nakase’s expansion Valkyries didn’t merely defeat the Aces, the recent league standard in success. They ran them out of the blooming-violet sold-out Chase Center in one of the most eye-raising results of the young season that raises early questions about each team.
“Just really one of the worst games I’ve seen from us,” a praise-less Hammon said afterward.
The Valkyries' 95-68 win served as a season-high offensive outing, a sharp pivot from their 74.4 scoring average that ranked second worst heading into the day. Hammon correctly jabbed after the loss that she wasn’t sure Golden State had even “come close” to scoring 100 all year; they dropped a previous season-high 82 on Los Angeles on May 23. Connecticut is now the only team yet to crack 90 points in a game.
The team of cast-offs — as, by nature, an expansion team designed via a “draft” of other team’s unprotected players is — became the first team this season to have three players notch double-doubles in a single game. Kayla Thornton, the reigning Liberty champion, scored a career-high 22 points with 11 rebounds. Veronica Burton dished 12 assists with 14 points and set a record for plus/minus (+40). Monique Billings (14 points, 11 rebounds) and Kate Martin (12 points) contributed off the bench.
It was the most complete game the Valkyries, who assisted on 24 of 34 field goals, have put together amid a tough opening schedule of New York twice, Minnesota, Phoenix and Vegas. More impressive was the defense, which is undefeated when keeping teams below 75. While Chicago, Dallas and Connecticut continue to stumble in their own ways (though the Sun delivered the other eye-opener with a win over Atlanta), the Valkyries appear a valid contender for a playoff spot.
The Aces (4-3) are closer to the brink of collapse. It is the first time in Hammon’s tenure the team has lost two games by that many. They’ve played only seven games on the young season, and the loss to New York came close to the delineator (a 14-point margin on opening day). Las Vegas has one 20-point win, and two by single digits.
“Right now that’s not an Aces team that we’re used to seeing,” Las Vegas point guard Chelsea Gray said, describing the landscape as uncharted territory.
Full circle game for Coach Nat.pic.twitter.com/MoEDIkXad4
— Golden State Valkyries (@valkyries) June 8, 2025
The porous Aces defense is one of their worst efforts under Hammon (opponents are shooting 46.2%), and the swap of Jewell Loyd for Kelsey Plum — the front office’s sole change in the starting lineup — isn’t netting offensive results. Loyd is in a shooting slump (29.4%) with an even swifter nosedive in efficiency inside the arc (17.2%). The lack of offensive contributions from starting center Kiah Stokes necessitates more from the guards.
It’s tough to view the Aces right now as anything other than a semifinals contender, and that’s if the chips fall their way. Nothing indicates they can compete on either side of the ball with undefeated Liberty and Lynx. It further showcases the special nature of those 2022-23 championship teams, the core four stars they collected and the coaching staff that dissolved in the offseason.
After another loss Hammon characterized as a “good old fashioned ass whoopin’,” in which her team was thoroughly outplayed in “every aspect of the game,” she embraced her former assistant near halfcourt. They exchanged a few words and went on their way to the locker rooms, emanating opposing emotions.
“She said great job,” Nakase said. “And I literally said, I learned everything from you.”
AP Player of the Week: Napheesa Collier
Lynx Star Napheesa Collier — currently the odds favorite to win 2025 WNBA MVP at -370 on FanDuel Sportsbook — continues to will Minnesota forward as one of two remaining undefeated teams in the league. Over her last two games (vs. Mercury, at Wings), Collier is averaging a double-double, and the Lynx defeated both opponents by double-digit points.
Game of the week
New York Liberty at Indiana Fever, Saturday at 3 p.m. ET on ABC: Their first matchup ended in controversy, and this one between title contenders could decide the Commissioner’s Cup Eastern Conference victor. Fever point guard Caitlin Clark (quad) and Liberty forward Jonquel Jones (ankle) are both questionable. Either’s absence shifts the margin closer to the other’s end.
You must be registered for see images attach
WNBA power rankings (Mallory Bielecki/Yahoo Sports illustration)
Yahoo Sports Power Poll
*Team record in parentheses
1. New York Liberty (8-0)
2. Minnesota Lynx (9-0)
3. Indiana Fever (4-4)
4. Atlanta Dream (5-3)
5. Seattle Storm (5-4)
6. Phoenix Mercury (6-4)
7. Las Vegas Aces (4-3)
8. Golden State Valkyries (4-5)
9. Washington Mystics (4-6)
10. Los Angeles Sparks (3-7)
11. Chicago Sky (2-5)
12. Connecticut Sun (2-7)
13. Dallas Wings (1-9)
AP Power Poll
*Last week's ranking in parentheses
1. New York Liberty (1)
2. Minnesota Lynx (2)
3. Seattle Storm (6)
4. Phoenix Mercury (3)
5. Atlanta Dream (4)
6. Indiana Fever (7)
7. Las Vegas Aces (5)
8. Golden State Valkyries (9)
9. Washington Mystics (8)
10. Los Angeles Sparks (11)
11. Chicago Sky (10)
12. Connecticut Sun (13)
13. Dallas Wings (12)
Continue reading...
