By hardship, I assume this means that as long as Ceci and Tiffany Hayes are out, that she can stay on the roster.
--
The Golden State Valkyries have signed forward Ashten Prechtel to a hardship contract, the team announced today. Prechtel will wear No. 11 for Golden State.
Prechtel, 24, appeared in two preseason games for the Phoenix Mercury, scoring nine points with five rebounds in 16 minutes of action against Chicago on April 25. The 34th overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft by Connecticut, Prechtel played collegiately at Stanford where she averaged 4.5 points and 3.4 rebounds while shooting 43.2 percent from the field in 129 games. The 6-5 forward guided Stanford to the 2021 National Championship title and was voted the Pac-12 Sixth Player of the Year in 2020 by the media.
About adjustments to giving up so many steals. He said it was both execution and scheme changes.
About why he was attacking VB and Gabby in the PNR and said, it was a play that was working for them last year and that they were still catching up on offense.
Happy with a split.
Nakase
What was working on defensive game plan. Landon had the scout. Really good game plan. Players didn’t want to let Landon down. Doubling AT at times. Owned the boards.
Defense was the difference in Q1 and Q3
Down 9, NN told them “play some Fing defense”.
Gabby defense has versatility to guard multiple positions. Long arms, don’t know when she’ll be reaching. Instincts are amazing. Fitting in really well with us.
V calmed the team down down the stretch in the huddle. “One more punch and we can seal it.” That’s the growth from last year.
Will move Ja and LA into starting lineup, depending on matchups.
Starting doesn’t matter. Every possession, every minute matters.
Miela and Jak are always ready, and were in rotation. They were smiling even though they didn’t play.
Because of all the injuries, the Valkyries are playing eight deep plus Miela Sowah and Ndjakalenga. Even though Phoenix is the one on the back-to-back, there is a chance that the Valkyries might bonk first in the fourth quarter here.
Looks like Veronica Burton finally got the better of that high pick and roll they've been spamming. This time she moved her feet and got the charge.
9:24 - Kayla Thornton has been eating on these backdoor cuts behind Alyssa Thomas.
Two straight three-pointers with some pretty lucky bounces. That’s even.
8.31. Looks like the Valkyries are picking on Nogic a little bit to try to force her to defend, to justify her being out there for her offense. VB gets two FTs.
8.06: that time they got Shyanne matched up on Nogic in the paint, went straight to her, but no foul call that they were wanting.
7:34 - Kaila Charles called for a foul and demands an incident review. It looks like she didn't actually make contact. Okay, now, according to the rules of engagement, it is now permitted for Ballhalla to issue a wave. They're starting it right next to the press section. Looks like there's actually one ringleader in the aisles kicking it off. We're having a little bit of trouble getting ignition.
Ari is back by the way, Now she's dancing with her mom on the Jumbotron. Relationship goals?
“Dance Like Your Mom” cam.
Wow, they lost the challenge. FTs. Missed one. Ball only lied 50%.
6.52. Salaun has so much confidence in her three-point shot right now. Next time down, Nogich throws up a three, which hits every single part of the rim but misses.
6.16.. Phoenix is trapping now, and they did a good job previously, but this time Amihere cuts to the basket, gets the pass, and finishes with a layup. On the other end, it looked like it was going to be a layup from Phoenix's baseline cut, but Amihere swooped in with a sweet block.
Where would the Valkyries be without Janelle right now? Draws a three-shot foul on Nogich.
5.18, that was just a gorgeous touch pass from Amihere..
It really does not feel like a ten-point game. It feels like a tie game, but I guess one team shoots 61 shots. The other team shoots 50 shots.
Okay, another review. Once again, it is proper court etiquette to try to start a wave. I sent Maya Rough Notes to go figure out who's starting the wave. I expect a rough notes article about this some day. Whoa, okay, this wave finally caught fire.
Sheila E was the halftime performer. The people in the press under 30 don’t know who she is. In other news, I have crumbled to dust in an ancient pile of debris.
Miercet waved off Stokes. Not coming out. Melissa Thomas gets 1 out of 2 on the tricky foul. Kenzo Fukuda says that Laeticia waved off Kiah Stokes, saying she didn't need a break.
2.15. Amihere with the clock running down. Just goes one-on-one with Bonner. Turns a corner. Spin move. Beautiful. The Mercury have been going at Veronica Burton and Gabby Williams in pick-and-roll, which I think is a pretty weird choice. Alyssa Thomas and Brochant keep on running the high pick-and-roll. I don't know why you want to bring those two defenders into it.
Gabby just hit a cold-blooded three. Is this a kind of "I make them when it counts" kind of vibe going?
Amihere gets switched on to Thomas on defense, and LA just goes straight up and gets the foul. Mack had to help on Gabby Williams on the skip pass.
Standing ovation from Ballhalla with 50 sec left. Gabby hits the game sealing 3 and Ballhalla unleashes a blood curdling howl.
I have to bring hearing protection next crunch time.
haha, a lot of words are supposed to be other words... I'm using voice recognition and typing as fast as I can. Cleaning it up for the wrap... You all in the comments get the raw sludge
Love the notes, btw. Your remarks about which plays they're running and how they work are really good to get more familiarity with the playbook. The remarks about things happening on and off the court are cool too. I had no idea Kiah was supposed to come in to give LA a breather, so knowing she waved her off to keep playing and making an impact makes me appreciate her performance even more!
I was at the game tonight so not so active here but just want to call out reading these notes from you are one of the things I most look forward to on the drive home once Kevin Danna’s broadcast wraps up.
Q3 starts with Gabby pick and roll with Stokes, putting the ball in Gabby's hand instead of letting Stokes pass out of the post. Maybe it didn't have a great result. We'll see if it results in more aggression from Gabby in the offense.
9.01. Veronica Burton pulls out a behind-the-back crossover again. It ends up with a third foul. Going straight to Kaitlyn Chen now.
I'm curious if Phoenix tries to attack Kaitlyn Chen on defense.
8:50. They put Kaitlyn in the pick and roll, but Phoenix ends up kicking out of that
What a discovery this Nogic is for PHX. 10 points and 2-2 from three.
Lead immediately sliced to 9. Starting to have a whiff of Always Close Enough To Hurt™
7.4.0. Wow, they needed that 3 so bad. Kayla Thornton bails out a pretty stagnant possession where Gabby and Kiah Stokes couldn't get anywhere in the pick and roll.
They doubled (showed hard) Kaitlyn in the pick and roll and forced the ball to Kiah on the roll, but the rotation was too fast and she couldn't get to the rim.
6.23, even Kaitlyn couldn't get that flying hook to go in.
5.22. Janelle Salaün With a lot more arc on her shot, have I mentioned? She's denying me any chance to make any more jokes about Euclid's lines, which could only hope to be as parallel as her shot trajectories.
Back into the game for the Valkyries now. 5:00. They're bringing Veronica back. The offense did not look like it had a lot of flow, but they had just enough three-pointers to keep a little bit of distance.
Nogic continues to stroke every 3.
4.00. for Veronica Burton's three-pointers looked a lot better this year too, and that was a really nice kick out from Laeticia Amihere, collapsing the defense into the paint.
Janelle matched with Laeticia in the lineup. Kind of interesting to see where this goes.
3.23. I think that was the same play as before, with the player coming off the screen, curling, and getting a handoff from Amihere and going all the way to the basket.
Then Veronica Burton saves a very depressing fast break with a sweet deflection for a turnover.
2.33 Same curl off the double screen into the handoff for Gabby Williams. I think they might get on to something with this play. Gabby seems comfortable taking that elbow jumper or going all the way to the basket.
1.23. Gabby gets called for a pretty soft offensive foul. Let's go to the people's court. Ballhalla says no.
1.13. Phoenix runs the same curl out of the corner to a handoff in the middle. Works for PHX well also.
0.52. However, I have mixed feelings to report that there is a wave going, even though there is not a review. This is a mild violation of the norms and behavior in the court of Ballhalla.
0.17. Valkyries are going to enter the fourth quarter with the small lead. Phoenix definitely amped up the intensity. If the Valkyries have any more sleeper agent activation codes, this is a good time to use it.
0.10. Alyssa Thomas ran the high pick and roll and rejected the screen, which gets her a step as you go straight to the basket.
2.52 They're not relying on Amihere as a shot blocker, although it helps to have her around in the paint. There's some very aggressive stunting (jabbing at the ball) anytime there's a drive into the paint. They're just hoping to help early and out rotate the pass or force them to pass through some scary stealers.
Whatever Gabby Williams' sleeper agent activation word is, someone must have yelled it a few times, because she is fully activated.
GSV must have some monster steal rate right now, along with the pretty impressive offensive rebound rate.
0:20. Oh my goodness! Kayla Thornton reached into her bag, split the defenders, and elegantly got into the rim.
You know how I said earlier that Golden State would have to steal everything and generate all their offense that way? I wasn't exactly serious, but the Valkyries are.
It's amazing how much the game opens up when you steal the ball every time and get an offensive rebound every time you miss. The Valkyries have taken 37 shots to Phoenix's 26 shots. They also happen to be shooting better, which means it's a big margin.
7.45. Veronica-Stokes, pick and roll. Stokes gets the switch. Immediately goes for the post and tries to take advantage of the mismatch, but with a great scram switch in the paint. Luckily gets bailed out with a foul.
Half-court offense is looking pretty rough, so they might have to generate everything off of steals.
6.19. Another Stokes post up off of the switch on the pick and roll into a mismatch.
Nice mother’s day video with VB, KT, LA, Chen, Ceci, talking about their moms.
4.25. VB with a rather tricky drive against the “mismatch” of Alyssa Thomas. But muffs the reverse layup.
3.40. LA called for an offensive foul on the illegal screen. Let's go to the people's court, and Ballhalla does not agree. But Charles didn't give her time to set her screen before she started going on the pick and roll.
Linskins revenge game here, but Amihere finishes over her in the paint.
2.00. Linskins gets Amihere back with a block at point blank, but VB comes up with the rebound. Two minutes! Time for the “save us Janelle” play…. Play failed.
1.11 Kaitlyn Chen doing everything:
gets into the paint
misses the shot
gets her own rebound
comes back with the patented Chen flying hook
Then gets the hustle rebound next play. Definitely giving the team a jolt of energy.
0.36. Veronica Burton to throw on the inside-out dribble that she flashed on that famous game winner against Dallas to clinch the playoffs.
0.10.. Kaitlyn showing a snappy first step, getting all the way to the rim but does not quite finish at the layup.
First part of the quarter, GSV force the postgame with Kiah. Get the mismatch, they post her up, but even if she hits all those shots, it's going to be low efficiency anyway.
Q2
They put Gabby on ball to start the second quarter. It kind of feels like the Valkyries don't know how to let Gabby be aggressive in the offense right now. Something to work on. They might have to just straight up call plays for her.
9.00. L.A. is kind of a game-changer when she's getting this many offensive rebounds. I like to see how aggressive Gabby was attacking the paint on that last drive, though.
7:50, Kaitlyn Chen with the little head fake to get some space on that drive. That was pretty cool, and then on another offensive rebound, Gabby Williams popping in her first three and, in fact, first points at Ballhalla..
I think it's a really good time to see Gabby with the quick pick and roll and shooting the three there. Somehow need to activate her aggressiveness in the offense.
6.43 I really like Gabby going aggressive, taking the elbow jumper, the ball reversed from the right side back to the left, and Janelle set an away screen for her to get her a little bit of space.
Then, on the next play, beautiful assertive pass back from Kaitlyn when she saw KT’s defender slip. Feels like the game has slowed down for Kaitlyn Chen in a beautiful way.
Valks up 6 after a constipated start.
Five point five five. I think that was ingenious by Gabby. Gets beat on the spin move, but then stayed with the baseline cutter to get the steal.
5.10 Gabby with another steal, beautiful long outlet pass, but KT couldn't quite handle it. She punches the stanchion in frustration.
4.14, pretty little move there from Gabby, I think that was a little head fake or maybe an inside-out dribble that gets into the paint. Of course, it's held from Veronica Burton's mark, who kicks it out to Veronica. She attacks the desperate closeout, forces rotation in the paint, passes to fake teeth cutting on the baseline.
Oh, my goodness! Salaun gets in on the steal game. It's amazing how much the game gets easier when you steal the ball every single defensive possession.
Q1
7.45. Veronica-Stokes, pick and roll. Stokes gets the switch. Immediately goes for the post and tries to take advantage of the mismatch, but with a great scram switch in the paint. Luckily gets bailed out with a foul.
Half-court offense is looking pretty rough, so they might have to generate everything off of steals.
6.19. Another Stokes post up off of the switch on the pick and roll into a mismatch.
Nice mother’s day video with VB, KT, LA, Chen, Ceci, talking about their moms.
4.25. VB with a rather tricky drive against the “mismatch” of Alyssa Thomas. But muffs the reverse layup.
3.40. LA called for an offensive foul on the illegal screen. Let's go to the people's court, and Ballhalla does not agree. But Charles didn't give her time to set her screen before she started going on the pick and roll.
Linskins revenge game here, but Amihere finishes over her in the paint.
2.00. Linskins gets Amihere back with a block at point blank, but VB comes up with the rebound. Two minutes! Time for the “save us Janelle” play…. Play failed.
1.11 Kaitlyn Chen doing everything:
gets into the paint
misses the shot
gets her own rebound
comes back with the patented Chen flying hook
Then gets the hustle rebound next play. Definitely giving the team a jolt of energy.
0.36. Veronica Burton to throw on the inside-out dribble that she flashed on that famous game winner against Dallas to clinch the playoffs.
0.10.. Kaitlyn showing a snappy first step, getting all the way to the rim but does not quite finish at the layup.
First part of the quarter, GSV force the postgame with Kiah. Get the mismatch, they post her up, but even if she hits all those shots, it's going to be low efficiency anyway.
Q2
They put Gabby on ball to start the second quarter. It kind of feels like the Valkyries don't know how to let Gabby be aggressive in the offense right now. Something to work on. They might have to just straight up call plays for her.
9.00. L.A. is kind of a game-changer when she's getting this many offensive rebounds. I like to see how aggressive Gabby was attacking the paint on that last drive, though.
7:50, Kaitlyn Chen with the little head fake to get some space on that drive. That was pretty cool, and then on another offensive rebound, Gabby Williams popping in her first three and, in fact, first points at Ballhalla..
I think it's a really good time to see Gabby with the quick pick and roll and shooting the three there. Somehow need to activate her aggressiveness in the offense.
6.43 I really like Gabby going aggressive, taking the elbow jumper, the ball reversed from the right side back to the left, and Janelle set an away screen for her to get her a little bit of space.
Then, on the next play, beautiful assertive pass back from Kaitlyn when she saw KT’s defender slip. Feels like the game has slowed down for Kaitlyn Chen in a beautiful way.
Valks up 6 after a constipated start.
Five point five five. I think that was ingenious by Gabby. Gets beat on the spin move, but then stayed with the baseline cutter to get the steal.
5.10 Gabby with another steal, beautiful long outlet pass, but KT couldn't quite handle it. She punches the stanchion in frustration.
4.14, pretty little move there from Gabby, I think that was a little head fake or maybe an inside-out dribble that gets into the paint. Of course, it's held from Veronica Burton's mark, who kicks it out to Veronica. She attacks the desperate closeout, forces rotation in the paint, passes to fake teeth cutting on the baseline.
Oh, my goodness! Salaun gets in on the steal game. It's amazing how much the game gets easier when you steal the ball every single defensive possession.
Pregame press. Not anything unexpected, so I’m not posting quotes. However, Marta Suarez had a press scrum and confirmed that GSV offered her a dev contract but she chose to sign with PHX.
Maybe Marta doesn't like the SF Bay Area? She did choose to leave Cal and go to TCU. Oh well...
I'm still hoping they sign a physical big to a dev deal before they have to play Chicago and Washington. Cardoso and Betts will bully and get layups. Plus Shakira Austin and Kiki. Ooof...
Post game thread is up!
The play vid was so insightful! It was awesome to know that as sister teams, they share plays. Do other sister teams do that as well?
By hardship, I assume this means that as long as Ceci and Tiffany Hayes are out, that she can stay on the roster.
--
The Golden State Valkyries have signed forward Ashten Prechtel to a hardship contract, the team announced today. Prechtel will wear No. 11 for Golden State.
Prechtel, 24, appeared in two preseason games for the Phoenix Mercury, scoring nine points with five rebounds in 16 minutes of action against Chicago on April 25. The 34th overall pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft by Connecticut, Prechtel played collegiately at Stanford where she averaged 4.5 points and 3.4 rebounds while shooting 43.2 percent from the field in 129 games. The 6-5 forward guided Stanford to the 2021 National Championship title and was voted the Pac-12 Sixth Player of the Year in 2020 by the media.
I suspect these aren’t in the GSV playbook (but they should be)… spamming “Gabby to KT” in the 2nd and “JA balls out” really paid off.
Great to see the Valkyries picking up where they left off last season. Looking forward to seeing them in person with my kids sometime soon.
Post-game
Nate Tibbetts politely fielded questions from me.
About adjustments to giving up so many steals. He said it was both execution and scheme changes.
About why he was attacking VB and Gabby in the PNR and said, it was a play that was working for them last year and that they were still catching up on offense.
Happy with a split.
Nakase
What was working on defensive game plan. Landon had the scout. Really good game plan. Players didn’t want to let Landon down. Doubling AT at times. Owned the boards.
Defense was the difference in Q1 and Q3
Down 9, NN told them “play some Fing defense”.
Gabby defense has versatility to guard multiple positions. Long arms, don’t know when she’ll be reaching. Instincts are amazing. Fitting in really well with us.
V calmed the team down down the stretch in the huddle. “One more punch and we can seal it.” That’s the growth from last year.
Will move Ja and LA into starting lineup, depending on matchups.
Starting doesn’t matter. Every possession, every minute matters.
Miela and Jak are always ready, and were in rotation. They were smiling even though they didn’t play.
Sleeping better with the roster they’ve built.
KT was guarding Alyssa Thomas, tough matchup.
Q4
Because of all the injuries, the Valkyries are playing eight deep plus Miela Sowah and Ndjakalenga. Even though Phoenix is the one on the back-to-back, there is a chance that the Valkyries might bonk first in the fourth quarter here.
Looks like Veronica Burton finally got the better of that high pick and roll they've been spamming. This time she moved her feet and got the charge.
9:24 - Kayla Thornton has been eating on these backdoor cuts behind Alyssa Thomas.
Two straight three-pointers with some pretty lucky bounces. That’s even.
8.31. Looks like the Valkyries are picking on Nogic a little bit to try to force her to defend, to justify her being out there for her offense. VB gets two FTs.
8.06: that time they got Shyanne matched up on Nogic in the paint, went straight to her, but no foul call that they were wanting.
7:34 - Kaila Charles called for a foul and demands an incident review. It looks like she didn't actually make contact. Okay, now, according to the rules of engagement, it is now permitted for Ballhalla to issue a wave. They're starting it right next to the press section. Looks like there's actually one ringleader in the aisles kicking it off. We're having a little bit of trouble getting ignition.
Ari is back by the way, Now she's dancing with her mom on the Jumbotron. Relationship goals?
“Dance Like Your Mom” cam.
Wow, they lost the challenge. FTs. Missed one. Ball only lied 50%.
6.52. Salaun has so much confidence in her three-point shot right now. Next time down, Nogich throws up a three, which hits every single part of the rim but misses.
6.16.. Phoenix is trapping now, and they did a good job previously, but this time Amihere cuts to the basket, gets the pass, and finishes with a layup. On the other end, it looked like it was going to be a layup from Phoenix's baseline cut, but Amihere swooped in with a sweet block.
Where would the Valkyries be without Janelle right now? Draws a three-shot foul on Nogich.
5.18, that was just a gorgeous touch pass from Amihere..
It really does not feel like a ten-point game. It feels like a tie game, but I guess one team shoots 61 shots. The other team shoots 50 shots.
Okay, another review. Once again, it is proper court etiquette to try to start a wave. I sent Maya Rough Notes to go figure out who's starting the wave. I expect a rough notes article about this some day. Whoa, okay, this wave finally caught fire.
Sheila E was the halftime performer. The people in the press under 30 don’t know who she is. In other news, I have crumbled to dust in an ancient pile of debris.
Miercet waved off Stokes. Not coming out. Melissa Thomas gets 1 out of 2 on the tricky foul. Kenzo Fukuda says that Laeticia waved off Kiah Stokes, saying she didn't need a break.
2.15. Amihere with the clock running down. Just goes one-on-one with Bonner. Turns a corner. Spin move. Beautiful. The Mercury have been going at Veronica Burton and Gabby Williams in pick-and-roll, which I think is a pretty weird choice. Alyssa Thomas and Brochant keep on running the high pick-and-roll. I don't know why you want to bring those two defenders into it.
Gabby just hit a cold-blooded three. Is this a kind of "I make them when it counts" kind of vibe going?
Amihere gets switched on to Thomas on defense, and LA just goes straight up and gets the foul. Mack had to help on Gabby Williams on the skip pass.
Standing ovation from Ballhalla with 50 sec left. Gabby hits the game sealing 3 and Ballhalla unleashes a blood curdling howl.
I have to bring hearing protection next crunch time.
At 8:06, is Shyanne supposed to be Janelle?😂
haha, a lot of words are supposed to be other words... I'm using voice recognition and typing as fast as I can. Cleaning it up for the wrap... You all in the comments get the raw sludge
Nice! I feel special now lmao.
Love the notes, btw. Your remarks about which plays they're running and how they work are really good to get more familiarity with the playbook. The remarks about things happening on and off the court are cool too. I had no idea Kiah was supposed to come in to give LA a breather, so knowing she waved her off to keep playing and making an impact makes me appreciate her performance even more!
Keep up the good work, man!
I was at the game tonight so not so active here but just want to call out reading these notes from you are one of the things I most look forward to on the drive home once Kevin Danna’s broadcast wraps up.
These notes are just me running my mouth... any aspects I should do more of?
TWO OH!!!
Huge win over the team that blew out the defending champs!!
Q3
Q3 starts with Gabby pick and roll with Stokes, putting the ball in Gabby's hand instead of letting Stokes pass out of the post. Maybe it didn't have a great result. We'll see if it results in more aggression from Gabby in the offense.
9.01. Veronica Burton pulls out a behind-the-back crossover again. It ends up with a third foul. Going straight to Kaitlyn Chen now.
I'm curious if Phoenix tries to attack Kaitlyn Chen on defense.
8:50. They put Kaitlyn in the pick and roll, but Phoenix ends up kicking out of that
What a discovery this Nogic is for PHX. 10 points and 2-2 from three.
Lead immediately sliced to 9. Starting to have a whiff of Always Close Enough To Hurt™
7.4.0. Wow, they needed that 3 so bad. Kayla Thornton bails out a pretty stagnant possession where Gabby and Kiah Stokes couldn't get anywhere in the pick and roll.
They doubled (showed hard) Kaitlyn in the pick and roll and forced the ball to Kiah on the roll, but the rotation was too fast and she couldn't get to the rim.
6.23, even Kaitlyn couldn't get that flying hook to go in.
5.22. Janelle Salaün With a lot more arc on her shot, have I mentioned? She's denying me any chance to make any more jokes about Euclid's lines, which could only hope to be as parallel as her shot trajectories.
Back into the game for the Valkyries now. 5:00. They're bringing Veronica back. The offense did not look like it had a lot of flow, but they had just enough three-pointers to keep a little bit of distance.
Nogic continues to stroke every 3.
4.00. for Veronica Burton's three-pointers looked a lot better this year too, and that was a really nice kick out from Laeticia Amihere, collapsing the defense into the paint.
Janelle matched with Laeticia in the lineup. Kind of interesting to see where this goes.
3.23. I think that was the same play as before, with the player coming off the screen, curling, and getting a handoff from Amihere and going all the way to the basket.
Then Veronica Burton saves a very depressing fast break with a sweet deflection for a turnover.
2.33 Same curl off the double screen into the handoff for Gabby Williams. I think they might get on to something with this play. Gabby seems comfortable taking that elbow jumper or going all the way to the basket.
1.23. Gabby gets called for a pretty soft offensive foul. Let's go to the people's court. Ballhalla says no.
1.13. Phoenix runs the same curl out of the corner to a handoff in the middle. Works for PHX well also.
0.52. However, I have mixed feelings to report that there is a wave going, even though there is not a review. This is a mild violation of the norms and behavior in the court of Ballhalla.
0.17. Valkyries are going to enter the fourth quarter with the small lead. Phoenix definitely amped up the intensity. If the Valkyries have any more sleeper agent activation codes, this is a good time to use it.
0.10. Alyssa Thomas ran the high pick and roll and rejected the screen, which gets her a step as you go straight to the basket.
Big cheers for Tara Vandermeer, Brandi Chastain.
2.52 They're not relying on Amihere as a shot blocker, although it helps to have her around in the paint. There's some very aggressive stunting (jabbing at the ball) anytime there's a drive into the paint. They're just hoping to help early and out rotate the pass or force them to pass through some scary stealers.
Whatever Gabby Williams' sleeper agent activation word is, someone must have yelled it a few times, because she is fully activated.
GSV must have some monster steal rate right now, along with the pretty impressive offensive rebound rate.
0:20. Oh my goodness! Kayla Thornton reached into her bag, split the defenders, and elegantly got into the rim.
You know how I said earlier that Golden State would have to steal everything and generate all their offense that way? I wasn't exactly serious, but the Valkyries are.
It's amazing how much the game opens up when you steal the ball every time and get an offensive rebound every time you miss. The Valkyries have taken 37 shots to Phoenix's 26 shots. They also happen to be shooting better, which means it's a big margin.
Q1
7.45. Veronica-Stokes, pick and roll. Stokes gets the switch. Immediately goes for the post and tries to take advantage of the mismatch, but with a great scram switch in the paint. Luckily gets bailed out with a foul.
728 Classic Veronica Burton Bowling Ball Drive there.
Half-court offense is looking pretty rough, so they might have to generate everything off of steals.
6.19. Another Stokes post up off of the switch on the pick and roll into a mismatch.
Nice mother’s day video with VB, KT, LA, Chen, Ceci, talking about their moms.
4.25. VB with a rather tricky drive against the “mismatch” of Alyssa Thomas. But muffs the reverse layup.
3.40. LA called for an offensive foul on the illegal screen. Let's go to the people's court, and Ballhalla does not agree. But Charles didn't give her time to set her screen before she started going on the pick and roll.
Linskins revenge game here, but Amihere finishes over her in the paint.
2.00. Linskins gets Amihere back with a block at point blank, but VB comes up with the rebound. Two minutes! Time for the “save us Janelle” play…. Play failed.
1.11 Kaitlyn Chen doing everything:
gets into the paint
misses the shot
gets her own rebound
comes back with the patented Chen flying hook
Then gets the hustle rebound next play. Definitely giving the team a jolt of energy.
0.36. Veronica Burton to throw on the inside-out dribble that she flashed on that famous game winner against Dallas to clinch the playoffs.
0.10.. Kaitlyn showing a snappy first step, getting all the way to the rim but does not quite finish at the layup.
First part of the quarter, GSV force the postgame with Kiah. Get the mismatch, they post her up, but even if she hits all those shots, it's going to be low efficiency anyway.
Q2
They put Gabby on ball to start the second quarter. It kind of feels like the Valkyries don't know how to let Gabby be aggressive in the offense right now. Something to work on. They might have to just straight up call plays for her.
9.00. L.A. is kind of a game-changer when she's getting this many offensive rebounds. I like to see how aggressive Gabby was attacking the paint on that last drive, though.
7:50, Kaitlyn Chen with the little head fake to get some space on that drive. That was pretty cool, and then on another offensive rebound, Gabby Williams popping in her first three and, in fact, first points at Ballhalla..
I think it's a really good time to see Gabby with the quick pick and roll and shooting the three there. Somehow need to activate her aggressiveness in the offense.
6.43 I really like Gabby going aggressive, taking the elbow jumper, the ball reversed from the right side back to the left, and Janelle set an away screen for her to get her a little bit of space.
Then, on the next play, beautiful assertive pass back from Kaitlyn when she saw KT’s defender slip. Feels like the game has slowed down for Kaitlyn Chen in a beautiful way.
Valks up 6 after a constipated start.
Five point five five. I think that was ingenious by Gabby. Gets beat on the spin move, but then stayed with the baseline cutter to get the steal.
5.10 Gabby with another steal, beautiful long outlet pass, but KT couldn't quite handle it. She punches the stanchion in frustration.
4.14, pretty little move there from Gabby, I think that was a little head fake or maybe an inside-out dribble that gets into the paint. Of course, it's held from Veronica Burton's mark, who kicks it out to Veronica. She attacks the desperate closeout, forces rotation in the paint, passes to fake teeth cutting on the baseline.
Oh, my goodness! Salaun gets in on the steal game. It's amazing how much the game gets easier when you steal the ball every single defensive possession.
Q1
7.45. Veronica-Stokes, pick and roll. Stokes gets the switch. Immediately goes for the post and tries to take advantage of the mismatch, but with a great scram switch in the paint. Luckily gets bailed out with a foul.
728 Classic Veronica Burton Bowling Ball Drive there.
Half-court offense is looking pretty rough, so they might have to generate everything off of steals.
6.19. Another Stokes post up off of the switch on the pick and roll into a mismatch.
Nice mother’s day video with VB, KT, LA, Chen, Ceci, talking about their moms.
4.25. VB with a rather tricky drive against the “mismatch” of Alyssa Thomas. But muffs the reverse layup.
3.40. LA called for an offensive foul on the illegal screen. Let's go to the people's court, and Ballhalla does not agree. But Charles didn't give her time to set her screen before she started going on the pick and roll.
Linskins revenge game here, but Amihere finishes over her in the paint.
2.00. Linskins gets Amihere back with a block at point blank, but VB comes up with the rebound. Two minutes! Time for the “save us Janelle” play…. Play failed.
1.11 Kaitlyn Chen doing everything:
gets into the paint
misses the shot
gets her own rebound
comes back with the patented Chen flying hook
Then gets the hustle rebound next play. Definitely giving the team a jolt of energy.
0.36. Veronica Burton to throw on the inside-out dribble that she flashed on that famous game winner against Dallas to clinch the playoffs.
0.10.. Kaitlyn showing a snappy first step, getting all the way to the rim but does not quite finish at the layup.
First part of the quarter, GSV force the postgame with Kiah. Get the mismatch, they post her up, but even if she hits all those shots, it's going to be low efficiency anyway.
Q2
They put Gabby on ball to start the second quarter. It kind of feels like the Valkyries don't know how to let Gabby be aggressive in the offense right now. Something to work on. They might have to just straight up call plays for her.
9.00. L.A. is kind of a game-changer when she's getting this many offensive rebounds. I like to see how aggressive Gabby was attacking the paint on that last drive, though.
7:50, Kaitlyn Chen with the little head fake to get some space on that drive. That was pretty cool, and then on another offensive rebound, Gabby Williams popping in her first three and, in fact, first points at Ballhalla..
I think it's a really good time to see Gabby with the quick pick and roll and shooting the three there. Somehow need to activate her aggressiveness in the offense.
6.43 I really like Gabby going aggressive, taking the elbow jumper, the ball reversed from the right side back to the left, and Janelle set an away screen for her to get her a little bit of space.
Then, on the next play, beautiful assertive pass back from Kaitlyn when she saw KT’s defender slip. Feels like the game has slowed down for Kaitlyn Chen in a beautiful way.
Valks up 6 after a constipated start.
Five point five five. I think that was ingenious by Gabby. Gets beat on the spin move, but then stayed with the baseline cutter to get the steal.
5.10 Gabby with another steal, beautiful long outlet pass, but KT couldn't quite handle it. She punches the stanchion in frustration.
4.14, pretty little move there from Gabby, I think that was a little head fake or maybe an inside-out dribble that gets into the paint. Of course, it's held from Veronica Burton's mark, who kicks it out to Veronica. She attacks the desperate closeout, forces rotation in the paint, passes to fake teeth cutting on the baseline.
Oh, my goodness! Salaun gets in on the steal game. It's amazing how much the game gets easier when you steal the ball every single defensive possession.
What are they doing with Gabby.
Pregame press. Not anything unexpected, so I’m not posting quotes. However, Marta Suarez had a press scrum and confirmed that GSV offered her a dev contract but she chose to sign with PHX.
https://bsky.app/profile/mingemi.bsky.social/post/3mljvfs3hzc26
Maybe Marta doesn't like the SF Bay Area? She did choose to leave Cal and go to TCU. Oh well...
I'm still hoping they sign a physical big to a dev deal before they have to play Chicago and Washington. Cardoso and Betts will bully and get layups. Plus Shakira Austin and Kiki. Ooof...
I appreciate the nicknames and pronunciation guide!
Mr Play - or can I call you E1? - I assume you have a ticket to tonight's game, and I assume it's better than the one I have to spare...
If you’re offering me a ticket, YOU ROCK. I wish somewhere else here could use it. I’m credentialed for this game so I have a press seat.
Most people call me Eric or EA around here
I mean, what would be better than having my favorite analyst right next to me for the home opener?
(I've listed it)
you really want me cussing out the refs at close range? Haha
The STH next to me already does, and I trust you more.
Thanks for the video, Eric! Really interesting that the Wrap the Fork play only worked once and it was the last one lol.
Btw, will your Valkyries videos always be in the Eric Apricot Jam channel from now on?
I think so. To be safe, subscribe to both my channels, click on all the ads and buy APRIBOT yummy treats.