Love the belief and competitiveness of Coach Nat and the Valks. From the post-game presser, they fully expected to win this game. There's no fear at all from any of them. They play as one cohesive unit.
I really enjoyed last nights game as much I have ever enjoyed a loss!. I wasn't able to watch it live so I managed to watch the 1st half last night and the 2nd this morning. I was so engrossed I ended up being late for work! :D
I think Fágbénlé might have been the difference last night. Glad she will be back next game (fingers crossed).
I might be slightly overreacting to recent games, but having watched GSV’s gimmick defenses try to guard the bigs Stewart and Boston, I am now guessing (I have no sources) that we’ll see a straightforward return of the Eurobasketeers plus Rupert and all the EuroSubs will be waived.
Rupert is 6-4 and can hit the three (shooting 72%!! from 3 in EuroBasket, which I know is unsustainable but in general has decent 3P%) and might have a chance to single cover elite bigs or at least avoid the “swarming wall of gnats” defense that GSV rolled out against Stew. No one else on GSV can do it except maybe Fagbenle. Rupert has decent post game too.
So in short, at least in theory she can pick and pop like Bibby, score over mismatches in the post like LA, and is 1 inches taller than LA. She’s arguably (with Salaun) one of the two best players on a Top 2 national team in Europe.
If we had 15 player rosters, I’d love to keep LA, Bibby and Chen. But we don’t.
It is possible that Talbot could be on the bubble, and could be outplayed by Bibby or LA. Plus Talbot will be an unrestricted free agent and Bibby / LA would be reserved free agents, and reserved is better for the team.
But I now don’t see Rupert skipping the year, from the GSV perspective. The team is clearly ready to compete for a playoff spot and maybe even make a run. What better way to make GSV attractive to next year’s top free agents than to be a SUCCESSFUL, thrilling, popular, well-coached team that just needs one more elite piece?
If Rupert does play this season, does she start? Or does she come off the bench behind Temi?
Would really hate to lose Amihere as she has some physical traits that are not easy to find. Combination of elite length, agility, and competitiveness - she fits Nakase-ball.
My best guess is Rupert will start off the bench as Temi has a better grasp of the schemes and chemistry with teammates and is the incumbent. Then they will experiment with twin towers lineups. Then if GSV needs a shakeup, they try Rupert as a starter.
I like Amihere's positives: her offensive boldness, inside power game and decent driving. She has made some great blocks and steals too. If she goes, I believe it will be because she's too wild and chaotic defensively. Nakase-ball at heart is about being the best defense.
I agree that defense is at the core of Nakase-ball, which is why I don’t see Talbot getting waived over any of the newcomers. I’ve been watching EuroBasket over the past week, and I’ve been genuinely impressed with Rupert’s performance. She’s incredibly versatile on both ends of the floor.
Defensively, she’s held her own one-on-one, effectively boxing out opposing bigs, blocking layups, and grabbing defensive rebounds. Offensively, she’s quick on the glass, tipping in missed shots and keeping possessions alive. What really stood out to me was her agility. In the game against Türkiye, she weaved through a heavily guarded paint, including 6’8” Teaira McCowan, for some impressive finishes at the rim. Since she already has chemistry with Natalie, I have no doubt she would fit in seamlessly.
To be honest I am more excited to see tomorrow’s semi final against Spain. It is going to be the first real test for France (who has been smooth sailing since Türkiye) and also we will get to see how Rupert matches up against raquel carrera, another insanely monstrous big on the Spanish team. After that, we’ll see what happens in the final 👀 As a Janelle fan I am def rooting for France haha
From what I've seen that makes sense. I bet you are right.
I have to say, before last nights game, Talbot had been growing on me with the little things she does, and after last nights game I feel like it would be hard to let her go right now, but that means no Amihere who does some things that are more unique if less dependable.
Hall and Powers are clearly fill ins and will be let go.
Chen feels like she could become something and it's hard to tell who makes the crowd yell louder, her or Martin, but she's behind Burton, Leite and Vanloo so I don't see it.
Bibby had a bit of a run, but her hustle and D just aren't Valkyries level and I would be shocked if she stayed over Talbot or Amihere so I don't think she's in the running.
So if Rupert comes this year, it's between Talbot and Amihere, in my mind. At that point I guess the contract thing might be the deciding factor and also it feels like Cece and Salaün overlap with her too much and they have been better.
I've watched a lot of Kate Martin games coz I followed Caitlin's Iowa career. Last night was the best game I've seen Kate play. I've never seen her shoot with so much confidence before.
If I had to guess, I suspect it was related to Bibby getting outfought for rebounds. There were 3-4 rebounds she got outhustled for NYL OREBs at the first part of Q2.
I have many thoughts about this game!!! First of all thank you for the excellent analysis as per usual Eric
- I'm sure she would've preferred to do it in a win, but tonight Veronica Burton became just the third player in WNBA history to record multiple 10+ assist, zero turnover games in a season (Bird in 2018, Vandersloot in 2020). Only two other players (Courtney Williams, Natasha Cloud) have put up such a stat line even once so far in 2025
-I think with even one of Leite or Temi active the Valks win this one. Many moments when I was missing their respective presences
-Love LA, and she's had some tremendous moments in these last few games. But the drop coverage against Marine really was a head scratcher and significant momentum swinger! I know it came well before crunch time but that was another significant factor in the loss imo
Anyway this team and this burgeoning community are both awesome and I love them a lot, even as a new fan who has no previous Warriors connection!
Thanks for the stats. Glad the community is adding so many knowledgeable fans!
At several points, I turned to my friend and said exactly the same thing - “If we had Carla or Temi, they would stay ahead.” I kept seeing in my mind Leite weaving through traffic and launching those teardrops.
Agree, they let Burke and Johannes get hot. They are killers. The scoring reports would have had that.
Yeah, that drop on Marine I believe was the start of 3 threes MJ dropped on GSV in about 1 minute. For shooters, you never want them to get any easy looks and confidence…
Just saw a clip of Mystics 22 year old Jade Melbourne lose a tooth after an elbow by Chelsea Gray.
That was rough. Saw the game on league pass. She lost her tooth after the 1st minute of the game.
Love the belief and competitiveness of Coach Nat and the Valks. From the post-game presser, they fully expected to win this game. There's no fear at all from any of them. They play as one cohesive unit.
Caitlin Clark is day to day with a left groin injury. Her previous injury was a left quad injury.
I really enjoyed last nights game as much I have ever enjoyed a loss!. I wasn't able to watch it live so I managed to watch the 1st half last night and the 2nd this morning. I was so engrossed I ended up being late for work! :D
I think Fágbénlé might have been the difference last night. Glad she will be back next game (fingers crossed).
Me too, I’m going in Sunday,
Hope she gets a huge welcome home.
I might be slightly overreacting to recent games, but having watched GSV’s gimmick defenses try to guard the bigs Stewart and Boston, I am now guessing (I have no sources) that we’ll see a straightforward return of the Eurobasketeers plus Rupert and all the EuroSubs will be waived.
Rupert is 6-4 and can hit the three (shooting 72%!! from 3 in EuroBasket, which I know is unsustainable but in general has decent 3P%) and might have a chance to single cover elite bigs or at least avoid the “swarming wall of gnats” defense that GSV rolled out against Stew. No one else on GSV can do it except maybe Fagbenle. Rupert has decent post game too.
So in short, at least in theory she can pick and pop like Bibby, score over mismatches in the post like LA, and is 1 inches taller than LA. She’s arguably (with Salaun) one of the two best players on a Top 2 national team in Europe.
If we had 15 player rosters, I’d love to keep LA, Bibby and Chen. But we don’t.
It is possible that Talbot could be on the bubble, and could be outplayed by Bibby or LA. Plus Talbot will be an unrestricted free agent and Bibby / LA would be reserved free agents, and reserved is better for the team.
But I now don’t see Rupert skipping the year, from the GSV perspective. The team is clearly ready to compete for a playoff spot and maybe even make a run. What better way to make GSV attractive to next year’s top free agents than to be a SUCCESSFUL, thrilling, popular, well-coached team that just needs one more elite piece?
If Rupert does play this season, does she start? Or does she come off the bench behind Temi?
Would really hate to lose Amihere as she has some physical traits that are not easy to find. Combination of elite length, agility, and competitiveness - she fits Nakase-ball.
My best guess is Rupert will start off the bench as Temi has a better grasp of the schemes and chemistry with teammates and is the incumbent. Then they will experiment with twin towers lineups. Then if GSV needs a shakeup, they try Rupert as a starter.
I like Amihere's positives: her offensive boldness, inside power game and decent driving. She has made some great blocks and steals too. If she goes, I believe it will be because she's too wild and chaotic defensively. Nakase-ball at heart is about being the best defense.
I agree that defense is at the core of Nakase-ball, which is why I don’t see Talbot getting waived over any of the newcomers. I’ve been watching EuroBasket over the past week, and I’ve been genuinely impressed with Rupert’s performance. She’s incredibly versatile on both ends of the floor.
Defensively, she’s held her own one-on-one, effectively boxing out opposing bigs, blocking layups, and grabbing defensive rebounds. Offensively, she’s quick on the glass, tipping in missed shots and keeping possessions alive. What really stood out to me was her agility. In the game against Türkiye, she weaved through a heavily guarded paint, including 6’8” Teaira McCowan, for some impressive finishes at the rim. Since she already has chemistry with Natalie, I have no doubt she would fit in seamlessly.
I am super curious to see how Rupert would do against Meesseman in a probable FRA-BEL final!
To be honest I am more excited to see tomorrow’s semi final against Spain. It is going to be the first real test for France (who has been smooth sailing since Türkiye) and also we will get to see how Rupert matches up against raquel carrera, another insanely monstrous big on the Spanish team. After that, we’ll see what happens in the final 👀 As a Janelle fan I am def rooting for France haha
good point, I am expecting a report from you please
From what I've seen that makes sense. I bet you are right.
I have to say, before last nights game, Talbot had been growing on me with the little things she does, and after last nights game I feel like it would be hard to let her go right now, but that means no Amihere who does some things that are more unique if less dependable.
Hall and Powers are clearly fill ins and will be let go.
Chen feels like she could become something and it's hard to tell who makes the crowd yell louder, her or Martin, but she's behind Burton, Leite and Vanloo so I don't see it.
Bibby had a bit of a run, but her hustle and D just aren't Valkyries level and I would be shocked if she stayed over Talbot or Amihere so I don't think she's in the running.
So if Rupert comes this year, it's between Talbot and Amihere, in my mind. At that point I guess the contract thing might be the deciding factor and also it feels like Cece and Salaün overlap with her too much and they have been better.
I've watched a lot of Kate Martin games coz I followed Caitlin's Iowa career. Last night was the best game I've seen Kate play. I've never seen her shoot with so much confidence before.
I was puzzled that Bibby sat in the second half. I think Chen had more minutes than her? Ok, going to look at the stats…
If I had to guess, I suspect it was related to Bibby getting outfought for rebounds. There were 3-4 rebounds she got outhustled for NYL OREBs at the first part of Q2.
I have many thoughts about this game!!! First of all thank you for the excellent analysis as per usual Eric
- I'm sure she would've preferred to do it in a win, but tonight Veronica Burton became just the third player in WNBA history to record multiple 10+ assist, zero turnover games in a season (Bird in 2018, Vandersloot in 2020). Only two other players (Courtney Williams, Natasha Cloud) have put up such a stat line even once so far in 2025
-I think with even one of Leite or Temi active the Valks win this one. Many moments when I was missing their respective presences
-Love LA, and she's had some tremendous moments in these last few games. But the drop coverage against Marine really was a head scratcher and significant momentum swinger! I know it came well before crunch time but that was another significant factor in the loss imo
Anyway this team and this burgeoning community are both awesome and I love them a lot, even as a new fan who has no previous Warriors connection!
Thanks for the stats. Glad the community is adding so many knowledgeable fans!
At several points, I turned to my friend and said exactly the same thing - “If we had Carla or Temi, they would stay ahead.” I kept seeing in my mind Leite weaving through traffic and launching those teardrops.
Agree, they let Burke and Johannes get hot. They are killers. The scoring reports would have had that.
Burke has been elite from 3 this season.
Yeah, that drop on Marine I believe was the start of 3 threes MJ dropped on GSV in about 1 minute. For shooters, you never want them to get any easy looks and confidence…
Full credit to Marine's shot-making skill. The one-legged 3 going left was ridiculous. That's one of her signature moves.