The Golden State Valkyries have left little doubt about their goal and ambitions. Even in their inaugural season, Natalie Nakase and her team have their eyes set on a playoff spot. It would be the cherry on top of a historic season. The Valkyries already set a new record for most wins in an expansion team’s inaugural season. With eight games left in the season and the Valkyries occupying the final playoff spot after three consecutive losses, a first trip to the postseason is still well within reach.
At the same time, however, the Valkyries are staring at a massive roadblock. They just cannot escape the injury bug. Kayla Thornton is out for the season, Monique Billings hasn’t played since late July, and Cecilia Zandalasini missed the last two games with a calf injury. Carla Leite and Iliana Rupert played the second game against Phoenix despite not being 100 percent.
As if being down three key players wasn’t enough yet, Tiffany Hayes and Carla Leite both exited the game on Friday with knee and ankle injuries. The injuries just keep piling up, and that may be the biggest threat to the Valkyries’ playoff hopes. It is also an issue that has no clear answer. The coaching staff can control minutes and players can control how they respond to absences, but injuries are ultimately beyond the team’s control.
Los Angeles is very close to snatching the final playoff spot from the Valkyries, and, with so many key players injured, Golden State may have a tough time warding them off.
The playoff standings are very close
The teams in sixth place and ninth place are only separated by 1.5 games going into Saturday’s games. Indiana currently leads the group of four teams battling for the last three playoff spots with a 19-17 record. Seattle is half a game behind the Fever. The Valkyries are half a game behind the Storm, and the Sparks are half a game behind Golden State.
All of those four teams have a legitimate shot to make the playoffs, but, in the end, one will be left on the outside looking in. The Valkyries have overcome adversity before. They managed to stay afloat when several key players left to play for their national teams. They also continued to string together wins when Thornton went down. That resiliency will be tested more than ever to close out the season, especially if Zandalasini and Hayes have to miss more time than they already have.
Natalie Nakase commented on the physicality after the game against Phoenix
Natalie Nakase has been very vocal about the officiating this season and also didn’t mince her words after two players went down in the Valkyries’ rematch with the Mercury.
“I did think the game got a little bit too physical, especially with two teams trying to fight for playoff positions,” Nakase said after the game. “I’m just trying to keep telling the refs, ‘Please let’s have healthy bodies walking out of here.’ That’s really why I was on them today and then, unfortunately, two players went down.”