The Golden State Valkyries suffered a pair of tough losses, losing to the Minnesota Lynx and Atlanta Dream on the road. In both games, limited minutes for Janelle Salaün jumped off the page. The French rookie was a starter and one of the Valkyries’ key players before leaving for EuroBasket.
Salaün represented France, finishing fourth behind Belgium, Spain, and Italy. Now, Salaün is back with the Valkyries, but not in her usual role. Neither is veteran Cecilia Zandalasini.
Both played only nine minutes against the Lynx and totalled two points between them. Against the Dream, Salaün played four minutes and Zandalasini didn’t see the court at all.
There is a good reason for that, though. After the Valkyries’ game in Atlanta, Natalie Nakase spoke with CBS Sports Bay Area reporter Matt Lively about Salaün’s and Zandalasini’s limited minutes.
“Just giving them maybe just a little bit more time,” Nakase said about her plan for the EuroBasket returnees. “During Minnesota, I wasn’t sure exactly, was that a good enough rest break? So, I just, again, want to give them time and give them that space and grace.”
Salaün and Zandalasini played big roles for their national teams
Salaün may be one of the younger players on the French national team, but she still played a massive role. She was the team’s leading scorer over six games and played a team-high 24.7 minutes per game. She did that after also playing heavy minutes and taking on a leading role with the Valkyries as a WNBA rookie.
Before the start of the WNBA season, Salaün even missed the Valkyries’ training camp because she played in the playoffs in Italy. It has been a while since Salaün has gotten a break during which she didn’t have to play a major role for a team.
Zandalasini is likewise the undisputed leader of the Italian national team. She led the team in almost every category, averaging 16.8 points, six rebounds, three assists, and 1.5 steals in 32 minutes per game. The next-best scorer on the team was Constanza Verona with 7.8 points per game. Zandalasini’s contributions, more than anything, led Italy to a bronze medal, and it was a demanding tournament for the veteran. She played a total of 192 minutes.
Salaün and Zandalasini will fill their usual roles again soon enough
The Valkyries have a deep roster and plenty of players who can contribute at a high level. That depth allows Nakase to give her players some extra time to rest. Salaün and Zandalasini have earned some rest, and the Valkyries do not want two of their best forwards to injure themselves. Nevertheless, Salaün and Zandalasini should be back in their usual roles soon enough.