If there’s one thing the playoffs have taught us, it’s that Natalie Nakase is not afraid to sit key players when they’re not producing or go deep into her bench.
Unanimous Sixth Player of the Year Janelle Salaün played 21 and 30 minutes in the first two games against the Dallas Wings and then barely saw the floor again, only playing double-digit minutes in Game 3 against the Las Vegas Aces. Against the Aces, Nakase played Aminata Gueye, who played just 4 regular-season minutes as her backup big behind Kiah Stokes—a very unexpected move that yielded surprising results. Gueye held her own on both ends of the floor, especially in Game 1 when the Aces were not prepared for her.
Nakase has done it again in the finals, dusting off Laeticia Amihere, who hadn’t played more than seven minutes in a game since a blowout win against the Settle Storm almost a month ago. Amihere saw six minutes of action in the Valkyries’ first-round series and didn’t touch the floor at all in the semifinals. But when it became clear that Salaün and Kayla Thornton couldn’t keep up with Angel Reese whenever Stokes sat, Amihere was ready to go and produce.
The Valkyries limited Angel Reese after the first quarter
Angel Reese started her first finals off very well. She scored 11 points in the first quarter, running the floor well in transition and moving to the basket against Thornton. She scored three points off free throws in the second quarter and then went scoreless in the second half, barely even touching the ball in half-court sets or getting shots off.
Stokes did a lot of the heavy lifting, blocking Reese a few times, but Amihere’s contributions were invaluable as well. Amihere battled well for space with Reese, making it difficult for her to establish position around the paint. She also has the athleticism and speed to keep up well with Reese in the open floor and in space.
Amihere only scored five points in her 14 minutes on the court, but she also recorded 5 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block, and a plus/minus of +9. Only Kaila Charles recorded a higher plus/minus off the Valkyries’ bench, and Gabby Williams was the only other player with a higher plus/minus period.
Amihere’s success against Reese, an All-Star and the newly-crowned Defensive Player of the Year, speaks first and foremost to her ability to stay ready and produce at a moment’s notice. The finals are a massive stage to be asked to play in after not being in the rotation in the previous two series.
It also speaks to Nakase’s ability to make in-game adjustments, and that could end up winning the Valkyries a championship.
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