The Golden State Valkyries had no real expectations placed on them coming into this season. Underdog almost doesn't feel like the right word, especially since many considered the team out of playoff contention before the season even began. In fact, they weren't doubted as much as they were completely pushed to the side.
That feeling of being pushed to the side is nothing new to this roster. As Kayla Thornton described it after the Valkyries' win over the Seattle Storm, "we’re a team of Sixth-Women".
The Sixth-Woman mentality
When building out the first roster in the history of the Golden State Valkyries through the WNBA Expansion Draft, the team's front office had an idea of what types of players would be available. WNBA rosters are already small, with a maximum of 12 players on any given team. Six of those players from each time were protected, which meant the Valkyries were picking from the bench.
After the draft, the expectations remained low primarly because many women's basketball fans weren't as familiar with most of the players selected. The mentality of the bench player in the WNBA has an argument of being forged as one of the toughest in professional sports. You truly can go from playing legitimate minutes one night and then the next day find yourself cut due to roster constraints and the hard cap.
Joining the Valkyries meant some of those players had a spot that was essentially guaranteed. For example, Kayla Thornton is one of her team's primary scoring options for the first time in her professional career. While she has started and contributed to winning basketball in the past, this is only her second season averaging over 10 points per game.
You now have players on this team who that know what it takes to do the little things that add up to winning basketball but are also is larger "star" roles than ever before.
They are not necessarily the most talented team in the league, but first-time WNBA Head Coach Natalie Nakase has them humming in year one. Thornton is currently the only player on this team averaging more than 30 minutes per game. As players are moving in and out of the rotation due to national team obligations or injury, they are able to immediately plug in the next player. They might not have a superstar player, but they have players who can fit in wherever they need to, which has become their star quality.
The Valkyries are near the top of the league in a few key areas
Golden State currently sits at second in rebounds, steals, and free throw percentage. In a lot of ways, rebounds and steals come down to effort — it's important to stay engaged and simply want it more than your opponent. You can't track hustle in a box score, but this team would lead in it. Their willingness to be the first team to have a player diving on the floor for a loose ball, to go jump up again for a tipped rebound, there is an overall will and heart that does lead to these types of stats showing up in the box score at this volume.
The free throw shooting certainly has aspects of team building involved with an emphasis on shooting being deployed, but it also is a controllable that a player can be good at to help keep them on a WNBA roster. When you build a roster from the players who have found themselves on the cutting block of WNBA rosters, they are likely still around because they have learned how to make a difference in underappreciated aspects that go into winning a basketball game, such as free throw percentage.
When you have an entire roster all doing the little things, they add into something massive. Right now, it is adding up to a 5-5 record, good enough for the sixth overall seed in the WNBA right now.
Golden State has a bright future
The middle of the standings is a little full right now. The Seattle Storm currently stands a half game in front in fifth place while the Indiana Fever and Las Vegas Aces are tied with the Valkyries at 5-5. But even being in that conversation after the initial projections of this team is a major statement for how the franchise is looking to move going forward this year and into the coming years.
Until then, overlook the Sixth-Woman mentality at your own risk.