The Golden State Valkyries’ inaugural season has been everything fans in the Bay Area could have hoped for. Natalie Nakase’s team competes every game, plays tough defense, and is on track to punch its first ticket to the playoffs.
Valkyries fans were handed a tough reality check when news broke that All-Star Kayla Thornton underwent season-ending knee surgery. Thornton thrived with the Valkyries, flourishing from a 3-and-D role player to a do-it-all star and the driving force behind much of her team’s success.
Losing her for the rest of the season will make the Valkyries’ journey to the playoffs significantly more difficult. However, this is a team that knows how to survive without some of its best players and win by committee. The Valkyries have been doing it all season long. Tiffany Hayes missed time to start the season, and then several key players left for EuroBasket. Nevertheless, the Valkyries stayed afloat and entered the playoff race.
That experience should help them make up for Thornton’s loss.
The Valkyries have a deep roster
Kayla Thornton may be the Valkyries’ first All-Star and one of the team’s leaders, but the roster features plenty of other players who can step up. The talent gap between Thornton and the players available to step up isn’t as big as between other teams’ best players and a reserve.
For example, if the Fever go from starting Caitlin Clark to starting Aari McDonald, the dropoff is very noticeable offensively. The gap between Kayla Thornton and Cecilia Zandalasini, Kate Martin, and Laeticia Amihere is not nearly as big.
Zandalasini is an experienced veteran who can space the floor and play tough defense. Martin is still young, but does a little bit of everything on the court and has had some big games for the Valkyries. Amihere has proven that she can put up big numbers and protect the rim when given the chance.
Plus, the Valkyries just got Iliana Rupert, a stretch five who could end up being a real difference-maker for the team. She put up nine points, five rebounds, and two assists in her first game with the team.
Thorton’s injury puts the spotlight on Tiffany Hayes, Janelle Salaün, and Veronica Burton
Kayla Thornton led the Valkyries in minutes, points, rebounds, steals, and field goal attempts per game. She put up star numbers consistently. However, other players on the Valkyries roster should be able to step up and do the same in the second half of the season.
Tiffany Hayes and Janelle Salaün are the prime candidates to fill the Valkyries’ star vacancies. Both are tied for the second-most field goal attempts per game and have been some of the Valkyries’ top scorers on several occasions.
So has Veronica Burton. She may not take as many shots as Hayes and Salaün on average, but has proven that she can be a big-time presence for the Valkyries.