Gabby Williams Dropped a Career High and the Valkyries Still Came Up Short. 84-79
The Golden State Valkyries walked into Michelob Ultra Arena on Saturday sold out, Alumni Weekend energy, the whole thing and gave the Las Vegas Aces everything they could handle. This was not a blowout. This was not a mismatch. This was a competitive basketball game that came down to the final seconds and the Valkyries should leave Las Vegas knowing they belong on the same floor as the defending champions.
Gabby Williams had a career night
27 points. Career high. On 10-for-17 shooting 58.8 percent from the field. Six rebounds. Two steals. A complete, all-around performance from one of the most versatile wings in the league. Williams carried the offensive load for Golden State all night and she was nearly unstoppable in stretches. She had this team in position to win in the fourth quarter and that performance on the road, against the defending champions, in a sold-out arena says everything about who Gabby Williams is as a player.
Coach Natalie Nakase didn't hold back about what she's seeing from Williams as a leader either. "The best thing about Gabby and V is that we allow them to lead in their own way. She's already developed those relationships where she gets to hold those conversations in big moments and then you see the respect factor that every player has on our team to be intently listening. Gabby's leading in her own way right now."
That is a player and a team growing in real time.
Veronica Burton and Kayla Thornton held their own
Burton finished with 15 points, five rebounds, and three assists her ninth double-figure scoring game of the season. She provided the perimeter depth the Valkyries needed alongside Williams and was steady all night in what was her best performance in a tough road environment.
Thornton battled hard down low 10 points and a team high, season high nine rebounds. She nearly had a double-double and was physical all night in the frontcourt against an Aces team that led the league in points in the paint coming in. That's a veteran doing veteran things when her team needs it most.
Janelle Salaün is on a roll
Five consecutive games in double figures. Salaün drained three triples on her way to 11 points and she continues to be one of the most reliable offensive options this team has off the bench. The rookie from France is not playing like a rookie right now she is playing like a player who belongs and that five game streak is the proof.
A milestone for Kaila Charles
In the middle of a tough road loss, Kaila Charles quietly passed 100 career assists dishing out three helpers to go with five points and six rebounds. Small moments inside big games that's what builds a career and Charles keeps adding to hers.
What Coach Nakase said
Nakase was honest and composed after the game and what she said stuck with me.
"I think after both losses, with Minnesota and Las Vegas, we're facing great talent, greatly experienced teams that have heavy minutes in the playoffs. I am really proud of our team. We're going into our second year, and I told them even after the Minnesota game we are progressing in the right direction. We're building a great outlook in terms of our minutes and understanding the importance of every possession."
That's a coach who knows exactly what she has and where it's going. The Valkyries are in year two and they are already making the defending champions work for every single point in a sold-out arena. That's not nothing. That's growth.
My take
The Valkyries are 6-5 and they just took the Las Vegas Aces to the wire in their house on one of the biggest days of the Aces' season. Gabby Williams had a career night. The bench contributed. The rookies showed up. And Natalie Nakase has this team believing they can compete with anybody in this league.
They head back home to Ballhalla on Tuesday June 9 to host the Phoenix Mercury at 7pm PT. After a performance like Saturday's I'd be very nervous to walk into that gym.
Her Game Network covers the Valkyries all season long and this team is must watch basketball right now.