It was another sellout crowd of more than 18,000. Six in a row for those who are counting.<\/p>\n
Save 30% when you order \u201cBecoming Caitlin Clark\u201d<\/p>\n Howard Megdal\u2019s newest book is here! \u201cBecoming Caitlin Clark: The Unknown Origin Story of a Modern Basketball Superstar\u201d captures both the historic nature of Clark\u2019s rise and the critical context over the previous century that helped make it possible, including interviews with Clark, Lisa Bluder (who also wrote the foreword), C. Vivian Stringer, Jan Jensen, Molly Kazmer and many others.<\/p>\n Click the link below to order and enter MEGDAL30 at checkout.<\/p>\n It was the sustained noise that said crowd brought from beginning to end that is turning the Chase Center into one of the most harrowing venues in the league for WNBA opponents.<\/p>\n It was a Valkyries team that should be hobbled by the number of its key players who are gone for the EuroBasket Tournament<\/a>, proving again that they are a sum-of-their-parts squad with a comeback effort. Down 13 in the third quarter, the Valkyries would outscore Indiana 33-18 in the final quarter win by 11 points.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone was locked in,\u201d said Kayla Thornton<\/a>, who led Golden State with 16 points and five 3-pointers. Nakase calls her players \u201ckillers,\u201d this collection of former role players seizing the individual opportunities to elevate their careers.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is what we\u2019ve seen since training camp,\u201d Nakase said. \u201cYou can see the camaraderie that\u2019s being built. It\u2019s beyond the core philosophy, the offense and the defense. It\u2019s their connectivity, the friendships, them enjoying their time together. All that stuff matters. It brings them together in the high moments and in the low moments.\u201d<\/p>\n Collectively, the Valkyries\u2019 \u201ckillers\u201d are killing it.<\/p>\n Want even more women\u2019s sports in your inbox?<\/p>\n Subscribe now to our sister publication The IX<\/a> and receive our independent women\u2019s sports newsletter six days a week. Learn more about your favorite athletes and teams around the world competing in soccer, tennis, basketball, golf, hockey and gymnastics from our incredible team of writers. <\/p>\n Readers of The Next now save 50% on their subscription to The IX.<\/p>\n Yes, this is a 6-6 team that is currently sitting solidly in playoff position. In those six wins, they have knocked off Las Vegas, Seattle and now Indiana. They have played to the final minutes with New York and Minnesota and Phoenix. They turned a four-game losing streak into a run of four wins in five games with 2-10 Connecticut next up on the schedule.<\/p>\n On Thursday night, five players \u2014 led by Thornton\u2019s 16-point effort, finished in double figures. The bench scored 45 points, and defensively, the Valkyries\u2019 held Caitlin Clark to 11 points and without a 3-pointer for only the second time in her young professional career.<\/p>\n All without a player that currently ranks even among the top 25 in WNBA All\u2013Star voting.<\/p>\n The players bristled after the game that they have no \u201cstars\u201d on the roster.<\/p>\n![\"Photo](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1750507034_641_Untitled-design-13.png\")
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Golden State\u2019s players have been a seamless fit for Natalie Nakase\u2019s coaching, which has been simply stellar. The gameplan the team\u2019s front office created for this inaugural season is working exactly as intended. Golden State found a way they wanted to play, with speed, defensive intensity and offensive balance, and an identity and then found players who would fit the mold they built.<\/p>\n