Golden State Valkyries forward Janelle Salaun (13) after scoring a 3-pointer against the Washington Mystics on July 20 at Chase Center .
Santiago Mejia/S.F. Chronicle
Spectators cheer during a game between the Golden State Valkyries and the Washington Mystics on July 20 at Chase Center.
Santiago Mejia/S.F. Chronicle
The World Cup is over. The Giants continue their slide to irrelevance. The Warriors haven’t moved the needle. The 49ers are looking at more than a month of the drudgery of training camp.
Thank heavens for the Golden State Valkyries, saviors of the Bay Area sports scene.
The Valkyries open the second half of the season as, by far, the best sporting experience in the Bay Area. They have so overachieved in their first 15 months of existence that no one even bats an eye when they’re talked about as a potential title contender, now in Year Two.
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But don’t take them for granted. Not for a minute.
If you need a reminder of how difficult it is to put together a winning product, a cohesive vision and a fabulous, inclusive fan experience just take a glance down Third Street and witness what’s been going on at Oracle Park.
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Or look at the team the Valkyries share their building with and notice the challenges in making all the pieces of a team fit together, even if you’ve done it before.
The Valkyries come out of the All-Star break with the second best record in the league, at 19-8, 2.5 games behind the Minnesota Lynx. They ended the first half with an impressive 9-1 stretch, which included a 5-0 road trip. They’ve beaten every team in the league except for the Lynx and Las Vegas Aces, earning their spot in the league’s elite.
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Their 0-5 combined record against the Aces (0-3) and the Lynx (0-2) is about the only blip on their record and certainly gave head coach Natalie Nakase plenty to chew on over the break.
The Valkyries are fueled by a smothering defense, their 3-point shooting, and their productive bench play. They lead the WNBA in all of those categories.
There’s no statistical ranking for culture, but if there were, the Valkyries’ culture and vibe would also be among the league leaders. They are connected and supportive, on and off the court, and it shows. They have the space to absorb a new leader from outside, in All-Star Gabby Williams, and to make room for a new one off the bench in Kaitlyn Chen, the “Chenergizer,” whose leap in development this season has been remarkable to watch.
This team was built intentionally, with selfless players, a deep bench, an emphasis on defense, and that vision is paying dividends.
The way the season has unfolded has made the offseason questions fade away. The surprise of the Flau’jae Johnson draft and trade and the weirdness of the draft night aftermath have become a side note, as general manager Ohemaa Nyanin’s plan seems to be working to perfection. The arrival of Juste Joycte has not been particularly significant — the team is playing so well together that the franchise’s first draft pick hasn’t made much of an impact.
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The team continues to benefit from the best environment in the WNBA. The building is sold out, the fans are loud and supportive and having a fantastic time. As we know, there is so much toxicity around the WNBA right now, in attacks from fans toward players and vile social media posts, but there’s no toxic feeling in Chase Center when the Valkyries take the floor. It’s a love fest.
The second half of the season will be fascinating. The Valkyries have two more measuring-stick games against the Lynx, who will only get better with the return of Napheesa Collier. Collier, who had ankle surgery in the offseason, is expected to make her season debut this week. One of those games is Aug. 19 at Chase Center, which will be the last home game for the Valkyries for a very long time. The team will head out on a road trip and then the league will be on hiatus from Sept. 1 to Sept. 17, on break for the FIBA World Cup, which will be held in Germany.
The Valkyries, with their international flair, will have several players participating in the World Cup. Nakase did a great job last season juggling and accommodating players who had been playing in EuroBasket, so this won’t be a new thing. But halting the Valkyries’ rhythm and momentum, interrupting a playoff push, while players fly halfway around the world, has to be a concern for any head coach.
The league will resume play in late September, and wrap up the regular season on Sept. 24.
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If the second half goes as well as the first, the Valkyries will be in position to host a playoff game, which would be their first at Chase Center. Who knows how far they can go?
But don’t take what they’re doing for granted. Not for a minute.