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Golden State Valkyries forward Janelle Salaun (13) after scoring a 3-pointer against the Washington Mystics on July 20 at Chase Center .<\/p>\n
Santiago Mejia\/S.F. Chronicle<\/p>\n
Spectators cheer during a game between the Golden State Valkyries and the Washington Mystics on July 20 at Chase Center.<\/p>\n
Santiago Mejia\/S.F. Chronicle<\/p>\n
The World Cup is over. The Giants<\/a> continue their slide to irrelevance. The Warriors<\/a> haven\u2019t moved the needle. The 49ers<\/a> are looking at more than a month of the drudgery of training camp.\u00a0<\/p>\n Thank heavens for the Golden State Valkyries,<\/a> saviors of the Bay Area sports scene.<\/p>\n 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\u2019re talked about as a potential title contender, now in Year Two.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n But don\u2019t take them for granted. Not for a minute.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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\u2019s been going on at Oracle Park.<\/p>\n San Francisco Chronicle Logo<\/p>\n Make us a Preferred Source to get more of our news when you search.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Add Preferred Source<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 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\u2019ve done it before.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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\u2019ve beaten every team in the league except for the Lynx and Las Vegas Aces, earning their spot in the league\u2019s elite.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 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<\/a> plenty to chew on over the break.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n There\u2019s no statistical ranking for culture, but if there were, the Valkyries\u2019 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,<\/a> and to make room for a new one off the bench in Kaitlyn Chen,<\/a> the \u201cChenergizer,\u201d<\/a> whose leap in development this season has been remarkable to watch.\u00a0<\/p>\n This team was built intentionally, with selfless players, a deep bench, an emphasis on defense, and that vision is paying dividends.<\/p>\n<\/a>
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