Nyara Sabally, sneakily good off the dribble against defenders pressuring a step too high

Golden State Valkyries trade targets + what it would take to get Kelsey Plum with the great @mingemi.bsky.social, then two quick points on a chaotic loss to the Phoenix Mercury, which featured the largest FTA disparity in Valks history. Read here: riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/marisa-ing...

On the 1st and 2nd halves of the Toronto Tempo's season, from the cost of injuries affecting a high-value, high-ceiling backcourt and a frontcourt statistical profile with much room for improvement. Previewing the road-heavy last 18 games @raptorshq.bsky.social: www.raptorshq.com/all-womens-s...

The Dream have some of the most interesting splits in the entire WNBA. Why the return of Bri Jones really matters, defense to offense, and Rhyne Howard being the most underrated player in the W. Previewing the 2nd half for Atlanta & all playoff teams: riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/second-hal...

The Paige Bueckers/Azzi Fudd/Jessica Shepard trio has a +9.1 NRTG in 345 minutes (@databallr), and Dallas leads the W in Clutch eFG%. But is Awak Kuier the most important Wing in the 2nd half? Previewing the 2nd half for DAL & all WNBA playoff teams: riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/second-hal...

Second Half Preview: Teams in Playoff Position

Where the current WNBA playoff teams stand and, more importantly, where they might be going.

riseofthevalkyries.substack.com

New article from me today: WNBA Trade Deadline 2026, Part One: The Big Picture Explained the rules that affect WNBA trades, and offered some thoughts on where each team stands heading into the deadline. Lots of fake trade ideas coming soon in Part 2. #WNBA herhoopstats.substack.com/p/wnba-trade...

WNBA Trade Deadline 2026, Part One: The Big Picture

With the WNBA trade deadline arriving on Sunday, we explain the rules that govern deals and look at where each team stands with less than a week to go

herhoopstats.substack.com

What does a Napheesa Collier-Olivia Miles offense look like? The surging Natasha Howard, the brilliant Kayla McBride, and the prospectus for Minnesota's league-hardest second-half schedule. Previewing the 2nd half for the Lynx & 7 WNBA playoff teams: riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/second-hal...

Second Half Preview: Teams in Playoff Position

Where the current WNBA playoff teams stand and, more importantly, where they might be going.

riseofthevalkyries.substack.com

Wrote an in-depth second-half preview of playoff-position teams. Also did a general injury cost assessment. Injury data all from @seehafer.bsky.social; salary data from @herhoopstats.com. Iliana Rupert included in this graph. riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/second-hal...

josiahcohen.bsky.social@josiahcohen.bsky.social · last wk.

Which WNBA teams have lost the most games to injury this year? @seehafer.bsky.social's invaluable Injury Tracker for @theixsports.bsky.social has the full breakdown. www.theixsports.com/features/wnb...

Detailed behind-the-scenes look at a WNBA training camp competition, with cameos by future Valkyries Kate Martin, Natalie Nakase and Kiah Stokes. This is Part 2 of a series on Angel Jackson’s pro basketball journey.

all I want for my birthday is for you to subscribe to @valkyriesbeat.bsky.social so I can keep doing my favorite thing I have ever done www.valkyriesbeat.com/upgrade

Upgrade | Valkyries Beat

Inside the Golden State Valkyries from the perspective of a women's sports journalist.

valkyriesbeat.com

Which WNBA teams have lost the most games to injury this year? @seehafer.bsky.social's invaluable Injury Tracker for @theixsports.bsky.social has the full breakdown. www.theixsports.com/features/wnb...

Floor, ceiling, and (in)consistency: single-game net ratings for WNBA teams through the All-Star break.

The Tempo allowed the Aces to post their best offensive performance of the season. The A'ja Wilson mismatch problem, how Toronto's zone was overloaded, and the drop coverage and adjustments that Las Vegas had the personnel to exploit. For @raptorshq.bsky.social: www.raptorshq.com/toronto-wnba...

Tempo Check: Dissecting the defence in loss to Aces

Analyzing the Toronto Tempo defence against the Las Vegas Aces, including A’ja Wilson, zone defence, and drop coverage.

raptorshq.com

Recorded a 15-minute raw breakdown of the Valkyries offense vs. last night's Mystics 1-2-2 zone. Basically: play-by-play of GSV trying to break down the 1-2-2 shell, WAS' "false 1" counter, line breaks vs. rotations & matches, and more. FYI: audio quality is not the greatest. youtu.be/oGtN2DFiV5U

Breakdown: Golden State Valkyries Offense vs. Washington Mystics Zone Defense

YouTube video by Josiah Cohen

youtube.com

Which WNBA teams have used the most starting lineups this season? The W's Northeast corridor is seeing a lot of lineup traffic, while the Western Conference contenders have been pretty stable through almost 30 games.

No gaps, no problem: breaking down how the Golden State Valkyries out-spaced the Washington Mystics, taking what the defense gave them, winning the lineup and execution battles, and holding off Sonia Citron en route to a ninth consecutive win. riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/valkyries-...

Valkyries Out-Space Mystics for Ninth Straight

The Golden State Valkyries won the spacing and lineup chess match to hold off Sonia Citron and the Washington Mystics.

riseofthevalkyries.substack.com

Valkyries win their ninth in a row with 74-69 win over Washington Gabby Williams finishes with 18 points, Veronica Burton with 11 points and 11 assists. Janelle Salaun gets 9 off the bench.

Actually going to write a Valks gamer, for a change, up tomorrow morning.

One defensive strength of Azzi Fudd: gapping the weakside at the nail. Always attentive off ball and has a knack for finding the right spacing to add uncertainty to the popper's decision-making off the catch.

Not gonna out-execute the Valkyries. Gotta out-talent the Valkyries. Much easier said than done. Valks just make the right play more than you do, so you gotta *create* more plays. Most teams can’t do that.

New York Liberty - Iverson Marine Johannes sees the low route from Aziaha James guarding the first one (on which Johannes draws a 3PT foul) and knows she can tee up a first-time shot when the Liberty run it again a minute later.

The Sky, especially Aicha Coulibaly and Gabriela Jaquez, were active cutters in last night's win over the Mercury. Chicago saw so much room in Phoenix's weakside gapping that they sometimes didn't know whether to take the cut behind the help or 45 cut behind the sink. Post/cut flow from CHI:

Broadcast audio sometimes picks up more from the court than just the bounce of the ball. Sarama Sound from Seattle: - A talkative May Coach of the Month - Defensive encouragement - Defensive calls More around the W in Tuesday Morning Point Guard: riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/i/205713456/...

What does the future of offense look like for the Seattle Storm? Time to think about it. - Post ups & post splits - Bigs in 5 out/delay on & off the ball - The Awa Fam/Dom Malonga storm, gathering More around the W in Tuesday Morning Point Guard: riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/i/205713456/...

The Phoenix Mercury struggled early, but a three-game win streak has them back on track. - The first-half schedule situation - Kahleah Copper is so back - Marauding to the rim like it's 2020 More around the WNBA in Tuesday Morning Point Guard: riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/i/205713456/...

Tuesday Morning Point Guard: Mercury rising, Sky falling?

Tactics large and small from every team in the league (part 2). The future of Seattle's offense, Courtney Vandersloot and Skylar Diggins, and more.

riseofthevalkyries.substack.com

The Las Vegas Aces have elite guard talent. But are teams blitzing Jackie Young more? - Blitzing Young ball screens - Career-best finishing from NaLyssa Smith - When it works... and when it fails More around the W in Tuesday Morning Point Guard: riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/i/205713456/...

Tuesday Morning Point Guard: Mercury rising, Sky falling?

Tactics large and small from every team in the league (part 2). The future of Seattle's offense, Courtney Vandersloot and Skylar Diggins, and more.

riseofthevalkyries.substack.com

Through the inevitable noise, the Indiana Fever rank 1st in the WNBA in offensive rating. - Their philosophical speed - Creating space in semi-transition - That Mitchell/Clark backcourt sure can score More around the W in Tuesday Morning Point Guard: riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/i/205713456/...

Tuesday Morning Point Guard: Mercury rising, Sky falling?

Tactics large and small from every team in the league (part 2). The future of Seattle's offense, Courtney Vandersloot and Skylar Diggins, and more.

riseofthevalkyries.substack.com

I was already planning to write about Courtney Vandersloot. Then I had to write about Skylar Diggins too. - Chemistry w/Cardoso - Assist rates through the roof - What could have been for CHI rotation More around the W in Tuesday Morning Point Guard: riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/tuesday-mo...

Tuesday Morning Point Guard: Mercury rising, Sky falling?

Tactics large and small from every team in the league (part 2). The future of Seattle's offense, Courtney Vandersloot and Skylar Diggins, and more.

riseofthevalkyries.substack.com

Betts continuing to look really good offensively early against Golden State. Feels like she's been invigorated with the break. Was as active as I've seen her offensively against the Dream, looking like more of the same against the Valkyries.

Don't let a loss to the Liberty fool you—Minnesota Lynx Coach of the Month Cheryl Reeve came prepared. - Overloading the NYL 2-3 zone - A SLOB and BLOB the Lynx might use in the postseason More around the WNBA in Monday Morning Point Guard: riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/i/205462764/...