How the Lynx exploited NaLyssa Smith's hedges and switches; how Indiana's zone shut down the Dream; and what's up with the WNBA's top 8 teams, from Valkyries punishing Kamilla Cardoso to Dallas' 4th-quarter regression. Monday Morning Point Guard: riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/mmpg-augus...

Two-minute breakdown: how the Las Vegas Aces defended the Washington Mystics' inverted ball screens for Shakira Austin, and why keeping her out of the paint early is key as they prepare for their second matchup of the week tomorrow. YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F80...

Two-Minute Breakdown: Las Vegas Aces - Invert Ball Screen Defense on Shakira Austin

YouTube video by Josiah Cohen

youtube.com

The Indiana Fever's ability to push the pace against the New York Liberty (152.4 1st half ORTG) got me thinking about the correlation of pace and offensive rating. While it's slightly correlated on an overall seasonal basis, I checked it by team on a single-game level (still a small sample size).

Gabby Williams leads the WNBA in handoffs received per 100 possessions, and the Valkyries went to it in crunch time against LAS. But she's been especially good with one particular handoff alignment. More on Williams and the W in Monday Morning PG: riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/monday-mor...

Kayla McBride's genius, defensive press and closeout techniques, Jewell Loyd lurking in transition lanes, and a favorite Seattle Storm play. Monday Morning Point Guard, talking basketball, featuring 10 things I like and dislike: riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/monday-mor...

Just got home from the Odyssey to see the Tempo getting, uh, something’d.

Wrote about Aneesah Morrow’s Toronto Tempo debut, from intentions of three-level offense to defensive intensity and all-important defensive rebounding. Also, peel switches explained: www.raptorshq.com/toronto-wnba...

Tempo Check: Morrow Life

Reviewing and projecting Aneesah Morrow’s first game with the Toronto Tempo. Explaining the peel switch in basketball.

raptorshq.com

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 · 3w ago

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: