Notes from the Nosebleeds: The Valkyries Preseason Opener

Nice is not a boring word, especially when you say it like our fellow “Founding Guard” (honorary name for inaugural season ticket holders) up in the nosebleed Section 211, Amy Foster, who drops her voice to its lowest octave and pronounces triumphantly “Noiyyyce!!!” whenever something is extremely to her liking.

That kind of Bay Area noiyyyce energy carried through every part of the Valkyries’ preseason home opener against the Seattle Storm last Saturday, a night also so noiyyyce because Ballhalla (and our podcast) celebrated our one-year anniversary!

Last year, the first preseason home opener was against the Los Angeles Sparks, and the team may not have gotten a W, but it didn’t even matter. Historical seeds were being planted. We knew from the beginning that something felt unique and magical about these players, coaching staff, general manager, and president, and wanted to be a part of the violet wave. Like many others, we went home so inspired that we had to do something.  We did what anyone would do after teaching all day, doing laundry for five people and doing a CostCo run. We started a podcast, “Valkyries, Say Less”. With this, we set out to educate ourselves, and listeners, about the back stories and player profiles of this special team and with every episode, we fell in love with each Valk’s story and remarkable talents (plural). 

We learned so much in one year and we were beyond excited to celebrate our pod anniversary as the team launched into its second season. We marked April 25th on our calendars the day the schedule came out, we had our outfits ready and purple eyeliner purchased. But there was a plot twist! We were approved for press passes!!!

Usually, we sit in the nosebleeds, high up in our beloved section 211 (hence the title of this column) but to kick off Season 2, we entered through a new portal. It was an ordinary portal, as in “door to Chase”, but also a portal in the DnD sense of the word, to a whole new world of tunnels and free meatballs and, most importantly, amazing journalists dedicating their lives to report on Women’s Basketball.

Those noiyyyce vibes started as soon as we picked up our media passes and proceeded on an Alice in Wonderland voyage into the belly of Ballhalla. The Golden State Valkyries media crew checking us in, the security guards, and every staff member stationed around Chase Center to guide people toward the media room, press conference room, or wherever they needed to go, every single interaction felt genuinely nice. And not nice in the fake polite small talk way; nice in the kind, heartwarming, safe and luxurious way.
Before the game some of us stressed that a bit of unnecessary drama would be contrived by negative-nancy fans pushing a rivalry agenda between the two recent college grads playing their very first W game. We made a wish with our fingers crossed for everyone to be respectful to these young players, whispering “Please be nice!” as the players were announced pregame.

Ballhalla per usual, did not disappoint. Flau’jae Johnson’s (the Seattle player who surprisingly got traded mid-draft to the Storm only 8 minutes after being crowned a Valkyrie) warm reception by our loud fanbase was incredibly nice. Marta Suarez, the new Valk that we got out of that dramatic trade, was welcomed with equal excitement. The Ballhalla we have grown to love is also a Ballhalla we can trust to be supportive and move past angry complaints about front office decisions that we can't control or don't completely understand.

The nice night continued. In true “Notes from the Nosebleeds” fashion, heading all the way up to the last row in Sections 206 and 211 to check in with the fans, we got a nice hammy workout and met some of the nicest people in arguably some of the worst seats.

In the very tippy top row at exactly half court, we found members of the Santa Clara University women’s basketball team. They were so happy to be there and did not mind us interrupting their evening. Thoughtful answers from younger twenty-somethings validated that we are not alone in the sense of wellness that women’s basketball gives us in Chase and beyond. It was really nice.

It was a nice game, maybe not our best, but a nail-biter and a nice showcase of this heavy-duty roster. We learned that Mila Sowah from Australia has a really nice shot (4 threes!) and that Kaitlyn Chen had a nice game stepping up as a leader.

But! (Always a but with us teachers!), “nice” is not the word we’d use to describe the energy on the court at Saturday’s game. That word would be HUNGRY. From tipoff, the Golden State Valkyries looked like a team with something to prove, and in many ways, they do.

After a debut season that exceeded expectations and ended in the playoffs when many doubted they’d get there, this second-year roster feels once again built with intention, this time overflowing with backup plans and a grand selection for our two developmental spots. In her first official press conference of the year, Coach Nat stated her intention clearly: “to win.”

One additional bump to Nakase’s confidence: Gabby Williams (also from the Storm as a free agent this year). Though Gabby didn’t play in the preseason home opener because she returned the day before from her Euroleague championship win, her arrival was huge. In the pregame press conference, it was clear that Williams chose the Valks and that Coach Nakase and General Manager Nyanin were so thrilled with this signing.

We loved it in the pre-game press conference when Ohemaa said, “We are elated to officially welcome Gabby to this organization… The journey we have been on as we begin year two has been guided by our principals: high character, competitive edge, growth mindset, and active participants in being the most connected team. Gabby is an individual who is the epitome of what we look for in athletes.”

This Gabby good news is the cherry on top of the already strong core the Valkyries signed of returning players. Fan favorites like Veronica Burton, Tiffany Hayes, and Kayla Thorton signal a team that’s steady on course. The playoffs last year were fantastic, but they want more. Free agency smagency. They’re back.

Add to that mix our other incredible returning contracted player Kate “Money” Martin, plus five that are still returning from Europe: Janelle Salaun, Iliana Rupert, Kaila Charles and Ceci Zandalisini, plus Juste Jocyte who was our #1 pick last year though she hasn’t yet suited up in violet, and we’re feeling so many things.

And beyond the names who have (pretty much) secured one of the 12 final roster spots (plus two developmental= 14 total), there are about 9 un-signed women battling for 4 spots (give or take). So, training camp and this preseason game bring extra urgency for those who were only offered training camp contracts. They have to prove themselves to get chosen.

Every moment matters when roster spots are still up for grabs. We’re all watching to see who makes the final cut. Does Kailtyn Chen make it? What about Laeticia Amihere? How do players like Marta Suárez and Miela Sowah fit into the final picture?
Two weeks from that game until cuts. 20 players. 14 spots. If you've ever trained preseason heading to final cuts, two weeks is LONG. And while you try to build a team bond (like Valks roasting marshmallows on the roof together on their day off! Aw!), it's hard when deep down you're competing against each other to not be waived.

What we saw on the court in that first person game was a glimpse of that physical and emotional tension, and that possibility.

Kailtlyn strongly handled the second half while Veronica, secure in her leadership, stayed on the bench. According to Coach Nakase, Chen tugged her jersey to signal for a sub but Coach wouldn’t sub her out. Nope! If she needed to rest, they “had 4 timeouts”. Kaitlyn stayed in, called the plays, even overriding Coach Nakase on a play call, and led them to their first victory. Coach was pleased post-game with Chen. She had risen to the occasion.

Laeticia Amihere, who like Kaitlyn was cut during preseason last year but then returned during the season and made the final roster of the historic inaugural season, put up 3 points. Not many but she stood out defensively and contributed to the energy shift that was needed for their comeback after halftime.

Miela Sowah, one of our newest players from Australia who is a strong contender for a spot, hit 4 three pointers in a row and ended with 14 points, showing how much she means business.

Marta Suarez, who we got in the Flau’jae trade, played one year at Cal and is so happy to be back in the Bay. She showed up with 5 points. More than that, she looked comfortable and elated when she hit a clutch 3.  ¡Vamos las Valquirias!

In addition to getting our first W (Nice game!), looking nice in our Murphy Brown style blazers, and getting a nice leg workout running up and down and ping-ponging between sections, our nice day was made one of the nicest days ever by the following interactions: 

What a nice night, from the nosebleed section all the way down to the court floor. In a moment where so much of what fills our feeds and headlines, especially in politics, feels divisive, cruel, and exhausting, it felt almost radical to be surrounded by so much genuine kindness. There was something immensely comforting, joyful, and light about it. Nice, in this context, meant heart warming. It meant soul connection. It meant community.

And nowhere does that feeling hit harder than in Ballhalla. The volume. The violet everywhere. The families, kids, and adults filling the space with so much heart. The unmistakably inclusive environment, especially for the queer community, especially for lesbians. Even the details felt thoughtful, from new food spots on the sixth floor (japchae and softserve we see you!) to the overall flow of the arena, and the new jerseys that the fans had requested last year (violet, of course!). 

It was like getting in a hot tub that had been closed for construction and now is back, better than ever, and you just squeal, “Ahhh, this is so nice!” and take it all in. Once again, Ballhalla was so wildly awesome, special, electric, magnetic, soulful, “I never want to leave this place because I love it so much” vibe. Condensed into one word, it was NICE to be back. All caps. Say less.

If preseason is any indication, Season Two will be something special. Something really nice. If you haven’t yet gone to a game, do it now because this is one party that you don’t want to miss. For a limited time (only until May 1st!) here are some special discounted tickets with $30 options for the Memorial Day game on 5/25 that’s also a fundraiser for our schools. V’s up!

Tune in for our regular Notes from the Nosebleeds with our post-game perspectives from Ballhalla!

”Valkyries, Say Less” Podcast: The first fan-created San Francisco–based podcast celebrating women’s basketball, community, and the cultural moment surrounding the Golden State Valkyries. Brought to you by Vanessa Hutchinson-Szekely & Raina Mast. 

Available on all podcast platforms. Listen on Apple here.