SAN FRANCISCO — Monday night’s game between the Golden State Valkyries and the Phoenix Mercury was looking like an instant classic.
Down four with 15 seconds left, the Valkyries miraculously tied the game on two fadeaway baskets by French rookie Janelle Salaün. Needing just one more stop, the Valkyries were heading toward an extra period of basketball to decide, what was up to that point, one of the best games of the WNBA season.
But in anticlimactic fashion, Monday’s game ended on a controversial foul that sent Phoenix star Alyssa Thomas to the free throw line with a second left. She hit one of two free throws to lead the visiting Mercury to a 78-77 win.
The foul drew loud boos from the sold out crowd of 18,064 at Chase Center and prompted Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase to passionately argue the call with crew chief Eric Brewton to no avail.
Golden State Valkyries’ Cecilia Zandalasini (24) fouls Phoenix Mercury’s Alyssa Thomas (25) in the final seconds of the fourth quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, July 14, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Nakase didn’t mince her words in her postgame news conference when talking about the game’s final play.
“It’s just very unfortunate that it came down to the last free throw,” Nakase said. “I think the fans here, whether it’s our fans, or whether it is Phoenix Mercury fans, they deserve great moments and great shots. To sit there watching someone win a game off of a free throw, I think there’s a disservice somehow.”
Nakase went on to question whether her status as a first-year head coach is a reason for her team not getting calls down the stretch.
“I’m just asking for consistency,” Nakase said. “I’m begging for consistency. And guess what? If it’s because I’m a rookie coach, then I’ll take the loss. If I have to be better with the refs or if there’s a badge of honor that I have to earn, then I’ll do it, you know? So, yeah, I blame myself.”
Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase (35) coaches during their game against the Phoenix Mercury in the third quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, July 14, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
With the game tied at 77 and six seconds remaining in the game, Phoenix took out the ball on the right sideline.
The Mercury set up a screen-dribble handoff action that aimed to get guard Sami Whitcomb open for a shot at the top of the key. As guard Monique Akoa Makani came off a screen from Thomas, Valkyries guard Tiffany Hayes slipped fighting over the pick, creating an opening for the six-time All-Star to get an open look as she rolled to the basket.
Thomas was met at the rim by Cecilia Zandalasini and Temi Fágbénlé and drew enough contact to garner a foul call from Brewton.
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The call was controversial as it looked like Zandalasini made minimal contact and Fágbénlé made a play on the ball as it left Thomas’ hands. A shooting foul was called on Zandalasini and the Valkyries could not challenge the call as they had already used their challenge earlier in the game.
Nakase was blunt when asked what she saw on the play.
“I saw absolutely no foul,” Nakase said. “The physicality of the game I felt for Phoenix was 10 times more versus our physicality … but I saw absolutely no foul. It’s unfortunate that it went that way. I believe you have to win off great shots and that’s part of it. I think we deserve that.”
Golden State Valkyries’ Kayla Thornton (5) kneels on the court after their 78-77 loss to the Phoenix Mercury at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, July 14, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
