A trio of Valkyries earned national recognition on Friday for their contributions to the team’s success in its inaugural season.
Coach Natalie Nakase was named the Associated Press WNBA coach of the year, point guard Veronica Burton was tabbed as the most improved player and forward Janelle Salaün was named to the all-rookie team.
Nakase led the Valkyries to a 23-21 record in their first season and led the Golden State to the playoffs, becoming the first expansion team in league history to make the postseason in its first year. Under Nakase, the Valkyries established themselves as one of the best defenses in the league, holding opponents to a league-best 76.3 points per game.
The first-time head coach was hired last year by Valkyries general manager Ohemaa Nyanin and has created a culture of collective effort that uplifts that defense. The Valkyries have also embraced the three-point revolution under Nakase, 45, as they lead the league with 29.9 3-pointers attempted and 9.7 made 3s per game.
Burton, 25, was the only player on the Valkyries to start in all 44 games with averages of 11.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game. The former Northwestern standout is the first player in WNBA history to improve her per-game averages by over eight points, four assists and two rebounds compared to the prior season.
Burton, who played last year with Connecticut after two years in Dallas, had started only 20 of her 107 career games over her first three seasons. The greater opportunity with Golden State — including nearly 30 minutes of playing time per game — has led to her breakout this season.
“I got to give her credit because she sacrifices,” Nakase said of Burton earlier this season. “She sacrifices time with her friends, time with her family. She’s taking care of her body. We’re very lucky to have someone to just kind of pour everything into being the point guard for us.”
Salaün, 24, finished fourth among rookies in scoring (11.3 points per game) and third in rebounding (5.1). She made 33 starts and recorded 22 double-digit scoring games.
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The 6-foot-2 French rookie’s ability to stretch the floor for the Valkyries opens up their offense and fits into their 3-point philosophy. She shot 36% on 3s this regular season, attempting nearly five per game.
The Valkyries did not draft Salaün in their first-ever amateur draft; instead, they signed her to a contract in training camp
Golden State’s trio of honorees will lead them into the playoffs, where they’ll face the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in a first-round series that begins Sunday (10 a.m., ESPN). They’ll be the underdogs after Minnesota swept all four games from the Valkyries this regular season, including Thursday night’s season finale.
