The rotation puzzle: How Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase is finding the right lineups through constant roster change
SAN FRANCISCO — For the last two weeks, Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase has been piecing together her rotation on the fly.
Since losing four key rotation players to EuroBasket, Nakase and her coaching staff have been piecing together the puzzle of determining who will play on a nightly basis.
Since June 8, the Valkyries have added five new players to their roster and welcomed back guard Tiffany Hayes, who had been out with a nose injury. In that time frame, Golden State has had a different closing lineup in each of its four games.
While she said she hasn’t quite figured everything out just yet, Nakase said she has enjoyed the challenge.
“It’s a constant conversation with my coaching staff, you know, what do we see? What do we like? Which is kind of fun,” Nakase said. “It makes it really challenging for us. But luckily, again, the majority of the players that we brought in were here at training camp, so they really didn’t miss a beat.
“It actually ran a lot smoother than I thought. So again, just credit to our staff for making sure those players were ready.”
So far, the ever-changing lineups have been a positive for the Valkyries (6-6). Nakase has had rotations that go nine deep and typically closes with the players who have the hot hand.
“It makes it fun,” forward Chloe Bibby said. “You might have a quick rotation in there, so it just means you can play as hard as you possibly can for those minutes that you’re out there.”
Opposing teams have had to prepare for the uncertainty of the Valkyries’ lineups as well.
“What I know about this team is that they have been playing well and they’ve had good results,” Connecticut Sun coach Rachid Meziane said before Sunday’s game. “Every time they bring in someone different, they continue to play well.”
Bibby finding groove
In her season debut on Thursday, Bibby played herself into a rotation spot.
Bibby scored 12 points and grabbed three rebounds in 24 minutes of play in the Valkyries’ 88-77 win over the Indiana Fever on Thursday. She shot 4-of-9 from the field and 2-of-6 from 3-point range.
“I was really impressed with her ability to knock down 3s,” Nakase said. “I think having that comfortable confidence and safe space kind of really allowed her to excel in the space that she got.”
Bibby was with the Valkyries during training camp, but was cut two days before the season opener. She said spending time with the team helped ease the transition when she returned.
“It definitely made it a lot easier to be able to jump right back in,” Bibby said. “I mean, we went through everything in training camp, so I was just taking the training wheels off really.”
In Thursday’s game, Nakase used Bibby at power forward, and even at center in certain lineups, despite her 6-foot-2 frame.
“I haven’t really been down there, so it’s all new,” Bibby said. “But it’s fun taking it all in.”
EuroBasket updates
Valkyries rookie forward Janelle Salaün has been a force for France at EuroBasket.
Salaün is averaging 20.7 points and 3.7 rebounds for the French national team, which is currently undefeated and the top seed going into the tournament quarterfinals.
Salaün’s teammate, Iliana Rupert, who has yet to report to the Valkyries after being selected in December’s expansion draft, is averaging 10 points and six rebounds.
Golden State’s starting center Temi Fágbénlé should be back in the Bay Area soon after Great Britain was eliminated from the tournament on Sunday. According to the WNBA Collective Bargaining Agreement, Fágbénlé has 48 hours to return to the Valkyries following the completion of play.