‘I’m just asking for consistency’: Natalie Nakase rips referees after Valkyries lose on late free throw
SAN FRANCISCO Monday night s meeting between the Golden State Valkyries and the Phoenix Mercury was looking like an instant classic Down four with seconds left the Valkyries miraculously tied the encounter on two fadeaway baskets by French rookie Janelle Sala n 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 challenge 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 - win The foul drew loud boos from the sold out crowd of 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 fouls Phoenix Mercury's Alyssa Thomas in the final seconds of the fourth quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco Calif on Monday July Nhat V Meyer Bay Area News Group Nakase didn t mince her words in her postgame news conference when talking about the event s final play It s just very unfortunate that it came down to the last free throw Nakase reported 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 meeting 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 unit not getting calls down the stretch I m just asking for consistency Nakase disclosed 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 coaches during their contest against the Phoenix Mercury in the third quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco Calif on Monday July Nhat V Meyer Bay Area News Group With the match tied at and six seconds remaining in the challenge 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 F gb nl and drew enough contact to garner a foul call from Brewton Related Articles Heartbreaker Mercury s Alyssa Thomas hits game-winning free throw in final seconds to down Valkyries comeback Valkyries release veteran forward Talbot leaving open roster spot Valkyries takeaways Return to Vegas for Martin Nakase Hayes spoiled by Aces Valkyries throttle Indiana Caitlin Clark in big road win Valkyries to face Caitlin Clark when star returns from injury on Wednesday The call was controversial as it looked like Zandalasini made minimal contact and F gb nl 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 event Nakase was blunt when demanded what she saw on the play I saw absolutely no foul Nakase stated The physicality of the encounter I felt for Phoenix was 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 kneels on the court after their - loss to the Phoenix Mercury at the Chase Center in San Francisco Calif on Monday July Nhat V Meyer Bay Area News Group
