Although the Aces have loved an extended break since their final sport, Becky Hammon despatched her gamers out of Thursday’s post-practice huddle with an emphatic message about relaxation and restoration.
“I would like juice on Saturday as a result of this staff performs arduous. And I wanna play tougher,” the coach mentioned.
After rounding out a 4-2 begin with a bounce-back win over the Seattle Storm on Sunday, the Aces will journey to Northern California to face the Golden State Valkyries (2-5) at midday Saturday at Chase Heart in San Francisco.
“They play as a gaggle and actually hammer the boards. If we match their vitality proper out the gate, I really feel actually good about us,” Hammon mentioned. “However I wish to have legs, as a result of they stand up and down (the court docket) like loopy.”
Whereas Hammon made her analysis of the WNBA’s new growth staff primarily based on movie from its first six video games, the Aces have an additional layer of familiarity with the Valkyries’ personnel.
Coach Natalie Nakase and guards Kate Martin and Tiffany Hayes have been a part of the Aces group final 12 months.
Hayes, who was Sixth Participant of the Yr for the burst she supplied the Aces final 12 months, shall be a game-time resolution Saturday after she took a blow to the face and didn’t return within the Valkyries’ loss to the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday.
Martin exploded for a season-high 14 factors off the bench in that sport.
Earlier than noting that Martin “got here within the different day towards Minnesota and hit ’em,” Hammon mentioned the staff additionally deliberate as if Hayes will play as a result of she’s an opponent who requires preparation.
Rookie and vet
Aces star A’ja Wilson praised the vitality increase Hayes offers, however lit up when requested about Martin. The reigning WNBA MVP took the then-rookie beneath her wing final season as Martin turned a fan favourite in Las Vegas and on the street.
Wilson and Martin got here from rival colleges, Martin coming into the league after a second consecutive NCAA Event championship sport loss with Iowa and Wilson hailing from South Carolina, which gained the title that 12 months.
To explain their relationship, Wilson used a becoming fowl analogy.
“It’s sort of like a type of issues when your fowl leaves the nest,” Wilson mentioned of Martin, who was chosen by the Valkyries within the growth draft. “(I’m) simply so joyful to see her develop and prosper. However I’m additionally tremendous excited to stand up there, simply to see (Nakase) within the head teaching place, and in addition proceed to work on us.”
Wilson made certain to get a joke in as she defined that she and Martin haven’t actually been in a position to keep up a correspondence.
“Nobody actually talks to anyone apart from their teammates proper now,” Wilson mentioned. “However I’m excited to see her. I don’t know the way I really feel about her wanting in these completely different colours.”
Development
Nakase was an assistant on Hammon’s workers because the Aces gained back-to-back titles. She left for the Valkyries shortly after the Aces’ three-peat bid ended within the semifinals final 12 months.
In the identical approach that Nakase left for a much bigger position, Hayes joined the Valkyries in free company as an alternative of returning to the Aces in what her agent described as a last-minute pivot.
On the primary day of coaching camp, Hammon mentioned these exits contributed to a interval of private introspection she underwent within the offseason. She even cited the personnel turbulence as a cause she determined to step away as an ESPN analyst.
“I’ve received lots of respect for the those that left and walked away,” she mentioned. “Change is inevitable. And so I’ve accomplished lots of processing. I believe I’ve most likely grown simply individually as a coach and individual this offseason. I don’t like dropping.”
In a current interview, Nakase cited the Aces’ championship years as two of the toughest in her life. Hammon recalled all of the challenges Thursday, saying that she’d usually textual content Nakase as late as 3 a.m. throughout their playoff runs.
“That’s what we signed up for,” Hammon mentioned. “I’m certain she’s received some late nights now, too.”
Hammon is probably going proper, because the Valkyries are within the midst of a four-game dropping streak.
“Quick-term ache for long-term outcomes,” Nakase informed reporters of her staff’s morale after its most up-to-date loss Thursday at Phoenix. “I would like them to really feel it as a result of, in that quantity of ache, we speak about that’s the quantity that you simply gotta develop.”
Contact Callie Fin at cfin@reviewjournal.com. Comply with @CallieJLaw on X.
Up subsequent
Who: Aces at Valkyries
When: Midday Saturday
The place: Chase Heart, San Francisco
TV/radio: ABC; KWWN (1100 AM, 100.9 FM)
Line: Aces -10½; complete 159½
