Gabby Williams will try to parlay individual success into aiding her new team to another win when the Golden State Valkyries goes for a third straight win to open the season against the Chicago Sky Wednesday night in San Francisco.
A free agent addition who played the last four seasons for the Seattle Storm, Williams went past the 1,600-point milestone and the 300-steal mark for her career when she contributed 19 points and four steals to the Valkyries’ 95-79 home win over the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday.
Williams hit four 3-pointers and added five rebounds, three assists and a block in an all-around effort that thrilled her new coach, Natalie Nakase.
“I think her versatility to guard multiple positions (is what stood out),” Nakase said at her postgame press conference. “We were throwing multiple people (at her), including (Alyssa Thomas), but Gabby can guard one through five. She’s amazing. We’re just so excited how much she’s sitting really well with us, and to just see her selflessness in the way she plays. It just fits perfectly.”
Janelle Salaun paced the Valkyries (2-0) against Phoenix with 21 points, while Veronica Burton chipped in 13 points and 12 assists.
Following her 19-point effort, Kayla Thornton observed that she loves the way the Valkyries have molded early in the season.
“We’re playing Valkyries ball,” she said. “We were all locked in on defense. When we stay together and we’re on the same record, we’re on the same string, everything just flows, and then it just flows to our offense, which is beautiful.”
The triumph over the Mercury came against a team riding the momentum of a big win of its own, with Phoenix having opened with a thrashing of the defending champion Las Vegas Aces on the road.
Golden State will see a similarly inspired opponent in the Sky (1-0), who tipped off a season-opening, four-game trip with a 98-83 victory over the Portland Fire on Saturday.
Kamilla Cardoso led the way with 22 points and 14 rebounds as Chicago, which went 10-34 last year, got an opportunity to showcase its new look, one that no longer features Angel Reese.
Imports Skylar Diggins (21 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists) and Rickea Jackson (19 points, seven rebounds) aided in the win, then later went out of their way to applaud rookie Gabriela Jaquez on her debut performance.
A national champion at UCLA this past season, Jaquez had 10 points, seven rebounds and two steals in his WNBA debut.
“She’s just fearless,” Jackson said. “You can tell she just came from college in a good way. She be getting out, and I feel like I haven’t seen that since college, like a person that just runs. That’s what we’ve been missing; that’s what we need. Just throw the ball up to Gabs and she’s making the little plays.
“On the defensive end, she’s disruptive. She had some deflections. Just playing with someone fearless like that is fun.”
–Field Level Media
