SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Valkyries are cultivating a desirable difficulty for coach Natalie Nakase as she prepares to select a rotation for the start of the WNBA playoffs next Sunday.
Everyone they put in the game seems to play well. It happened again Saturday night, as reserves Kaila Charles, Laeticia Amihere and Juste Jocyte were all difference-makers as the Valkyries beat Seattle 70-57 to close out their regular-season home schedule with a record of 17-5.
“They were prepared for the moment,” Nakase said. “They took full advantage of the opportunity, and now it’s good because you could see that confidence that they have. So us going into the playoffs healthy and confident, I mean, it’s kind of working its way into the right direction right now.”
Charles tied her career high with 16 points and added 12 rebounds, four steals and three assists. Jocyte had a career-high 11 points, and Amihere posted her second straight game in double figures.
Golden State Valkyries’ Kaila Charles (6) gestures after defeating the Seattle Storm during their WNBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. The Golden State Valkyries defeated the Seattle Storm 70-57. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Amihere pushed back after the game on the notion that Golden State’s players are auditioning for playoff roles. But there’s little doubt that all three would have received callbacks based on their performances on the second night of a home back-to-back sweep.
“It’s not an audition,” Amihere said. “I think we’re just trying to get ready for the playoffs. I mean, we want to win. That’s the main point.”
The trio’s performance came as another group of three Valkyries players – rotation stalwarts Janelle Salaun, Cecilia Zandalasini and Gabby Williams – sat once again after returning from the FIBA World Cup.
It’s likely they will return to the court as Golden State embarks upon a two-game road trip to close out the regular season. So in perhaps their best chance to make a case for playoff minutes, the Valks’ depth reserves acquitted themselves quite proficiently.
Golden State Valkyries’ Laeticia Amihere (3) drivees against Seattle Storm’s Stefanie Dolson (31) in the first quarter of their WNBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
“We need everybody,” Charles said. “So it’s next woman up, and it’s good to have these reps for everybody to sharpen up. And once we add them, we’re just going to be even stronger.”
While Charles and Amihere have been in the rotation on and off this season – and Charles played key minutes in the playoffs last year – Jocyte’s emergence has been a bigger surprise.
After a season stapled to the bench, Jocyte may have worked her way into the Valkyries’ playoff rotation with an eye-opening finish to the regular season. She didn’t play for over a month between July 10 and Aug. 12, logging just two minutes in each game at the end of that stretch.
Since playing 14 minutes in a win over Connecticut on Aug. 26, Jocyte has steadily seen her role increase. With Salaun, Zandalasini and Williams gone for the World Cup, Jocyte played 21 minutes in the Valkyries’ win over Portland, though she only scored two points.
Golden State Valkyries’ Juste Jocyte (4) high fives teammate Kayla Thornton (5) after their WNBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. The Golden State Valkyries defeated the Seattle Storm 70-57. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Friday against Portland, with those three resting after returning from the World Cup, Jocyte scored a career-high nine points in 17 minutes. Saturday, with the trio still sidelined, she played well enough to lead Golden State’s second unit as it blew the game open.
She didn’t play much in the second half and left the game in the fourth quarter with what the team described as a lower left leg injury. But Nakase seemed unconcerned about the injury postgame and thrilled to see Jocyte establishing herself among the bench contenders for playoff minutes.
“She seemed fine, I thought,” Nakase said. “I gave her a nice little high-five after. She was smiling. With that minicamp (during the break), just watching from afar, they poured confidence into each other. We’re continuing to push each other. And you could see that without some of our main scorers, we kind of didn’t miss a beat. So that’s really nice to see.”
Golden State Valkyries’ Juste Jocyte (4) hugs team mascot Violet after their WNBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026. The Golden State Valkyries defeated the Seattle Storm 70-57. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
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