The Golden State Valkyries are no doubt, giving the Dream a run for their money. Game 5 at Ballhalla had Atlanta clearly struggling to come up for air, while Natalie Nakase’s girls were in full-throttle from start to finish.
At this point in the finals, it looks like the team has been preparing for this from Day 1. While other teams would have been working on getting to the playoffs, the Valkyries seem to have been already in a playoff-mindset right from the beginning of this season. In a recent interview, Kaila Charles shed some light into the highly commendable mental prep that the team has been working with from the start.
“It’s not like you just turn on the switch. It’s the habits you built over the year. That was the big thing that we’ve been preaching all year: being composed, especially with the pressure.” Kaila Charles said.
Kai’s words were right on the money when she said that it is the little “habits” that a team practices through the year which will help them during pressuring situations like the Finals. And, the work that the Golden State Valkyries have been investing in is clearly paying off.
For instance, look at Charles as a player herself. The baller is in the Finals for the first time in her career but has been showing up calm and composed. If you have noticed the guard during games, you can see her mastering and taking control of every moment that she is out on the court. Even if the ball is at the other end, you will always see Kai trying her best to turn every second in a controllable one. If this is not the result of tiny habits being practiced consistently, I don’t know what is!
Valkyries’ Pressure Gets Angel Reese Leaving Her Fashion-Game At Home
The Golden State Valkyries have become such a threat to the Dream franchise that even Angel Reese has been feeling the heat. Reese showed up to Game 5 with a very casual all-black outfit, much unlike her previous glamorous fit-checks. It is clear that Reese had only one thing in mind: to defeat the Valkyries.
Although Reese’s outfit might be far from being ramp-worthy, the fashionista did send a strong message through her clothes. Her t-shirt had the words, ‘Protect Black Women’ written in the front, which was more than enough of a statement. Plus, she also seemed to have taken a page out of Jordyn Woods’ book by bringing an orange purse to the game for luck.
If Reese, of all, showed up to the game without her high-heels and opted for flip-flops, it is enough proof that the Valkyries have turned out to be a ridiculously strong opponent. The next game will be at State Farm, which hopefully might give the Dream an upper-hand with their home-fans being there to cheer them.
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