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“Getting There”: Natalie Nakase Voices Discontent Despite Valkyries Handing Wings a Blowout Playoff Loss

Following a dominant 104-80 victory against the Dallas Wings that marked the Golden State Valkyries' inaugural postseason win at Mohegan Sun Arena, head coach Natalie Nakase expressed dissatisfaction with her squad's defensive energy during the second half. Despite holding their opponents to 47 percent shooting and maintaining a formidable defensive standard throughout the regular season, Nakase pointed out lapses where defenders failed to meet opponents high enough and allowed easy penetration into the paint.

Guard contributions from Cecilia Zandalasini, Gabby Williams, Tiffany Hayes, and Kaitlyn Chen helped secure the lopsided decision, though Nakase's post-game evaluation emphasized a need to review film and maintain the high performance standards expected during the playoff run.

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