Inside the Valkyries practice, where shooting drills meet dance moves

"Golden State Valkyries fans are in an eight day drought waiting for the team's next game in New York City. They have not been able to watch their beloved point guard, Veronica Burton, command the court or their French phenom, Janelle Salaün, sink a three in almost a week. The sound of Kiah Stokes stuffing a Chicago Sky shot last Wednesday is no longer ringing in anyone's ears."

"Burton, Salaün, and Stokes are all still playing ball, of course. But they're doing it at practice, across the bay in downtown Oakland. So for those who cannot wait a minute longer, Mission Local took it upon ourselves to go behind the scenes. (We stayed totally calm, there was no fan-girling, we promise)."

"The Valk's practice on a far larger court than the one at the Chase Center where they play their games and last Friday the team was spread out at four different hoops. There were a handful of Valkyries at each basket along with a coach or two, and a few male practice players. We gathered behind the basket where Burton was practicing with Kaila Charles, Tiffany Hayes and Katilyn Chen. The players went through a series of shooting drills from different spots on the court - sometimes passing or driving to the hoop."

"At one point, one of the male practice players brandished a long black "dummy defender" hand to simulate an especially tall player putting their hands up to block a shot. Chen, who at 5-foot-9 often goes up against defenders well over six feet, was prepared, using her now-signature hook shot, and laying the ball up around the towering fake hand."

Golden State Valkyries fans face an eight-day wait for the team’s next game in New York City. Veronica Burton, Janelle Salaün, and Kiah Stokes continue playing during the downtime, but their work happens at practice in downtown Oakland. The team practices on a larger court than the one used at the Chase Center, with players spread across four hoops and coaches overseeing drills. Shooting work includes attempts from different spots, with passing and driving into the hoop. Kaila Charles, Tiffany Hayes, and Katilyn Chen join Burton at one basket. Hayes practices both shooting and dance moves, while Chen uses a hook shot to finish over a tall simulated defender.

Read at Mission Local