Natalie Nakase criticized Phoenix guard Monique Akoa Makani for a fourth-quarter tripping foul on Veronica Burton, saying she saw Makani kick Burton and calling that physicality unacceptable. Referees ruled the foul common, but Nakase said the apparent kick should have been penalized and worries such actions deter players from attacking. Burton did not comment or react on the court. Nakase also cited rotation decisions and fatigue as factors in the second-half collapse but returned to the kicking incident during her remarks. The Valkyries played shorthanded due to scratches for Cecilia Zandalasini and Tiffany Hayes and are missing Iliana Rupert and Monique Billings.
"I saw Makani kick (Veronica) and I don't like it," Nakase said after the game. "When I see someone kick one of our players like that's a red flag for me. I don't like that type of physicality. ... Tripping a player, for me, that's not basketball."
"Kicking a player, I'm not really happy with that. So the physicality can be what it is, but that's unacceptable."
"If you get kicked by a player, what are your antennas going to do?" They're going to be a little nervous because the refs are not calling a kick. We're not playing soccer," Nakase said. "It's too bad that I didn't see it at game time. I had to actually see it after the game. But that's going to make players not want to attack again."
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