@josiahcohen.bsky.social
Ex Warriors. Never had the makings of a varsity athlete. I write about the Valkyries: https://riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/
Pinned
Previewing Iliana Rupert's tactical fit with the Valkyries
The French Connection arrives in Golden State in its final form. How will Iliana Rupert mesh on the court with the Valks?
riseofthevalkyries.substack.com
How will Iliana Rupert fit with the Golden State Valkyries? An Xs and Os look at how her game translates, from pop/spacing and empty DHOs offensively to active hands and rim protection defensively. Also, a BLOB that GSV should adopt.
riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/previewing...
riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/previewing...
Reposted
Great stuff by Josiah! Great follow for WBB Analytics!
EuroLeague Women four factors and team ratings through regular season round five.
November 6, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Great stuff by Josiah! Great follow for WBB Analytics!
EuroLeague Women four factors and team ratings through regular season round five.
November 6, 2025 at 2:33 PM
EuroLeague Women four factors and team ratings through regular season round five.
EuroLeague Women advanced team stats, including Team/Opponent 4 Factors and ratings/100, and looked at a few early team storylines. Then, a breakdown of the conceptual and practical execution of Galatasaray's offense against a Schio defensive coverage. riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/how-many-v...
How many vowels in Galatasaray? How many offensive rebounds, too?
EuroLeague Women Four Factors and Team Ratings, and a look at Galatasaray's second-half execution against Schio.
riseofthevalkyries.substack.com
October 31, 2025 at 5:00 PM
EuroLeague Women advanced team stats, including Team/Opponent 4 Factors and ratings/100, and looked at a few early team storylines. Then, a breakdown of the conceptual and practical execution of Galatasaray's offense against a Schio defensive coverage. riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/how-many-v...
Clever from Maria Conde/Schio. They show the Spain action early (backscreen roll, pop), and Jess Shepard gets fouled. Then, off a BLOB, they show the same action, but Conde slips the back screen.
If Shepard fades wing, she might be able to hold Kuier and negate the recovery to the paint/contest.
If Shepard fades wing, she might be able to hold Kuier and negate the recovery to the paint/contest.
October 30, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Clever from Maria Conde/Schio. They show the Spain action early (backscreen roll, pop), and Jess Shepard gets fouled. Then, off a BLOB, they show the same action, but Conde slips the back screen.
If Shepard fades wing, she might be able to hold Kuier and negate the recovery to the paint/contest.
If Shepard fades wing, she might be able to hold Kuier and negate the recovery to the paint/contest.
OK then, Serena Sundell!
Nail tag w/ice coverage, recovers on the blind pig handoff, uses length to get the block from behind, drives the play in transition off the rebound and kicks it to Steph Talbot for three.
Nail tag w/ice coverage, recovers on the blind pig handoff, uses length to get the block from behind, drives the play in transition off the rebound and kicks it to Steph Talbot for three.
October 29, 2025 at 10:31 PM
OK then, Serena Sundell!
Nail tag w/ice coverage, recovers on the blind pig handoff, uses length to get the block from behind, drives the play in transition off the rebound and kicks it to Steph Talbot for three.
Nail tag w/ice coverage, recovers on the blind pig handoff, uses length to get the block from behind, drives the play in transition off the rebound and kicks it to Steph Talbot for three.
Geelong (WNBL) - SLOB - Box Zipper Ricky Exit (strong)
Jaz Shelley inbounds and gets an exit screen to the corner, creating a good look from three. Sequenced after wheel concepts that flow into empty pick-and-roll with Mackenzie Holmes finishing in the paint.
Jaz Shelley inbounds and gets an exit screen to the corner, creating a good look from three. Sequenced after wheel concepts that flow into empty pick-and-roll with Mackenzie Holmes finishing in the paint.
October 28, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Geelong (WNBL) - SLOB - Box Zipper Ricky Exit (strong)
Jaz Shelley inbounds and gets an exit screen to the corner, creating a good look from three. Sequenced after wheel concepts that flow into empty pick-and-roll with Mackenzie Holmes finishing in the paint.
Jaz Shelley inbounds and gets an exit screen to the corner, creating a good look from three. Sequenced after wheel concepts that flow into empty pick-and-roll with Mackenzie Holmes finishing in the paint.
EuroLeague Women offensive and defensive ratings through October 27. Fenerbahçe leads the pack offensively, while Girona has impressed in a group with Praha, Bourges, and Gdynia.
Using a simple possession estimator and data from EuroBasket.
Using a simple possession estimator and data from EuroBasket.
October 27, 2025 at 10:26 PM
EuroLeague Women offensive and defensive ratings through October 27. Fenerbahçe leads the pack offensively, while Girona has impressed in a group with Praha, Bourges, and Gdynia.
Using a simple possession estimator and data from EuroBasket.
Using a simple possession estimator and data from EuroBasket.
The offense of Iliana Rupert and Fenerbahce, the defense of Leïla Lacan (with a heuristic of defensive evaluations), and wrapping up the 2025 shot selection discussion, with a note on what it could mean for teams with new head coach hires.
riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/individual...
riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/individual...
Individual hoopers and EuroLeague basketball
The offense of Fenerbahçe, the defense of Leila Lacan, and a 2025 WNBA shot selection recap.
riseofthevalkyries.substack.com
October 27, 2025 at 3:11 PM
The offense of Iliana Rupert and Fenerbahce, the defense of Leïla Lacan (with a heuristic of defensive evaluations), and wrapping up the 2025 shot selection discussion, with a note on what it could mean for teams with new head coach hires.
riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/individual...
riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/individual...
Quick Leïla Lacan defense thread from Landes-Venezia.
Her effortlessness (a useful heuristic) while guarding in isolation and executing basic, important defensive concepts (X out in the third clip) really stands out in conjunction with her length. She does the basic things AND the advanced things.
Her effortlessness (a useful heuristic) while guarding in isolation and executing basic, important defensive concepts (X out in the third clip) really stands out in conjunction with her length. She does the basic things AND the advanced things.
October 25, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Quick Leïla Lacan defense thread from Landes-Venezia.
Her effortlessness (a useful heuristic) while guarding in isolation and executing basic, important defensive concepts (X out in the third clip) really stands out in conjunction with her length. She does the basic things AND the advanced things.
Her effortlessness (a useful heuristic) while guarding in isolation and executing basic, important defensive concepts (X out in the third clip) really stands out in conjunction with her length. She does the basic things AND the advanced things.
Fenerbahce, the Euroleague Women title favorite, is just so smooth. Doing all the small things right—everyone runs the right lane in transition (corner, corner, paint); Rupert fills fully down to the block and then lifts to take away the low help while Fener flows into empty PnR and a free layup.
October 23, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Fenerbahce, the Euroleague Women title favorite, is just so smooth. Doing all the small things right—everyone runs the right lane in transition (corner, corner, paint); Rupert fills fully down to the block and then lifts to take away the low help while Fener flows into empty PnR and a free layup.
Thread: Venezia 72 - 62 Mersin (October 9)
Mersin failed to score for the final 5:30 and Kaila Charles led the victors with a 15-point, 11-rebound outing. Her three-point rate jumped in 2025, which she finished with the Valkyries, and she shot 2-4 from deep here.
Mersin failed to score for the final 5:30 and Kaila Charles led the victors with a 15-point, 11-rebound outing. Her three-point rate jumped in 2025, which she finished with the Valkyries, and she shot 2-4 from deep here.
October 21, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Thread: Venezia 72 - 62 Mersin (October 9)
Mersin failed to score for the final 5:30 and Kaila Charles led the victors with a 15-point, 11-rebound outing. Her three-point rate jumped in 2025, which she finished with the Valkyries, and she shot 2-4 from deep here.
Mersin failed to score for the final 5:30 and Kaila Charles led the victors with a 15-point, 11-rebound outing. Her three-point rate jumped in 2025, which she finished with the Valkyries, and she shot 2-4 from deep here.
The on-season begins! Ramping up the international scouting, a Valkyries showdown (Euroleague: Girona vs. Praha) highlighting Kaitlyn Chen and Maria Conde, and then a look back at Golden State's historic three-point shooting from 2025. riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/the-on-sea...
The On-Season Begins
International competition is kicking into gear and NCAA hoops are coming. Plus, a three-point retrospective.
riseofthevalkyries.substack.com
October 20, 2025 at 3:32 PM
The on-season begins! Ramping up the international scouting, a Valkyries showdown (Euroleague: Girona vs. Praha) highlighting Kaitlyn Chen and Maria Conde, and then a look back at Golden State's historic three-point shooting from 2025. riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/the-on-sea...
A little Valkyries foreign legion action: Justė Jocytė isolates against Janelle Salaün, drives and kicks, Coulibaly hits the three to open things up for Girona in #EuroLeagueWomen earlier.
(Praha was not in zone to start the possession, just helped aggressively against the drive.)
(Praha was not in zone to start the possession, just helped aggressively against the drive.)
October 16, 2025 at 3:21 AM
A little Valkyries foreign legion action: Justė Jocytė isolates against Janelle Salaün, drives and kicks, Coulibaly hits the three to open things up for Girona in #EuroLeagueWomen earlier.
(Praha was not in zone to start the possession, just helped aggressively against the drive.)
(Praha was not in zone to start the possession, just helped aggressively against the drive.)
Went back into the clip archives to come up with the Most Valkyrie Play of the season, and then looked at some interesting lineup data on Janelle Salaün and Golden State’s French Connection as a whole. riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/most-valky...
Most Valkyrie Play, and other notes
Picking the most representative clip of the season, complimenting Janelle Salaün, and wondering if we saw the trailer or credits for the French Connection.
riseofthevalkyries.substack.com
September 30, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Went back into the clip archives to come up with the Most Valkyrie Play of the season, and then looked at some interesting lineup data on Janelle Salaün and Golden State’s French Connection as a whole. riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/most-valky...
One thing the Valkyries did with All-WNBA Rookie Team member Janelle Salaün was move her around, starting her at three different positions on the season. Only Ceci Zandalasini (10 starts vs. Salaün's 33) also started for GSV at three positions.
(You'll probably want to expand this image)
(You'll probably want to expand this image)
September 30, 2025 at 1:49 AM
One thing the Valkyries did with All-WNBA Rookie Team member Janelle Salaün was move her around, starting her at three different positions on the season. Only Ceci Zandalasini (10 starts vs. Salaün's 33) also started for GSV at three positions.
(You'll probably want to expand this image)
(You'll probably want to expand this image)
Reposted
"These moments don’t come around too often. More and more WNBA teams will join the league in the next few years, but there’s only one Valkyries inaugural season, only one Ballhalla, only one deeply personal connection for every fan."
Thanks, y'all.
riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/the-valkyr...
Thanks, y'all.
riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/the-valkyr...
The Valkyries ascend to Valhalla
A crushing fourth-quarter collapse sees the end of a tremendously successful season.
riseofthevalkyries.substack.com
September 18, 2025 at 4:35 AM
"These moments don’t come around too often. More and more WNBA teams will join the league in the next few years, but there’s only one Valkyries inaugural season, only one Ballhalla, only one deeply personal connection for every fan."
Thanks, y'all.
riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/the-valkyr...
Thanks, y'all.
riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/the-valkyr...
Salaün on Phee. Rupert for the added spacing.
It’s happening.
It’s happening.
Valks vs Minnesota starters:
Burton - Charles - Salaun - Zandalasini - Rupert
Burton - Charles - Salaun - Zandalasini - Rupert
September 18, 2025 at 1:41 AM
Salaün on Phee. Rupert for the added spacing.
It’s happening.
It’s happening.
Quite. Very much so, in a year of good coaching.
Your 2025 WNBA head coach of the year is Natalie Nakase | @sfchronicle.com
www.sfchronicle.com/sports/artic...
www.sfchronicle.com/sports/artic...
Natalie Nakase named WNBA Coach of the Year after steering expansion Valkyries to playoffs
Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase was named the WNBA’s Coach of the Year after guiding her first-year team to the most successful expansion season in league history.
www.sfchronicle.com
September 17, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Quite. Very much so, in a year of good coaching.
The Golden State Valkyries have lost 5 straight games to the Minnesota Lynx. Needing to make defensive adjustments for a win-or-stay home game 2, should they do the unthinkable against Napheesa Collier? riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/win-or-sta...
Win or stay home
The rise of the Valkyries comes down to one nail-biting night in San Jose. Can they stop the Lynx?
riseofthevalkyries.substack.com
September 17, 2025 at 2:43 PM
The Golden State Valkyries have lost 5 straight games to the Minnesota Lynx. Needing to make defensive adjustments for a win-or-stay home game 2, should they do the unthinkable against Napheesa Collier? riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/win-or-sta...
Reposted
Wrote about what happened in Valkyries-Lynx game one, from GSV’s paint deficit, turnover issues, and thumb down action, to MIN’s execution, guard wins defensively, and Natasha Hiedeman sparking the Lynx (to the left):
riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/lynx-out-e...
riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/lynx-out-e...
Lynx out-execute Valkyries to take series lead
Minnesota weathered an early storm and the Valkyries couldn't get much going on the road for their fifth consecutive loss to the Lynx.
riseofthevalkyries.substack.com
September 15, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Wrote about what happened in Valkyries-Lynx game one, from GSV’s paint deficit, turnover issues, and thumb down action, to MIN’s execution, guard wins defensively, and Natasha Hiedeman sparking the Lynx (to the left):
riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/lynx-out-e...
riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/lynx-out-e...
Quite. Very good.
NEWS: Veronica Burton has been named the 2025 WNBA Most Improved Player.
September 15, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Quite. Very good.
Wrote about what happened in Valkyries-Lynx game one, from GSV’s paint deficit, turnover issues, and thumb down action, to MIN’s execution, guard wins defensively, and Natasha Hiedeman sparking the Lynx (to the left):
riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/lynx-out-e...
riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/lynx-out-e...
Lynx out-execute Valkyries to take series lead
Minnesota weathered an early storm and the Valkyries couldn't get much going on the road for their fifth consecutive loss to the Lynx.
riseofthevalkyries.substack.com
September 15, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Wrote about what happened in Valkyries-Lynx game one, from GSV’s paint deficit, turnover issues, and thumb down action, to MIN’s execution, guard wins defensively, and Natasha Hiedeman sparking the Lynx (to the left):
riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/lynx-out-e...
riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/lynx-out-e...
Ok, finally getting a chance to watch GSV-MIN game one. Will try not to be too self-referential to the pre-game post in this thread, but it will sometimes be inevitable.
riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/how-the-va...
Zoom empty with Carleton—would love to shrink the floor more at the nail here.
riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/how-the-va...
Zoom empty with Carleton—would love to shrink the floor more at the nail here.
September 14, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Ok, finally getting a chance to watch GSV-MIN game one. Will try not to be too self-referential to the pre-game post in this thread, but it will sometimes be inevitable.
riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/how-the-va...
Zoom empty with Carleton—would love to shrink the floor more at the nail here.
riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/how-the-va...
Zoom empty with Carleton—would love to shrink the floor more at the nail here.