Golden State Valkyries playoff push: Preparing for the final stretch run

The Golden State Valkyries have won 12 of their last 14 games and are inching closer to securing their second consecutive playoff berth. Preparing for the postseason, however, is a tricky challenge for coach Natalie Nakase and her staff. The WNBA will pause its schedule for nearly three weeks in September so players and coaches can participate in the FIBA Women’s World Cup in Berlin. How will Nakase manage each player’s workload ahead of the tournament? What will Golden State’s rotation look like when the WNBA schedule resumes? On the “Section 415” podcast, reporter Jane Kenny joins host Kerry Crowley to discuss the difficult decisions the Valkyries’ leaders are navigating as they prepare for a playoff run. 0:00 Intro 0:27 Valkyries riding a hot streak into September 1:28 FIBA World Cup break looming near the end of the season 3:25 Golden State's second-unit advantage 6:11 Tiffany Hayes turns back the clock 8:01 Behind Janelle Salaün's journey to Golden State 11:59 Kiah Stokes' emergence as a defensive anchor 15:28 Projecting the playoff rotation 20:03 The case for Natalie Nakase as Coach of the Year Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices