The Golden State Valkyries made their final cuts Wednesday, waiving guard Kaitlyn Chen, and forwards Laeticia Amihere, Chloe Bibby, Mamignan Touré, and Elissa Cunane.
Valkyries followers objected because they saw Chen on TV during the NCAA championship game, so she must be worth keeping. And Amihere scored 20 points in the first exhibition game!
NBA observers used to joke during the ’90s, when Jordan was making the NBA product a household object, that inexperienced NBA coaches formed their draft strategies solely from watching the Final Four. The Chen supporters display that sort of judgment. Amihere’s 20 points against Los Angeles were scored while both coaches were evaluating every warm body.
I said Tuesday morning: “I hope [forward Kyara Linskens, vying for one of the 9-through-12 roster spots, is] around Friday night”, and wouldn’t you know it.
Linskens was uncannily well-positioned for some rebounds vs. Los Angeles (while 2 assists in 9 minutes at Phoenix was the highest rate among Valkyrie forwards). The best thing I can say about Linskens, a Belgian Olympic teammate of Valkyries guard Julie Vanloo, is that she demonstrates a sense for where everyone is on the floor.
Some coaches can whistle a practice dead, then back 10 players up to exactly where they were at the point the coach wants to talk about. Some players make no-look passes for the highlight shows by knowing where a couple players are at the appropriate time. Linskens gives an impression as one of those players, who might eventually become one of those coaches.
The San Francisco Chronicle said Linskens “secured the final spot on the roster after impressing in the second unit during the preseason”. After impressing whom? Me? (The piece quotes Valkyries GM Ohemaa Nyanin. Surely she, too.)