Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase rips Mercury guard Monique Akoa Makani: ‘We’re not playing soccer’
SAN FRANCISCO — Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase didn’t hold back on Phoenix Mercury guard Monique Akoa Makani following Tuesday night’s loss.
At the 6:13 mark of the fourth quarter, Makani was called for a tripping foul as tried to stop Valkyries’ guard Veronica Burton from driving to the rim.
Referees deemed the foul to be common, but after watching the play after the game, Nakase said she believed there was dangerous intent behind the foul.
“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.”
Burton did not address the incident after the game and did not have a reaction on the court after the foul.
Later in the post game news conference, Nakase was asked if fatigue played a part in Tuesday’s loss and said her rotations played a part in the team falling apart in the second half. But she then pivoted back to Makani later in her answer.
“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.”
While Nakase has criticized referees before, this is the first time this season she has publicly called out an opposing player after a game.
The Valkyries have been ravaged by injuries, having to scratch forward Cecilia Zandalasini (calf) and Tiffany Hayes (rest) just minutes before game time. Golden State went into Tuesday’s game without centers Iliana Rupert (concussion) and Monique Billings (left ankle sprain), and don’t have All-Star Kayla Thornton for the rest of the season.
Burton had a historic game despite the loss, becoming just the third player in league history to have 14 assists and zero turnovers. She also set the franchise record for assists in a single game. Burton finished with a game-high 24 points while making all 10 of her free throw attempts.
The Valkyries have lost back-to-back games at home and will get another crack at the Mercury on Friday when they travel to Phoenix.