Kayla McBride Praises The Valkyries After Historic First Season

It was a historic campaign for the Valkyries, as they proved themselves to be one of the most exciting teams in the WNBA. They are only getting started with their time in the WNBA, but the future looks very bright.

This led many people around the league to be pleased with how their season ended. Most people thought the Valkyries had a good season, but they did not expect them to reach the Playoffs to go up against a top team like the Minnesota Lynx.

McBride and the Lynx Were Impressed By Golden State

The Valkyries took the Lynx to the limit, only losing by one point in the Playoffs. That was not what people expected from a sterling first-year team, but they kept fighting and proving themselves.

Head coach Natalie Nakase has been a fantastic hire for the Valkyries, as she secured the Coach of the Year award for the 2025 season. She impressed not only the players but also the ownership group with her competitive fire.

Her coaching became a big reason the Valkyries succeeded in their first year. They might have ended their run in the first round of the Playoffs, but that is still a stellar run.

Lynx guard Kayla McBride took note of this and made sure she praised Nakase and the rest of the Valkyries.

"They play so hard, you can definitely tell they are well coached. They know who they are, they have an identity, and they stick to it," McBride said after the Lynx's win.

"I think it's a lot of players who believe in each other. The energy and atmosphere they are creating are amazing... They just play hard, like really hard."

The Future is Bright for Golden State

The Warriors are not the only basketball team in the Bay Area, as the Valkyries proved they are worthy of being a top team. They were only in their first season, but they impressed.

That should continue to happen moving forward, as the Valkyries are good enough to be one of the best teams. They reached the Playoffs when no one expected them to.

Of course, everyone will have expectations for them now. However, Nakase's coaching and her players who have chips on their shoulders will continue to play for the team.

It will be an interesting break for the Valkyries, as they look to compete and prove themselves in the 2026 season.