Valkyries still without key players as they prepare for return to WNBA regular season

OAKLAND — The Golden State Valkyries are officially back in the Bay Area and at practice.

Most of them, at least.

As Golden State prepared Wednesday to face the Portland Fire on Friday at Chase Center, the Valks were without frontline players Gabby Williams, Janelle Salaun and Cecilia Zandalasini, all of whom recently returned from playing integral roles while representing their countries at the FIBA World Cup.

Salaun and Williams led France to the gold medal game, where they lost 97-79 to the United States on Sunday in Berlin.

A quick 12-hour flight or so later, they returned to the Bay Area. But not yet to the practice court at Sephora Performance Center in Oakland.

“What day is it right now?” quipped coach Natalie Nakase, navigating her own adjustment period after helping Team USA to gold as an assistant coach. “Everyone’s different, so I’m giving them their space and time. I want them to be healthy after this four-game stretch (to end the regular season).”

Developmental reserve Miela Sowah, who represented Australia at the World Cup but did not play heavy minutes, was at practice Wednesday.

Nakase indicated that the three key Valkyries players who had significant roles for their national teams will be eased back into WNBA competition as Golden State closes out the regular season.

“If I’m tired, I can only imagine how they feel,” she said. “It’s a check-in. So when do they wake up or what time? I woke up at 4 o’clock in the morning. So it’s giving them that space to sleep. Don’t feel pressured. Rest, recover, because we want to be healthy come playoff time. So whatever that looks like.”

The Valkyries played without the trio in their 86-69 rout of the Fire in Portland right before the World Cup break on Aug. 30. They may have a nearly identical assignment Friday night.

With four games remaining in the regular season, Golden State (29-11) sits in second place, two games back of Minnesota (31-9) for the top seed in the WNBA playoffs.

Behind them are Las Vegas (27-13), Atlanta (26-14) and Indiana (26-14), all of which could usurp them for the second seed.

So the final slate of Portland and Seattle back-to-back at home, then a short road trip to face Portland on Tuesday and Los Angeles next Thursday, is a significant four-game stretch.

“We have no other option but to respond,” said point guard Veronica Burton, who stayed behind and played well in leading the Valkyries against Portland. “So I expect nothing less of us.

“It was a weird break. But at the end of the day, you can take advantage of it. So we got rested. We got back in the gym. We’ve been training, competing, and now we just get back at it. I mean, every single team had it, so there’s no excuse with that.”

Facing a trio of non-playoff teams presents an opportunity for the Valks to set themselves up for the best possible seed while reintegrating players who just laid it on the line internationally.

It’s hardly an ideal scenario given the Valkyries’ rip-roaring success before the break, which saw them end on a four-game winning streak while blowing Minnesota, Connecticut, New York and Portland out of the water on the road.

But it’s not a bad runway to pick up speed before the playoffs start on Sept. 27 in San Francisco.

“Whoever is available is available,” Burton said. “Whoever is not, not. We show up. We compete, and that’s what I’m focused on.”

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