The Golden State Valkyries have quietly built a strong foundation around Veronica Burton and Gabby Williams. The team is 5-3 this season, carrying forward the legacy they left behind. Yet, Natalie Nakase hasn’t been able to use her team’s full strength so far, particularly with one player, prompting the Valkyries’ coach to double down on it after defeat to the Las Vegas Aces.

The player in question in this regard is the Valkyries’ first-ever WNBA draft pick, Juste Jocyte. Initially picked in the draft last season, Jocyte graced the Valkyries’ pit for the first team this season due to her EuroBasket commitments last year. But she is still far from being a regular in the rotation, playing just five minutes in her last appearance against the Aces. Speaking of it in the post-game presser, Nakase has pinpointed health concerns.

“She’s still four practices in so far,” Nakase said as per Bay Area News HQ journalist Nathan Canilao. “So, letting her body adjust, we had to actually play a couple more stay-ready games or practice the other day. We’re just easing her curtain because again, if I throw her out there and all of a sudden she goes down, I’m gonna look in the mirror and be like, “What are you doing, coach?” So, I just have to make sure of the right time.”

In the season so far, Juste Jocyte has suited up for the Golden State Valkyries just three times. She got just five minutes of play against the Connecticut Sun while playing 16 minutes in the win against the Indiana Fever. In the 91-81 defeat to the Aces as well, Jocyte was majorly slotted in the final five minutes of the game.

This shows how careful Natalie Nakase has been in distributing Jocyte’s minutes. And to be honest, the Valkyries’ head coach has a point. We’ve seen in the last few years how seasoned NCAA players like Caitlin Clark struggle to keep up with the league’s tempo and physicality in their rookie season.

To tackle it, Nakase has designed a strategic roadmap for the 20-year-old to get her into the groove with the league conveniently, without any underlying caveats. Nakase’s emphasis is clearly on the players’ long-term availability rather than on immediate impact.

Despite limited minutes, her skills from playing in France and Spain are clearly showing. In her five-minute stay on the court against the Aces, Jocyte recorded five points, a rebound, and an assist. Even in the game against the Indiana Fever, Jocyte impressed with a step-back three over Clark, despite scoring just three points in the game.

The glimpses of a future All-Star are clearly being seen in Juste Jocyte’s game. But like Nakase, she is learning to be patient and not rush a decision.

“I think I was just patient,” Jocyte said, according to The IX Sports. “It’s really hard to get in the group that already has a lot of rhythm. … So, just to stay patient. I know with these kinds of games, I can get in whenever time. I don’t really know my role yet, because I’m still trying to adjust. But, as I said, I just had to stay ready.”

Despite Jocyte’s late contribution, the Las Vegas Aces proved to be a tough opponent to crack for Natalie Nakase. The Valkyries conceded the 90+ point mark for just the second time this season. The Aces dominate on the offensive, scoring 48% from the field.

Furthermore, A’ja Wilson and team also dominated on the glass, outrebounding the Valkyries 45-33. But even on this dismal night, Nakase is emphasizing the silver linings from the game.

Natalie Nakase Heaps Praise on Kayla Thornton for Her Tactically Sound Performance

One of the major currencies for the Golden State Valkyries this season has been the three-pointers. The team is currently tied for the most three-pointers made this season with 92. And against the Las Vegas Aces, it was again their shooting from deep that kept them hunting in the game.

The Valkyries went 16 of 35 for 46% on the night. And in this impressive scoring spree, Natalie Nakase had a special recognition for her forward, Kayla Thornton. Thornton went 4 of 7 in the game from beyond the arc. When asked about it in the post-game presser, Nakase was in full praise of her.

“I thought what was great with KT is she maintained her space,” Nakase said in the post-game presser. “We got our spacing a little bit too tight. And I think with that tight spacing, that’s why we had a couple of more turnovers. So, just credit to KT for making that space, and just staying confident.”

Besides Thornton, Gabby Williams also went 4 of 6 from beyond the arc. Janelle Salaun, who came off the bench, also had three three-pointers on the scoreboard. But at the end of the day, it wasn’t just enough, as Wilson and Jackie Young took over for the Aces with 51 combined points.