OAKLAND — Monique Billings said it all without saying a word.
Inside the Valkyries’ practice facility Thursday afternoon, Kaitlyn Chen was asked to evaluate her rookie season in the WNBA. She glanced at the veteran sitting to her left and said, “I can’t believe it’s over.”
Billings’ eyes welled up with emotion as she mouthed two words back to Chen: “I know.”
Less than 24 hours after the Valkyries let a 17-point lead slip away in a 75-74 loss to the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx, the expansion team was still processing the end to its inaugural season. On the one hand, they shocked the league with their unprecedented and unexpected run to the postseason. On the other, the franchise has far loftier goals than a first-round exit.
Addressing the team after the loss, coach Natalie Nakase attempted to thread the needle.
“That was one of the points in Natalie’s speech: We want to win a championship. That’s what this organization is trying to build, and this is just one step,” said center Iliana Rupert, who finished with eight points in 32 minutes Wednesday. “I don’t know how many times. she said it, but she’s really proud of us. She told us that, even her, she didn’t really know what to expect and never would have believed we could accomplish so much. … It was a really beautiful moment. Some tears were shed.”
Forced to move their lone home playoff game to the SAP Center in San Jose because of a scheduling conflict at Chase Center, the unrivaled atmosphere of Balhalla migrated south with a sellout of 18,543 fans.
After they were eliminated, the capacity crowd gave the team a standing ovation.
“It kind of felt like we won,” said guard Tiffany Hayes, who didn’t play because of a knee injury.
“It was so loud in there, just from the jump,” added reserve guard Kate Martin. “From the tipoff to the final buzzer — and even after the final buzzer — it was so loud in there. It was the loudest I’ve ever heard it.”
Much like the enthusiasm the upstart team has generated from those fans this season, their outlook toward an uncertain offseason was as positive as can be. Still, they left for their offseason commitments with plenty of questions.
“The W’s going to be different,” said Cecilia Zandalasini, who had the ball in her hands with a chance to extend the Valkyries’ season but had her contested jumper clank off the rim as the buzzer sounded.
A roster that churned through 20 players will likely see more turnover with some players set to become free agents. The league will grow by two more teams, meaning two more expansion drafts and two more front offices trying to replicate the Valkyries’ instant success as the only first-year franchise to make the postseason. There is also the outstanding question of a new collective bargaining agreement, which must be ratified by the players and the owners before next season can tip off.
“It’s a good problem to have,” Kaila Charles said. “We’re expanding. The league is getting bigger. There’s room for more players. Hopefully we can come to an agreement soon and we’re able to start the season on time. … (I’m) just looking forward to finding a home and being on the team. Hopefully that’s here, but with the expansion draft, you never know.”
Charles is one of five unrestricted free agents on the Valkyries roster — along with Billings, Hayes, Kayla Thornton and Temi Fagbenle — all of whom expressed a similar desire to return. There are only two players who won’t be free agents in some form: Kate Martin and Carla Leite.
“I would love to come back here next year,” Billings said. Hayes echoed the sentiment, adding her decision was “as simple as it’s going to get.” Fagbenle, a late scratch from Wednesday’s game, also said she would “love to be back here next year.”
But, she added, “We’ll have to see.”
One thing is sure: the Valkyries have their coach, which is more than can be said for the team this time last year. Nakase’s hire wasn’t announced until last October, and on Wednesday, she was presented the WNBA Coach of the Year trophy before tipoff.
“All we know is that the people who we have now are a great foundation to build upon,” Fagbenle said. “Everyone can see that. So, how many of us can you keep together? That’s the question.”
Notable
— Thornton, whose season came to an end in July by a knee injury she suffered in practice, was not made available. Nor were Nakase or general manager Ohemaa Nyanin, who are expected to address reporters early next week.
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— Hayes was limited to 26 games and didn’t see the court for the final month of the season because of her own knee injury. She said it was “definitely frustrating” but taught her a lesson: “Taking care of yourself is very important. … You want to be there for the team, so you push, push, push. But I’m learning that it’s not always best to be that way.”
— Fagbenle said it was “excruciating” to be forced to watch the loss from the bench. She was ruled out in a game-time decision, “and, hey, it looked like the right choice for a long time in that game,” she said. “Until the last quarter. Right? They did great without me.”
— For much of the roster, the offseason won’t offer much of a chance to rest. Hayes, Billings, Charles, Janelle Salaun, Laeticia Amihere, Zandalasini, Leite and Fagbenle all have plans to play overseas. Chen has committed to Athletes Unlimited, the new league based out of Nashville. Last offseason, Martin played in another upstart league, Unrivaled, and was wearing the league’s merchandise in her exit interview, though she identified some other priorities: “Enjoy some family time, go home, go on vacation.”