𝐋𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐚 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 🔥🇫🇷
Comme prévu, on vous partage notre bilan des Frenchies dans un long fil.
On commence par...
𝑳𝒆𝒔 𝑽𝒂𝒍𝒌𝒔 𝒅𝒆 𝒍𝒂 𝑩𝒂𝒊𝒆 𝒅𝒆 𝑺𝒂𝒏 𝑭𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒆𝒔𝒄𝒐
Dominique Malonga is no longer on the injury report! The team also announced that they released Joyner Holmes, since she was on a Hardship contract until Malonga was ready to return. Also of note, Lexie Brown is OUT for tomorrow's game and listed as "Not with Team". #WNBA
Wanted to dive into this DeMarco quote on Pauline Astier: "We're trying to give her the proper space for those attacks, and as the defense comes to help, she's really playing well behind the play, and that's so hard to teach young guards, to get to two feet and play behind. That's what we want in our offense, she's doing a really good job."
What is playing "behind" and why is it an important part of creating 3-point looks in this offense? Here:
We talked with Carla Leite pregame, she spoke about her opportunity with Portland, her time w/ GSV, and the leaps she’s taken:
“It was a fresh start for me with new teammates, a new coaching staff, and I think I took responsibility and I showed that I can play in this league.”
The Leite Show was must-see TV in Ballhalla in our inaugural year. 💜
Carla Leite gets a standing O from @ChaseCenter in her first game back with the Portland Fire.
Kayla Thornton and Janelle Salaün discuss the Valkyries setting a new franchise record for most 3PM, playing against Carla Leite, and how KT’s knee is feeling after playing in all 9 games to start the season…
@ThePodiumFinish
"Noémie's got that [great POA activity]... great size, she moves well. She understands navigating pick & roll's... I'm really excited about her defensive potential, to be quite honest."
Nate Tibbetts spoke glowing with me on Noémie Brochant's impact + immediate respect earned.
Chris DeMarco said Marine Fauthoux was a full participant today in practice, and is "close" to being a participant in games.
Sabrina Ionescu (back soreness) is doing well, per DeMarco. "She had a long individual today, she's getting closer to participating in practice." He said the goal is to get Ionescu back for Wednesday's game v. Toronto.