WNBA Title Contenders and Built on Defense: How the Valkyries Can Win the WNBA Championship with the Play-By-Play Voice of the Golden State Valkyries Kevin Danna

Kevin Danna, the radio voice of the Golden State Valkyries, joins Hoopsology for a deep, wide-ranging conversation covering the most unprecedented expansion story in recent sports memory, his own remarkable broadcasting journey, and where basketball's biggest leagues are headed next. Kevin opens with a personal favorite-memory tradition — crying as a kid after John Paxson's Game 6 shot sealed the Bulls' 1993 title over Phoenix, and being in the building for Golden State's first home playoff win in 13 years back in 2007 — before diving into just how historic the Valkyries' rise has been.

He compares it to the Vegas Golden Knights' stunning inaugural Stanley Cup Final run, then walks through the franchise's full two-year build: a roster nobody outside the organization knew entering year one (undrafted French national teamer Janelle Salaün, overseas standout Carla Leite, in-and-out journeywoman Iliana Rupert), role players who broke out into All-Stars (Kayla Thornton, Veronica Burton), and the year-two additions — Gabby Williams and Kiah Stokes — that turned a surprise playoff team into a legitimate title contender now sitting at 28-11. The heart of the conversation digs into what's actually driving the winning: a suffocating, league-best defense under head coach Natalie Nakase that allows the fewest points per game in the WNBA by a wide margin, the league's slowest pace, and a three-point volume approach that bails them out even on cold shooting nights.

Kevin breaks down the matchups the Valkyries most want to avoid in the playoffs (namely A'ja Wilson and a stacked Minnesota Lynx roster), before painting a vivid picture of the team's one-of-a-kind fanbase — a crowd almost entirely unconnected to Warriors season-ticket holders, decked out in homemade violet gear at "Valhalla" (their nickname for Chase Center), and known for something almost unheard of in sports: giving standing ovations after losses. From there, Kevin shares his own origin story — from student manager at Stanford alongside future NBA players, to building his resume calling everything from water polo to softball, to a chance Stanford pickup-basketball connection with Kirk Lacob that eventually led to the Santa Cruz Warriors job and, 15 years later, the Valkyries gig.

He breaks down why the G League matters far more than casual fans realize — as a rehab site for stars like Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, a coaching pipeline, and a testing ground for rules the NBA and WNBA have since adopted — and shares his own game-prep process across the NBA, WNBA, and G League. The episode closes with Kevin's take on what's next for basketball globally, including his firsthand experience covering French professional hoops during Victor Wembanyama's pre-draft year, his curiosity about the developing NBA Europe league, and the WNBA's ambitious plan to reach 18 teams by 2030. 🏀 Subscribe to Hoopsology Podcast for in-depth NBA and WNBA conversations, insider interviews, and breaking news breakdowns you won't find anywhere else. 👉 Follow Kevin Danna: Twitter/X @Kevo408, Instagram @Dannamansj408 👉 Drop a comment: Is this Valkyries fanbase the best in the WNBA? #GoldenStateValkyries #WNBA #KevinDanna #Hoopsology #Valhalla Learn more about your ad choices.

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