Unheralded Valkyries big comes up clutch as Golden State steals Game 1 of WNBA Finals

The Valkyries have never been ones to put too much stock into the big names.

Since its inception in 2025, Golden State has relied on an amalgamation of dogged defenders and undervalued stars to surge up the WNBA standings. In 2026, that culminated with a berth in the WNBA Finals.

The Valkyries refused to go away from the well in Game 1 vs. the Dream. In fact, they doubled down on their approach to roster-building, giving the nod to backup big Laeticia Amihere for fleeting moments. She made her appearance count, playing a starring role in limited minutes as Golden State claimed a 68-64 win over its Eastern Conference adversary.

With that, here's what you need to know about Amihere's display on Saturday afternoon.

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Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase turned to an unlikely source to inject some life into its second unit in Amihere. The South Carolina product, the No. 8 pick in the 2023 Draft, has featured sparingly for Golden State during the postseason, yielding just six minutes thus far — all in the Valkyries' first game of the playoffs against the Wings.

With five DNPs to her name this postseason, Amihere wasn't expected to hear her name called. But when she was inserted into Nakase's lineup, she made sure to make it count.

Amihere recorded five points, five rebounds, one steal and one block in 14 minutes of action. She finished the game with a +9, the joint-third-best mark of any player to take the floor. The 27-year-old provided valuable minutes from her post, flaunting the versatility and motor that prompted Golden State's front office to secure her services ahead of the 2025 season.

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Had to run back this play by Laeticia Amihere 😮‍💨 https://t.co/IcEbKMmNyi

Amihere's contributions proved notable. Her scoring and rebounding output arguably proved the difference for the Valkyries, who now sit just three games away from immortality.

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