The secrets of the amazing Golden State Valkyries

Good morning. Steve Ballmer responds to the allegations, Giannis eliminates the reigning EuroBasket champs and the expansion Golden State Valkyries have clinched a playoff spot. Let's basketball.

The Golden State Valkyries, an expansion team in their debut season in the WNBA, clinched a playoff spot on Thursday night with a win over the Dallas Wings.

No WNBA expansion team has ever done this in their debut season. Usually, expansion teams are absolutely awful for a year or two because leagues typically structure new franchises' entrances to require a build-up. They don't claim No. 1 picks right away. Expansion drafts allow teams to protect star players. Building a roster of spare parts is a challenge.

But the Valkyries did it by focusing on defense first, by leaning into the three-point line on offense, by bringing in a healthy collection of veteran players (not just high upside dice roll youngsters) and through excellent coaching and team management. The Valkyries' quick success also confirms that there is too much women's basketball talent in the world for a 12-team WNBA. The league is ripe for expansion given the talent level. As such, it's good news the league is growing to 18 teams in the next few years.

The focus on defense (GSV is currently No. 5 in the league, and No. 1 in shot defense and No. 3 in defensive rebounding) is really crucial. Defense is cheaper than offense in pro basketball, and more attainable. It's a lesson failed-state small-market NBA teams should learn: build a defensive juggernaut if you want to end a playoff drought and don't have access to a top-10 player. To make up for offensive deficiencies caused by the lack of a high-end scorer or playmaker, the Valkyries' offense leaned into the three-point revolution, taking a league-high 46% of the FGAs from deep. No. 2 in the league in that category (Atlanta) is at 41.7%. Golden State isn't particularly efficient from deep (below average, in fact). But they play a slow pace, they put opponents in a box (Paige Bueckers, who is incredible, still had 27 for Dallas last night) and grind out wins. Having not attended a WNBA game since the Monarchs reigned, I won't say that the Valkyries have the best home crowd in the W. I don't know. But they have the biggest home crowd, having sold out every game this season.

What a legendary season with a few more games remaining and then the playoffs. More than anything, excuses for expansion teams are out the window. It can be done.

Ballmer Speaks

This story just keeps on giving.

Clippers franchise boss Steve Ballmer is a brave man and appears to really believe he is innocent in this whole Aspiration saga. He did a full, on-air interview with ESPN's Ramona Shelburne. It's 16 minutes long. There's a news piece stemming from it as well.