JANIE McCAULEY Sports Writer, Author at The Rapid City Post

FILE - Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga dribbles against the Minnesota Timberwolves during Game 3 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff series May 10, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez, File)

Jonathan Kuminga gets going on the court with Warriors after three-month contract stalemate

October 2, 2025

Jonathan Kuminga says he considered it a positive learning experience going through a lengthy contract negotiation to better understand the NBA’s business side, and the fifth-year forward expressed a desire to stay with the Golden State Warriors for the long term. Whether that sentiment is mutual, he hopes so. Only time will tell. Kuminga went through his first practice with the Warriors since signing a two-year contract Tuesday that would pay him $46.5 million. As a group, Golden State welcomed back Kuminga after months of uncertainty for both sides because of the contract stalemate.

Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase gestures during the second half of a WNBA basketball game against the Indiana Fever, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Golden State Valkyries’ Natalie Nakase voted WNBA Coach of the Year after reaching playoffs

September 17, 2025

Natalie Nakase won over Golden State Valkyries owner Joe Lacob with her fire in a matter of two hours when they sat down last year for a formal interview. Now, the entire WNBA understands why. Nakase was named WNBA Coach of the Year after leading her team to the playoffs, making league history as the only first-year franchise to reach the postseason. The announcement came ahead of Golden State’s home game against the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx.

The Valkyries made WNBA history and won over fans in just one season

September 13, 2025

The playoff-bound Golden State Valkyries have captivated their target audience to be sure, and then some. Every age and color, every walk of life, that’s what you see in the sellout crowds at raucous, packed Chase Center — where grown men are rocking their pale purple, call it “Valkyries violet” — and the team became the first expansion franchise in WNBA history to earn a playoff berth in its first season.

Valkyries beat Wings 84-80 to become 1st expansion team to reach playoffs in inaugural season

September 4, 2025

The Golden State Valkyries became the first WNBA team to reach the playoffs in its inaugural season, with Janelle Salaun scoring 19 points in an 84-80 comeback victory against the Dallas Wings for their fifth straight win. Veronica Burton’s three-point play with 22.3 seconds to go and four free throws over the final 11.4 seconds helped seal it as she scored 15 points. Carla Leite also added 15.

Ray Woodfork, a graduate of Twinning Project's collaboration with the NBA's Golden State Warriors and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation's cohort 1, shoots a basket at Solano State Prison in Vacaville, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Golden State Warriors help transform lives of incarcerated men through coaching program

June 23, 2025

The Golden State Warriors are partnering with the UK-based Twinning Project to teach incarcerated men at Solano State Prison in Vacaville, California, how to coach. The program includes a focus on mental health and anger management, too. Coaching has provided a purpose and much-needed self-confidence for these men, many of whom are serving sentences of life without the possibility of parole.

Kayla Thornton scores 16 points as Valkyries rally past Caitlin Clark, Fever 88-77

June 19, 2025

Kayla Thornton hit two key 3-pointers over the final 4:57 and scored 16 points to go with six rebounds, and the Golden State Valkyries rallied past Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever 88-77. Clark had 11 points, nine assists and seven rebounds and her layup with 4:12 remaining pulled Indiana within two points — but Golden State had an answer to each threat. A raucous crowd roared as the Valkyries (6-6) sold out their sixth straight home game to start the season

JANIE McCAULEY Sports Writer.