SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase called out Phoenix Mercury guard Monique Akoa Makani for her physicality during their game on Tuesday night.
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Aug 7, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Mercury guard Monique Akoa Makani (8) against the Indiana Fever during WNBA game at PHX Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Phoenix and Golden State played a back-and-forth game, with Phoenix taking a 98-91 win after a dominant second half. After missing Tuesday’s game against the Seattle Storm, Akoa Makani played a few minutes during the first three quarters and the entire fourth quarter.
When asked how Akoa Makani’s presence in the fourth sparked the second-half comeback, Mercury head coach Nate Tibbetts said it was her defense.
Aug 19, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Valkyries guard Kate Martin (20) shoots over Phoenix Mercury guard Monique Akoa Makani (8) in the first quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images
“[Akoa Makani] did a great job on [Veronica] Burton,” he said, according to the team’s post-game recording. “I didn’t think in the first half, when she came in, she was playing at the level that she needed to. I didn’t know where her rhythm was. I wanted to give her a second chance in the second half… She sets the tone for our defense.”
However, Nakase wasn’t pleased with the Mercury guard’s play during the game.
“I think the game got really physical,” she said, according to the team’s post-game recording. “I mean, at one point, I saw [Akoa] Makani kick [Burton] and I didn’t like it.”
Aug 19, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton (22) gets fouled by Phoenix Mercury guard Monique Akoa Makani (8) in the fourth quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Eakin Howard-Imagn Images
The Valkyries’ head coach credited Phoenix for their rebounding and play during the second half, but continued to express her disappointment in what she saw allegedly transpire between Akoa Makani and Burton.
“Tripping a player, for me, that’s not basketball,” said Nakase. “And what we’re here to do is build our record. Obviously, to make the playoffs, that’s the priority. But kicking a player? I’m not really happy with that. So the physicality can be what it is, but that’s unacceptable.”
With the win, Phoenix now holds the tiebreaker against Golden State and has improved to 21-13 for the season.
Rewind and take a look at how our 5-game slate went down 📺@nyliberty defeated the Lynx@ConnecticutSun won against the Mystics@seattlestorm conquered the Sky@LVAces overcame the Dream@PhoenixMercury topped the Valkyries pic.twitter.com/E8KOYsHXBa
— WNBA (@WNBA) August 20, 2025
The two teams will meet again in the desert on Friday, Aug. 22, for their final game against each other this season.
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Wendy Lopez is a reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @wlopezde
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