Valkyries third round pick Kokoro Tanaka was in the Bay for the first time on Friday, where she was celebrated pregame. Representing Japan at the World Cup, she averaged 14.8 points per game. She also banged the drum pregame, which made the Ballhalla crowd very happy.

“She's very, very competitive, highly skilled, IQ is off the charts,” head coach Natalie Nakase said. “She doesn't look like she struggles with different coverages, tight spaces. She looks like she does a really good job. Got that left-hand floater. She shoot the three. She scored all three levels. But what I kept saying, like in terms of body language and commanding and demanding, like she's competitive. So obviously, really proud to say that she's part of us. And then, just more importantly, like that she wants to get better.”

Nakase noted that developmental players Miela Sowah and Ashten Prechtel will dress for the remaining four regular season games.