Sign in

josiahcohen.bsky.social

@josiahcohen.bsky.social
288 followers 137 following 843 posts

Ex Warriors. Never had the makings of a varsity athlete. I write about the WNBA and the Valkyries: riseofthevalkyries.substack.com

PostsRepliesMedia
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
How the Aces beat the Fever (again): - A'ja Wilson & Chelsea Gray isos (and more) - Actions that got them to their spots, and how the Fever might have defended the pindown - Efficiency gap between the Aces and Fever, from eFG% to FTAR disparity Read: riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/aces-fever...
riseofthevalkyries.substack.com
How the Aces beat the Fever (again)
A’ja Wilson’s dominance and the Aces offense that enabled it, winning the efficiency and consistency battles over the Fever.
173
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Super high IQ play by the Aces in the fourth quarter of last night's closeout win over the Fever. Quick breakdown of how Vegas' vets countered Indiana's "wide" action recognition on the fly:
020
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Quick pregame thread on Dream-Mystics (didn't have time for a full write-up). WAS got an early lead by winning the strength-on-strength bigs matchup: they're bigger, by weighted minutes, and Iriafen/Austin/Betts scoring on their counterparts is huge for the paint-focused offense
130
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Tactical analysis of Liberty-Lynx game 2: What went wrong for MIN (paint effects on Miles & Howard, poor time for poor shooting, DREB failures), what went right for NYL's offense (Jonquel at all levels, Sabrina spacing, team passing), & more. Read: riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/liberty-ly...
riseofthevalkyries.substack.com
Dreams and Nightmares: Liberty Sweep Lynx
New York shuts off the paint, executes the little things to knock out top-seeded Minnesota
120
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I'm inclined to think this was a good bit of Lynx tendency/prep work. Steal by Napheesa Collier on Breanna Stewart, who likes going low right-left cross to get into a drive, and Collier has active hands to poke the ball loose after Stewie catches block on the Iverson Follow slip.
030
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Liberty vs. Lynx G2Q1: after Miles faced fullcourt pressure G1, MIN adjusted to other players advancing the ball/swinging to Miles in halfcourt. But the execution was inconsistent (to Reeve's justified frustration) & Jones+Fiebich again walled off the paint when Miles did drive.
110
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Pregame reading for Aces-Fever 2: - how A'ja Wilson dominated G1 on offense and defense - the Fever's cross-matching & Aces counters - Indy's offensive answers, from Clark stepbacks vs. switch, Boston looks, a Twirl series, Mitchell improvement Read: riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/aces-fever...
riseofthevalkyries.substack.com
Las Vegas Aces (3) vs. Indiana Fever (6) - Game 1 Analysis
An A’ja Wilson masterclass gives the Aces a resounding win over Caitlin Clark and the Fever.
130
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Valkyries-Wings game 1: - Dallas' matchup disadvantages, exemplified by Tip Hayes - Valks DHO execution (no matter the adjustment) - Exertion battles (possession & seasonal) - "Is it real?" the stats behind Paige Bueckers and GSV's hot shooting Read: riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/valkyries-...
riseofthevalkyries.substack.com
Golden State Valkyries (2) vs. Dallas Wings (7) - Game 1 Analysis
Hot-shooting Valks blow out Dallas in matchups, math, and energy.
163
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Las Vegas Aces vs. Indiana Fever 1st half: my goodness, A'ja Wilson. Unstoppable offensively at all 3 levels & the offense is designed to maximize that unstoppability. Forced quick defensive adjustments by IND (doubling, load empty side); didn't matter.
171
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Breakdown of Liberty-Lynx game 1: - how NYL defended Olivia Miles - the Kayla McBride/Napheesa Collier 2-player game - Breanna Stewart & Jonquel Jones, engines - New York's most important offensive set - "Is it real?" with Han Xu & Nia Brodie Read: riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/lynx-liber...
riseofthevalkyries.substack.com
Minnesota Lynx (1) vs. New York Liberty (8) - Game 1 Analysis
How the Liberty defended Olivia Miles and Kayla McBride, the Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones engines, and more.
140
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
New York Liberty vs. Minnesota Lynx Q1: heavy ice coverage especially against Olivia Miles from all POA defenders (Fiebich matchup, Astier cross-match). Fiebich/Stewie switchable, Jones effective in drop, Fiebiech great length to recover/frustrate Miles.
140
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
End-of-season WNBA challenge results: Sky top the league in success rate, Valkyries make a late-season push, Fire and Dream finish with the most per game. Stands/supported are not official distinctions (both are unsuccessful challenges) but I think it can be useful.
191
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Atlanta Dream -(Empty) Double Drag (77) Shallow NYL fails to ice the ball and are forced to switch 1-3 to take away the drive, but don't do it cleanly (Reese's screen works to pin in Astier), and so the shallow cut to the no-help side by Hillmon offers a wide open ATL three.
151
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
The Mystics offense is cooking lately: they ran such a beautifully layered play that I had to give it the voiceover treatment. Why their end-of-quarter layup, on a fake double drag backdoor, was not only a great callback but perfect beat of the Fever's coverage (sound on):
180
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Two-minute breakdown: the inbounder handoff/Zoom has been one of the most popular baseline inbound (BLOB) play in the WNBA this season. Why it works, & how the Minnesota Lynx optimize the action for the trio of Olivia Miles, Courtney Williams, and Kayla McBride. YT: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_z0...
youtube.com
How the Minnesota Lynx optimize a common WNBA baseline inbound play
YouTube video by Josiah Cohen
020
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Clip catchup: great BLOB sequencing by the Fever, getting a backdoor off a stagger and then switching to screen for the would-be-screener Mitchell for a three. First's open because Tempo have 3 defenders on the initial threat, Nurse takes a step over to help, easy inbound pass.
110
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Really good from the Mystics. Their opener is Horns into an early screen for Shakira Austin to get downhill, a neat way of combining their hi-lo Horns looks with their invert ball screens for Austin (which, screening w/a wing, they've previously used as an opener). Cardoso a step behind, bucket.
180
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Previewed the end of the season for the Toronto Tempo, from a World Cup recap and lottery odds prep to a look at how the Tempo's personnel fits their above-league-average handoff/DHO actions in creating a variety of advtanges. For @raptorshq.bsky.social: www.raptorshq.com/toronto-wnba...
raptorshq.com
Tempo Check: End-of-Season Handoff
What’s left for the Tempo with 4 games between the World Cup break and the end of season; dribble handoffs explained.
150
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
The most interesting rotation in the WNBA is about triangles, but also about how defenses respond to three-point shooting bigs + offenses putting players in more space. Are the Chicago Sky scrambling, or are they the head of the curve? Watch in full: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILP8...
150
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
The philosophy, strategy, tactics, and techniques of the 2026 Dallas Wings offense, in film & data. Come for the Synergy playtype data and the Paige Bueckers PnR discussions, stay for the Awak Kuier Eurostep breakdowns and the midrange metrics. Read: riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/deep-dive-...
riseofthevalkyries.substack.com
Deep Dive: Dallas Wings Offense
The philosophy, strategy, tactics, and techniques of the 2026 Dallas Wings offense, in film and data.
030
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Should you find yourself looking for a way to kill time before/between/after Wednesday's FIBA games, I have written a rather long deep dive on the Dallas Wings offense, which you will be able to read here tomorrow morning: riseofthevalkyries.substack.com
1192
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
When do WNBA teams use their timeouts? The Fever have called the most full timeouts; the Dream have used the fewest. The Tempo lead the league in reset timeouts (13); the Sun have used just 1. The Storm call a lot of first-quarter timeouts; the Mystics do not.
1101
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Thread: what did the Atlanta Dream do to hold Olivia Miles to 50% shooting/0 assists? ATL started with Rhyne Howard on Miles. When Miles was able to iso Howard, she was effective, scoring twice and drawing two shooting fouls on five direct isolations. (1/many)
2172
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Wrote about the Toronto Tempo heading into the World Cup break & a look at Teonni Key's development. Her defensive potential, hand-tracking her 2PT scoring and self-creation, and one surprising stat that could increase her efficiency. For @raptorshq.bsky.social: www.raptorshq.com/toronto-wnba...
raptorshq.com
Tempo Check: Because it’s the (World) Cup
The Toronto Tempo prepare for the World Cup break & the end of the season; analyzing Teonni Key’s offensive development.
070
Reposted by @josiahcohen.bsky.social
Marisa Ingemi @mingemi.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
hey Valkyries Beat is 14 subscribers away from a big milestone and would love to get there this week... www.valkyriesbeat.com/upgrade
valkyriesbeat.com
Upgrade | Valkyries Beat
Inside the Golden State Valkyries from the perspective of a women's sports journalist.
32918
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
No graph today, but here's a note from a Toronto Tempo article coming shortly: Laura Juškaitė has figured out something on tipoffs. Of 8 baskets in the first six seconds in 2026, she has 3 of the fastest. Consider subscribing for WNBA film & data reads: riseofthevalkyries.substack.com
1160
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
With a raft of injuries, the Toronto Tempo have turned to—by far—the higher number of different starting lineups in the WNBA this season. Top-three seeded Lynx, Valkyries, and Aces have all been the most consistent (although the NaLyssa Smith injury could change things in Vegas).
030
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Looks like I picked the right night to not watch the Valkyries. Total beat down, as expected.
030
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Which WNBA teams have been the best at challenges this season? Wrote about the data behind challenges (effectiveness of fourth-quarter challenges, game state, "sticky" success rate? etc.) and the very different approaches teams take: riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/challenge-...
riseofthevalkyries.substack.com
Challenge data
Analyzing some WNBA challenge data.
0143
Reposted by @josiahcohen.bsky.social
Eric Apricot, Playoff Pug @ericapricot.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Please subscribe for free to my second YT channel focusing on WNBA content! Trying to get to 1,000 subscribers this season.
youtube.com
Eric Apricot Jam - YouTube
by ⁨@EricApricot⁩ / ⁨@EricApricotJam⁩ for http://ValkyrieNation.orgGolden State Valkyries highlights
042
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
So much happening even on what appears to be a simple ball screen. Empty PnR gets iced. Hillmon pops the ice, which Nneka follows, so Brink rotates over on the baseline drive/contests. Okot a step late to 45 cut b/c she's downscreening (Howard tells her to go), giving Atkins a sec to find & cover.
120
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Who has accounted for each team's scoring throughout the season? Says a lot more about the what than the why, but I like block breakdowns for their snapshot simplicity and for what one might start to infer. Players are labeled if they're above the 7% of team points threshold.
1112
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
No weakside double gap lift from Coffey, and Burton hits a three. Then, a great recovery from Williams as the low defender: she tries to tell Amihere to help her help, but instead sees Amihere go and plays two herself, getting a steal/transition to flip the quarter result. bsky.app/profile/josi...
191
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Quick breakdown of the Lynx's first-half gap help defense against Golden State, and what the Valkyries can do to counter it offensively, from Tip Hayes' explosiveness, the Salaün-for-Stokes small-ball tradeoff, Gabby Williams' passing, and more. Read: riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/valkyries-...
081
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Minutes distribution by WNBA team. Can see how teams like the Dream, Sparks, and Lynx have more pronounced splits between starter and bench minutes, and teams like the Valkyries, Fire, and Sky are more balanced.
192
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
The Lynx held the Valkyries to just 4/17 shooting in Q1, and while they got some lucky bounces, their execution of not only closing Golden State's driving lanes (1 halfcourt rim FGM in Q1) but also helping behind the nail help aggressively really set the tone defensively.
150
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
How the Lynx exploited NaLyssa Smith's hedges and switches; how Indiana's zone shut down the Dream; and what's up with the WNBA's top 8 teams, from Valkyries punishing Kamilla Cardoso to Dallas' 4th-quarter regression. Monday Morning Point Guard: riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/mmpg-augus...
172
Reposted by @josiahcohen.bsky.social
Eric Apricot, Playoff Pug @ericapricot.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
valkyrienation.substack.com
Explain: how Natalie Nakase fixed the Valkyries' defense vs the Sky
Caoch Nakase told us to watch the video so we did
2186
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
Two-minute breakdown: how the Las Vegas Aces defended the Washington Mystics' inverted ball screens for Shakira Austin, and why keeping her out of the paint early is key as they prepare for their second matchup of the week tomorrow. YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F80...
youtube.com
Two-Minute Breakdown: Las Vegas Aces - Invert Ball Screen Defense on Shakira Austin
YouTube video by Josiah Cohen
081
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
The Indiana Fever's ability to push the pace against the New York Liberty (152.4 1st half ORTG) got me thinking about the correlation of pace and offensive rating. While it's slightly correlated on an overall seasonal basis, I checked it by team on a single-game level (still a small sample size).
230
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Gabby Williams leads the WNBA in handoffs received per 100 possessions, and the Valkyries went to it in crunch time against LAS. But she's been especially good with one particular handoff alignment. More on Williams and the W in Monday Morning PG: riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/monday-mor...
171
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Kayla McBride's genius, defensive press and closeout techniques, Jewell Loyd lurking in transition lanes, and a favorite Seattle Storm play. Monday Morning Point Guard, talking basketball, featuring 10 things I like and dislike: riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/monday-mor...
050
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Just got home from the Odyssey to see the Tempo getting, uh, something’d.
020
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Wrote about Aneesah Morrow’s Toronto Tempo debut, from intentions of three-level offense to defensive intensity and all-important defensive rebounding. Also, peel switches explained: www.raptorshq.com/toronto-wnba...
raptorshq.com
Tempo Check: Morrow Life
Reviewing and projecting Aneesah Morrow’s first game with the Toronto Tempo. Explaining the peel switch in basketball.
060
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Nyara Sabally, sneakily good off the dribble against defenders pressuring a step too high
080
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Golden State Valkyries trade targets + what it would take to get Kelsey Plum with the great @mingemi.bsky.social, then two quick points on a chaotic loss to the Phoenix Mercury, which featured the largest FTA disparity in Valks history. Read here: riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/marisa-ing...
152
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
On the 1st and 2nd halves of the Toronto Tempo's season, from the cost of injuries affecting a high-value, high-ceiling backcourt and a frontcourt statistical profile with much room for improvement. Previewing the road-heavy last 18 games @raptorshq.bsky.social: www.raptorshq.com/all-womens-s...
062
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
The Dream have some of the most interesting splits in the entire WNBA. Why the return of Bri Jones really matters, defense to offense, and Rhyne Howard being the most underrated player in the W. Previewing the 2nd half for Atlanta & all playoff teams: riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/second-hal...
041
josiahcohen.bsky.social @josiahcohen.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
The Paige Bueckers/Azzi Fudd/Jessica Shepard trio has a +9.1 NRTG in 345 minutes (@databallr), and Dallas leads the W in Clutch eFG%. But is Awak Kuier the most important Wing in the 2nd half? Previewing the 2nd half for DAL & all WNBA playoff teams: riseofthevalkyries.substack.com/p/second-hal...
riseofthevalkyries.substack.com
Second Half Preview: Teams in Playoff Position
Where the current WNBA playoff teams stand and, more importantly, where they might be going.
040
Reposted by @josiahcohen.bsky.social
Richard Cohen @richardcohen.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
New article from me today: WNBA Trade Deadline 2026, Part One: The Big Picture Explained the rules that affect WNBA trades, and offered some thoughts on where each team stands heading into the deadline. Lots of fake trade ideas coming soon in Part 2. #WNBA herhoopstats.substack.com/p/wnba-trade...
herhoopstats.substack.com
WNBA Trade Deadline 2026, Part One: The Big Picture
With the WNBA trade deadline arriving on Sunday, we explain the rules that govern deals and look at where each team stands with less than a week to go
32612