Justė Jocytė gains confidence for Valkyries after FIBA break

Yahoo Sports1 min read • Latest: Sep 19, 2026, 3:19 AM

Last updated Sep 19, 2026

Justė Jocytė gains confidence for Valkyries after FIBA break
Summary

Justė Jocytė, the Golden State Valkyries' rookie, has reported increased confidence after spending time in Lithuania during the WNBA FIBA World Cup break. In her first season, Jocytė has played limited minutes, with only four games exceeding ten minutes on the court. Following her return, she noted changes in her communication and confidence levels, which could be critical as the Valkyries face the final stretch of the regular season. The team is currently without key players Gabby Williams, Janelle Salaün, and Cecilia Zandalasini due to rest and World Cup commitments, potentially opening up more playing time for Jocytė.

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Status Watch
  • Justė Jocytė played a career-high 21 minutes in her last game before the break.
  • Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase noted Jocytė's increased communication on the court.
  • Golden State is missing key players for their match against the Portland Fire.
  • Jocytė expressed feelings of being 'Europe-sick' before her trip home.
  • This marks the Valkyries' first season with Jocytė as their inaugural draft pick.
Latest Updates
  • 3:19 AMYahoo SportsWhy Valkyries rookie Justė Jocytė feels ‘much more confident' after FIBA break
What they're saying
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Justė Jocytė has rarely seen the floor in her first Golden State Valkyries season, but she told the Chronicle she feels more confident after returning home to Lithuania during the WNBA's break.

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