Kamala Harris’ kin, Meena Harris, seems to have developed a newfound fondness for Golden State Valkyries, or so she conveyed via a recent update on her social media profiles. Over the past weekend, the Vice President’s niece graced her Instagram followers with a selfie. The photo showcased her gazing into the camera, cleverly masking two individuals behind her with the use of purple heart emojis. Dressed in a matching purple ensemble, Meena’s post was made complete with a patently cheerleader-style caption for the local women’s basketball team: ‘Need the final look!!! Go Valkyries!!!!’
Observably, Kamala Harris’ early life was shaped by the formative years she spent in Berkeley, binding her claimed sentimentality towards the Bay Area. It is perpetuated that the region’s sports stars share a close loop with Harris and her relatives—allegedly, basketball player Steph Curry and his wife Ayesha are among Harris’ endorsers, deeming her fit to be the nation’s succeeding President.
The Golden State Valkyries, the Bay Area’s latest representation in high-profile sports, are touted to be on the path of achieving considerable success. Billed to reflect San Francisco’s culture on the national and international sports circuit, the newly-instituted franchise serves as a symbolic extension of the Bay Area to the world.
In the traditional customs of the WNBA league, rookie players are expected to receive a hearty ‘welcome to the league’ by their seasoned counterparts. However, the tables turned on Friday where the sentiment was extended to the newest ensemble on the block—the GS Valkyries. The team, which is viewed as the Warriors’ sister team, had their first taste of top-tier basketball against the LA Sparks during their kick-off at the Chase Center.
Unfortunately for the Valkyries, their debut game couldn’t have gone worse. The team had to swallow a significant 84-67 defeat at the hands of the well-drilled LA Sparks team. The Sparks deployed a concerted attack that left the Valkyries—comprising mostly rookies and a handful of experienced campaigners—flailing and grappling with a match having gone awry.
What worsened the defeat for the Valkyries was an impressive individual performance by Kelsey Plum from the Sparks. Scoring a remarkable tally of 37 points, Plum embodied the spirit of a championship that she acquired through her transferral from the Aces during the offseason. Plum’s onslaught was instrumental in the Sparks’ triumph and left the Valkyries feeling rather speechless.
Aiding and amplifying Plum’s exploits was the determined Dearica Hamby of the Sparks, who anchored the team’s defense. Hamby pulled off a laudable double-double, netting 14 points, retrieving 10 rebounds, and pocketing a hat trick of steals. Her efforts contributed to the Sparks’ emphatic win and further exacerbated the humbling experience for the neophyte Valkyries team.
Mostly unanticipated, the Valkyries encountered themselves in an untenable situation on the court, unable to tame the Sparks’ rampant assaults. Players Temi Fagbenle and Tiffany Hayes were seen making desperate attempts to salvage some pride for the Valkyries, but ultimately, their efforts were in vain.
While Fagbenle managed a rather feeble performance of 15 points, caught five rebounds, and made four assists, it was a clear case of too little, too late. Hayes, on the other hand, ended the game as the highest-scoring player for the Valkyries with 19 points—but the night was far from a celebration for the deflated Bay Area team.
Wrapping everything, it is clear that the team endorsed by the kin of Kamala Harris had a rough start. Their performance paints a somber picture about the influence wielded by influential political figures in the realm of sports. A more discerning question would be: Does support from these figures guarantee success?
It’s obvious that the mismatch between the LA Sparks and the Valkyries extended far beyond the court. The game also underlined the off-court disparities between a team backed by influential figures with political motivations vis-à-vis those who simply choose to focus on sportsmanship and athletic prowess.
In conclusion, it offers an interesting perspective on figures like Kamala Harris and her niece who crave recognition through their support towards sports franchises. It symbolizes their attempts to appear relatable but, unfortunately, their efforts seem to have fallen flat, translating into nothing more than hollow political grandstanding.
Despite the claims of support from political figures such as Kamala Harris and her kin, the Golden State Valkyries’ first stand in the WNBA did not live up to expectations. While their initiation in the high-profile sports league highlighted a series of notable shortcomings, it also meant a need for radical rethink of their strategy.
Indeed, success in sports remains beyond the control of political influence. Thus, endorses like Kamala Harris and her niece Meena Harris may do well to focus their efforts on politics, letting the players, coaches, and staff concentrate on improving their performance.
The post Kamala Harris’ kin’s endorsement fails to lift Valkyries appeared first on Real News Now.
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