{
  "id": 12561303,
  "title": "Valkyries owner Joe Lacob tried to be less emotional about his WNBA team. It's not working",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/valkyries-owner-joe-lacob-tried-to-be-less-emotional-about-his-wnba",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-07T06:11:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/valkyries-owner-joe-lacob-tried-061127800.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Golden State Valkyries owner Joe Lacob expressed his determination not to let the team's success emotionally overwhelm him, while acknowledging it is becoming increasingly challenging. Lacob emphasizes his love for the team, which has only been competing for 17 months, and their impressive accomplishments thus far. The team, led by head coach Natalie Nakase and star player Veronica Burton, is within reach of reaching the Finals in their second season. The Valkyries' success can be attributed to their strong defensive identity, led by Nakase, and the core team members who have remained consistent throughout the season. Despite the pressure, Lacob remains optimistic about the team's prospects and the possibility of winning the WNBA championship within the next five years.",
  "summary": "Golden State Valkyries owner Joe Lacob acknowledged he's getting \"pretty amped up\" as his second-year franchise tries to unseat reigning champion Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA semifinals.",
  "key_points": [
    "Joe Lacob, Valkyries owner, aims to stay calm despite emotional challenges",
    "Team, coached by Natalie Nakase, near Finals in second season",
    "Lacob optimistic about WNBA championship within five years"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Joe Lacob's attachment to the Valkyries' success remains a challenge for him to overcome, as his emotions continue to be invested in the team's impressive yet brief history.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}