Warriors Plus Minus: A show about the Golden State Warriors

Marcus, Tim and Nick Friedell discuss Stephen Curry's 44-point night and Yaxel Lendeborg's continued big run in the Warriors' victory in Minneapolis. What have the Warriors figured out and can it last?

Yaxel Lendeborg, this year's No. 13 pick by the Warriors, face off against Jonathan Kuminga, the No. 7 pick from 2021. According to Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic, who joins the show, they will likely match up. The former Warriors future star against the current one. The Two Timeline Bowl. Adding to the intrigue, the Timberwolves announce Anthony Edwards is out after surgery. So the Warriors, who got their first win of the season in Denver, head to Minnesota with renewed hope. And Kuminga has an opening for a big game. Marcus Thompson, Nick Friedell and Krawczynski discuss.

Golden State center Kiah Stokes clamped Angel Reese again, stifling the Atlanta Dream offense and putting the Valkyries up 3-2 in the WNBA Finals. They head to Georgia needing one win to make history. Marcus Thompson and Zena Keita break down how Stokes is dominating, the way Golden State is attacking Jordin Canada, and more.

The Warriors lost another one. This time, without Stephen Curry, Draymond Green and Brandin Podziemski. Phoenix torched Golden State, handing the Warriors another loss. But this one was perhaps more encouraging. The young players shined. The role players found some rhythm and success. And the vision of how the Warriors move forward became a little clearer. Marcus Thompson brings you commentary and some postgame interviews from the players and Steve Kerr.

The Warriors gave up a 17-0 run to close its home opener, turning a 12-point lead with just under four minutes left into this season's first gut-wrenching loss. Now they head out on a three-game road trip, two of them against West contenders and one without two starters. Maybe more. Marcus Thompson, Tim Kawakami and Nick Friedell discuss the impact of the Warriors dropping this game, how they dropped it and what do they do now.

The Warriors got handled pretty thoroughly by the Lakers to open the season. But the biggest story of the night was the rookie. Yaxel Lendeborg got into a back-and-forth with Luka Dončić on the court, then Yaxel took it to another level after the game. Marcus Thompson and Nick Friedell were on the scene and bring interviews and insight from the locker room. 

Game 3 was even worse than Game 2. Golden State's offensive futility remained, but the Atlanta Dream picked apart their defense even more as the series shifted to Atlanta. And it wasn't just Angel Reese. Zena Keita, the TV host of the Valkyries, returns to discuss what's been going wrong for the Valkyries and what they can do to reclaim control of this series for Game 4. Because Atlanta is feeling good, State Farm Arena will be rocking and the Valkyries could be coming back to the Bay Area in serious trouble.

Tim talks with Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy about the recent Stephen Curry injury scare, Kristaps Porzingis' indefinite absence, Yaxel Lendeborg's emergence, and the team's mindset going into the season opener on Wednesday in LA.

Marcus, Tim and Nick Friedell discuss the Warriors' sudden dependence on Yaxel Lendeborg to start this season and Kristaps Porzingis' statement on social media about his continued absence with an illness.

Two years into their history, the Golden State Valkyries have pulled off what formerly felt unimaginable. They're headed to the WNBA Finals to take on the Atlanta Dream, another surprising squad. But first, Marcus Thompson examines their dismantling of the Aces and how they arrived here in such a short window. It's one of the great stories in sports.

Tim and Nick Friedell discuss Kristaps Porzingis' continued absence, Yaxel Lendeborg's growing responsibility and Brandin Podziemski's contract situation with opening night coming up Oct. 21.

Marcus Thompson and Zena Keita, pre and postgame host of Valkyries TV, hop on for an emergency podcast to discuss the Game 3 win over Dallas. In a win-or-go-home scenario, Golden State rallied from a 16-point deficit in the third quarter to eliminate the Wings. They discuss the vibes in Ballhalla, the clutchness of Gabby Williams and how the Valkyries should approach their next opponent — the defending champion Las Vegas Aces.

Tim and Nick Friedell discuss Brandin Podziemski's strong play, Georges Niang's fit and other interesting moments from Thursday's open scrimmage in Hawaii. Also, Frank Vogel is taking charge of the defense.

Marcus Thompson and Zena Keita, TV host of the Valkyries pre and postgame show, break down Game 2, the explosion from Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale and what we learned about the Valkyries that figures to be critical moving forward.

Tim and Nick Friedell discuss all the sights and sounds of Warriors Media Day, including the surprise announcement that Kristaps Porzingis is out indefinitely. Also, thoughts on the new offensive plans and Jimmy Butler's recovery.

Marcus and Tim analyze Stephen Curry's new two-year contract extension with the Warriors -- what it tells us about his and the team's future and why he took $20 million less than the maximum.

Marcus and Tim discuss the biggest issues heading into the start of training camp next week -- how will Draymond Green's role change? Could Kristaps Porzingis carry the team at times? Who's helping Steph Curry?

The veteran guard will have you running through a wall as she discusses her belief in the Valkyries. She talks with Marcus Thompson and Zena Keita about the playoff push, the fountain of youth she enjoys, the chemistry they employ and the haters who criticize how the Valkyries play. This is one GSV fans will love.

Marcus and Tim discuss the odds of Stephen Curry signing a contract extension with the Warriors by Media Day on Sept. 28 and also draw up options for possible trade targets down the road.

Golden State, finally, added some new players. Forward Georges Niang, guard Brandon Williams and wing Dalen Terry. These are by no means game-changing moves. But there seems to be some potential for a pleasant surprise. And the Warriors, with injuries and age being an issue, need bodies as much as they need skills. Marcus Thompson, with a brief segment with Dallas Mavericks beat writer Christian Clark, discuss the new moves and how they might fit. 

Finally, Golden State got the better of the Lynx. The Valkyries did it in Minnesota, shut down Olivia Miles in the process, and made coach Cheryl Reeve wave the white flag with more than three minutes left. It clearly meant something to Golden State, which had been 0-9 all-time against Minnesota. But did it mean anything to Minnesota? Marcus Thompson and Zena Keita discuss that and playoff matchups with Seerat Sohi, host of The Ringer's WNBA Show.

Wednesday night's showdown with Minnesota, the first of two over the final 10 games, will have a significant impact on the standings. The Athletic's Marcus Thompson and Zena Keita, broadcast host of the Valkyries for KPIX, break down the stakes the top two teams facing off. A win would put Golden State in good shape to get the No. 1 seed. Whatever happens, the surging Tiffany Hayes is expected to be critical.

Marcus Thompson dives into the talk about the possibilities of Stephen Curry asking out and what we can learn from GM Mike Dunleavy's comments. Joseph Dycus, Warriors beat writer for the Mercury News, joins the show to discuss the Warriors' schedule and what is in store. Lots of significance in the schedule based on their context.

After a couple weeks hiatus, Valkyries Wednesday is back with a new co-host and lots to talk about. Zena Keita — whose analysis anchors the pregame, halftime and postgame shows for Valkyries games on CBS — joins Marcus Thompson to discuss Golden State, which sits No. 2 in the WNBA at 23-9. This episode discusses why the franchise chose not to trade for Kelsey Plum, coach Natalie Nakase's load management plan, and more.   

Marcus and Tim look back on Don Nelson's historic two tenures with the Warriors -- from Run TMC to "We Believe" to starting the Stephen Curry era.

Marcus, Tim and Nick Friedell discuss where the Warriors go after losing out on the LeBron James sweepstakes and how Stephen Curry reacted to it. Is championship contention no longer possible?

The Valkyries head into the break with their nine-game winning streak snapped. But did they show enough to think they can really win a championship? Have they won enough for Valkyries GM Ohemaa Nyanin to say "I told you so"? Marcus Thompson of The Athletic and Nathan Canilao, Valkyries beat writer for the Mercury News, discuss the state of Golden State heading into the break. The Athletic's national WNBA reporter Annie Costabile joins the show to discuss the league's title contenders, the WNBA All-Star Game in Chicago, and the coming trade deadline. 

Heading into the showdown with Indiana, the fifth and final game on Golden State's road trip, the Valkyries find themselves battling for first place in the league. Jordan Robinson, author of Court Queens and co-host of the Girls Tripp podcast on Road Trippin' joins Marcus Thompson and Nathan Canilao to discuss the surging Valkyries and the match against Caitlin Clark's Fever. 

Danny Emerman of the S.F. Standard joins the show to discuss the Warriors storylines from the Las Vegas Summer League. After two games, it's all Yaxel Lendeborg's world. But L.J. Cryer also looks ready for a larger role. But he's found himself in competition with a surprising guard. Plus, we discuss, of course, the hiring of Frank Vogel as an assistant and the possibilities of LeBron James.

The five-game road trip is off to a 2-0 start after beating Atlanta a third time and suffocating the Washington Mystics. The Valkyries sit a half game out of the best record in the league with two sub-.500 teams coming up. Back-up guard Kaitlyn Chen joins the show to discuss Golden State's streak and her inspiring journey. Marcus Thompson and Nathan Canilao even get Chen to discuss one of her new passions.

Marcus, Tim and Nick Friedell discuss the Warriors' options while they wait for LeBron James' decision -- are they losing out on quality players? Also, Yaxel Lendeborg impresses in summer league.

Coming off a huge three-game homestand in which they beat two of the best teams in the league, Golden State is sitting pretty in the standings. With Nathan Canilao, the Mercury News' Valkyries beat writer, and The Athletic's Marcus Thompson, we've got Zena Keita — studio host for Valkyries on KPIX and for the WNBA on ION — to talk about how the Valkyries changed the trajectory of their season. The defense looked so impressive — against two great offenses in Atlanta and New York — that it requires readjusting the ceiling. Statements were made.

Tim and Nick Friedell discuss LeBron James' decision to leave the Lakers and why the Warriors could be his likeliest destination. Also, why the Anthony Davis speculation always seemed a bit off.

The Warriors' first-round pick landed exactly who many expected: Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg. He's 24 with great size — which means he's ready to contribute right away. But was he too safe a pick? And now that they have him, what do the Warriors still need? Marcus Thompson, Tim Kawakami and Nick Friedell break down Golden State's pick and situation after Day 1 of the 2026 NBA Draft.

The tough stretch for the Valkyries now points toward Atlanta. The Valkyries play two games against Atlanta, one of the best teams in the league, and will have to contend with Angel Reese, who is feasting in the paint. One of biggest names in the WNBA comes to one of the best environments in the league. Marcus Thompson and Mercury News Valkyries beat writer Nathan Canilao bring on ESPN's Kendra Andrews to discuss Reese, this pivotal stretch for Golden State and more.

On the eve of the NBA draft, Marcus Thompson gives his take on what the Warriors should do with their No. 11 pick. But first, a conversation with The Athletic's NBA Draft guru Sam Vecenie. They discuss the players who make the most sense for the Warriors, with Vecenie breaking down the players being linked to the Dubs. They also, among other things, discuss who could potentially fall to Golden State, who might the Warriors target should they trade down and who are the risky picks.

Back to its winning ways, Golden State begins a gauntlet: Wings, Lynx, Aces, back-to-back against Atlanta Dream, then Liberty before a five-game road trip. So Nathan Canilao, the Mercury News beat writer for the Valkyries and Marcus Thompson of The Athletic bring on the SF Standard's Jane Kenny to discuss the rotation, the renion with Kate Martin, the excellence of Gabby Williams and how the Valkyries will handle this stretch of quality opponents.

Marcus Thompson of The Athletic and Nathan Canilao of the Mercury News discuss the Valkyries losing streak and the changes coach Natalie Nakase might make. Point guard Veronica Burton joins the show to discuss, among other things, adjusting to her new life as a superstar.

The Athletic's Marcus Thompson and The Mercury News' Nathan Canilao are joined by USA Today's Callie Fin, the most plugged in beat reporter with the Las Vegas Aces, after the Valkyries faced off against the Aces. The conversation dives into how the Valkyries opened season on Caitlin Clark's defense, Golden State's need for a star and the Becky Hammond-Natalie Nakase connection.

With the NBA draft some three weeks away, NBA Hall of Famer David Aldridge of The Athletic stops by to talk the lottery. He spent time at the combine in Chicago — his hometown Wizards, of course, got the top pick — and talked to experts about the players in this lottery. With Marcus Thompson of The Athletic, they dive into the likely options available to the Warriors at No. 11.