Section 415

Kristaps Porzingis hasn’t been with the Warriors since they opened training camp, and it seems unlikely he’ll return to the team. With the center on indefinite leave because of health issues, Golden State is withholding his pay, and he doesn’t appear to be contesting the decision. What does the uncertainty mean for Porzingis and the Warriors, with three months until the NBA trade deadline? On the “Section 415” podcast, The Standard’s Danny Emerman joins host Kerry Crowley to discuss why trading Porzingis is a viable option for Golden State, why a team would want a player who is reportedly considering retirement, and how Porzingis’ absence has affected the Warriors through their first eight games. Chapters: 0:00 Intro: The Warriors-Porzingis saga 1:52 Is Porzingis considering retirement? 2:55 Is there still a trade market for him? 6:15 Did the Porzingis extension make sense in hindsight? 8:39 The Warriors and Porzingis' souring relationship 11:59 How would a potential Porzingis trade work? 15:59 Can you trade a player who won't show up? 18:26 Gabby Williams and Steph Curry at Thrive City 21:45 Outro and credits Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When the Valkyries played their first WNBA game in May 2025, they looked like any other expansion franchise. In an 84-67 loss that day to the Los Angeles Sparks, they were undersized, overmatched, and disconnected. A year and a half later, the Valkyries capped a remarkable rise to the top of the league Saturday by beating the Atlanta Dream in Game 7 of the Finals, to win the franchise’s first championship. On the “Section 415” podcast, The Standard’s Jane Kenny joins host Kerry Crowley to discuss how the Valkyries built a championship identity and culture that won over the league. Kenny also details star Gabby Williams’ 30-point performance in Game 7, coach Natalie Nakase’s evolution, and the scene inside Chase Center after the clinching win. Chapters: 0:00 Intro: The Valkyries are champions 1:03 Jane's Game 7 reactions 2:30 Joe Lacob & The women's sports investment 5:20 Culture & connection: The Valkyries' formula 9:06 Gabby Williams took over. What is her legacy in the Bay? 15:48 Veronica Burton's journey to championship point guard 17:38 How Natalie Nakase has evolved in two seasons 21:58 Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stephen Curry went 8 for 8 from the field and 5 for 5 from the free-throw line, scoring 24 points in the Golden State Warriors’ first win of the season. But Curry wasn’t the driving force. That was rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, who, just four games into his NBA career, already looks like a player worth building around. Lendeborg had 31 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists in a dominant performance Monday against the Denver Nuggets, offering a glimpse of how special the No. 11 overall pick could be. On this episode of the “Section 415” podcast, The Standard’s Danny Emerman joins host Kerry Crowley to discuss Lendeborg’s first week in the NBA and how the 6-foot-9 forward could shape Golden State’s future. Chapters: 0:00 Intro: Lendeborg's breakout 1:19 Danny's victory lap on the Yaxel pick 5:15 Yaxel is a must-watch on and off the court 7:48 Draymond as mentor & letting Yaxel's personality shine 9:49 Lendeborg vs. Jonathan Kuminga's development 11:53 Are Podz and Lendeborg future stars to build around? 17:36 The NBA rookie class: Who else has impressed? 19:56 Near-term outlook for the Warriors Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Golden State Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase doesn’t care how other WNBA teams are built.When Nakase was hired in October 2024, she said she wanted her team to be known for defense and selflessness. Two years later, those qualities have the Valkyries one win away from a championship. Led by elite rim protector Kiah Stokes and Gabby Williams, one of the league’s best on-ball defenders, Golden State has shut down the Atlanta Dream and taken a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven Finals. On this episode of the “Section 415” podcast, The Standard’s Jane Kenny joins host Kerry Crowley to discuss how Nakase implemented her vision, how the Valkyries turned a Finals deficit into a lead, and what a Golden State championship would mean for the WNBA. Chapters: 0:00 Intro: Valkyries one win from a title 1:45 Playoff run: The Dallas elimination was a turning point 5:48 Kiah Stokes' breakout Game 5 9:34 Nakase's adjustments in this series 12:12 Discussing the Game 6 scheduling mess 18:11 Game 6 preview: Can the Valks win it all in Atlanta? 20:07 Outro & credits Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 49ers are 6-0, quarterback Brock Purdy is playing some of the best football of his career, and a new-look defense is thriving under coordinator Raheem Morris. Despite the impressive start, injuries have wiped out depth at key positions and GM John Lynch is considering ways to upgrade the roster before the NFL’s Nov. 10 trade deadline. With wide receiver Mike Evans managing Achilles tendinitis, is another pass catcher the most pressing need? With Nick Bosa sidelined by a calf strain, should the 49ers load up on pass rushers? Or should the front office prioritize another position? On the “Section 415” podcast, The Standard’s David Lombardi joins host Kerry Crowley to discuss how the 49ers’ injury situation will shape their approach to the trade deadline. Chapters: 0:00 Intro: 49ers at 6-0 0:29 How aggressive will John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan be in trades? 4:39 Why the Keion White trade worked 7:50 Do the 49ers target a WR trade? 10:33 Is a late first-round pick worth trading? 13:34 Khalil Mack & DeForest Buckner: Are either potential targets? 19:01 Would the 49ers ever trade Mac Jones? 22:11 Outro and credits Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In their second season, the Golden State Valkyries and their fans have made Chase Center the WNBA’s most intimidating arena for visiting teams. The Valkyries have sold out every home game and led the league in regular-season attendance for the second straight season. Their loud, loyal fan base made such an impression that the WNBA announced in July that San Francisco will host the 2027 All-Star Game. On the “Section 415” podcast, Zaileen Janmohamed, president and CEO of the Bay Area Host Committee, joins host Kerry Crowley to discuss how the rise of local women’s sports teams has helped the region land marquee events, what the committee learned from hosting the Super Bowl and World Cup matches, and which sporting events it hopes to bring to the Bay Area next. Chapters: 0:00 Intro 0:37 Zaileen on enjoying the WNBA Finals as a fan 1:36 How the Valkyries' success landed the 2027 WNBA All-Star Game 5:33 The Bay Area as a destination for women's sports 8:34 Life after hosting Super Bowl and World Cup 10:13 Growing collegiate and youth sports in the Bay 11:40 Pulling off the Super Bowl and World Cup back-to-back 15:55 Looking ahead to the All-Star Games 16:31 Outro & credits Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s Year 18 for Stephen Curry, Year 13 for Steve Kerr, and the start of a new era for the Golden State Warriors. Well, sort of. The roster hasn’t changed much, but Kerr is committed to “reimagining” Golden State’s offense and leaning heavily on rookie Yaxel Lendeborg while veterans Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody recover from injuries. Can the Warriors bounce back from a 37-win season that ended in the play-in tournament? Which star is poised for the biggest season? And where could Golden State turn for reinforcements at the trade deadline? On the “Section 415” podcast, The Standard’s Danny Emerman joins host Kerry Crowley to make bold predictions for the season. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:34 Best case scenario for the 2026-27 Warriors 01:52 What's the worst-case scenario for this team? 03:04 O/U on 37.5 wins: Danny takes the under 05:58 Danny predicts: Draymond Green's DPOY push 07:28 Will Steph Curry play 50+ games? 10:05 Jimmy Butler's ACL comeback and return timeline 12:01 Yaxel Lendeborg's finishes as a top rookie? 16:54 Breakout player pick: Charles Bassey 18:59 Predicting the NBA Finals matchup 22:43 Outro and credits Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Golden State Valkyries don’t have an MVP candidate, a dominant post player, or a lineup filled with All-Stars. But coach Natalie Nakase didn’t need a traditional roster to guide her team to the WNBA Finals. Led by Gabby Williams, Veronica Burton, and the league’s deepest rotation, the Valkyries have exceeded expectations and open the best-of-seven series with a chance to win a title in just their second season. On this episode of the “Section 415” podcast, The Standard’s Jane Kenny joins host Kerry Crowley to discuss the Valkyries’ unlikely ascent, their semifinal sweep of the Las Vegas Aces, and how they match up against the Atlanta Dream. Chapters: 0:00 Intro: Valkyries sweep the Aces 1:57 Valkyries fans take over Vegas 3:08 WNBA Finals preview: The red-hot Atlanta Dream 5:19 Which reserves will Nakase lean on? 8:15 How the Valkyries have won by relying on their depth 10:44 Gabby Williams vs. Angel Reese: The DPOY matchup 13:32 The Valks' improvement from last year 18:48 Kaila Charles, the under-the-radar weapon 19:49 Natalie Nakase, the real Coach of the Year? 22:55 Outro and credits Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before leaving Sept. 28 for training camp in Hawaii, coach Steve Kerr told reporters the Warriors needed to “reimagine” their offense.Golden State didn’t make any marquee free-agent or trade additions and hopes top draft pick Yaxel Lendeborg and a teamwide commitment to reducing turnovers will lead to better results after a 37-45 season. How drastic are the changes? On the “Section 415” podcast, The Standard’s Danny Emerman joins host Kerry Crowley after spending 10 days watching the Warriors’ practices and preseason games. Emerman details the keys to Golden State’s “five-out” approach, how new depth pieces will change Kerr’s rotation options, and why the Warriors are interested in wrapping up extension negotiations with guard Brandin Podziemski. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:56 Inside Warriors training camp in Hawaii 01:43 How does Steve Kerr want to reinvent the offense? 05:29 Draymond Green's new offensive role 07:11 Yaxel Lendeborg: How has he looked in preseason? 11:27 Lendeborg's projected role 13:37 Will Brandin Podziemski get extended? 19:16 Will the Warriors improve on last season? 20:56 Outro and credits Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After throwing two touchdown passes in the 49ers’ 24-14 win Sunday over the Broncos, Brock Purdy leads the NFL in touchdown passes, passer rating, and Total QBR. Purdy is the first NFL quarterback since Peyton Manning in 2005 to go the first four games of a season without being sacked. He has used his legs to escape pressure in the backfield and scramble for first downs. Now Purdy faces his toughest test yet. On the “Section 415” podcast, The Standard’s David Lombardi joins host Kerry Crowley to break down the 49ers’ matchup with the reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks, whose defense allows the fewest yards per game in the NFL. The two discuss how Seattle will challenge Purdy, what fullback Kyle Juszczyk’s injury means for the 49ers’ offense, and what to expect in Sunday’s NFC West showdown. Chapters: 0:00 Intro: 49ers start 4-0, Seahawks up next 1:27 Efficient, mistake-free offense fueling 49ers hot start 2:52 Week 5 preview: Purdy vs. Seattle's top-ranked defense 6:31 How Brock Purdy hasn't been sacked all season 10:06 Kyle Juszczyk's injury and how Kyle Shanahan will adjust without him 14:01 Mike Evans' effectiveness despite battling injury 18:19 Shanahan vs. McDonald: the NFL's best chess match 20:57 Wrap-up and credits Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices