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San Ramon Valley had to slow down Clayton Valley senior Jhadis Luckey, who had 455 yards rushing in his first two games this season
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Curtis Pashelka
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Tag: Contra Costa County
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San Ramon Valley sends ‘a message’ with win over Clayton Valley Charter
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East Bay vocalist, cosplayer Celiane The Voice sings in league all her own
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For Divine Celiane, who goes by “Celiane The Voice,” music is more than sound — it’s “audible art.” Born in Berkeley, raised in Richmond and living now on Bethel Island, the 49-year-old singer, actress and self-described “technohuman” has built her own genre, “Electronica Hip Opera,” to showcase a voice that refuses to be confined.
“I created the genre Electronica Hip Opera because I’m an opera singer. That is what my voice was made for,” Celiane said. “I knew my sound wouldn’t change, so I made a genre to fit me and all the musical elements I love.”
Her invention sprang partly from frustration. She says producers often asked her to change her sound or downplay her operatic training. Instead, she and her executive producer decided to create music around her voice — much as artists did in an earlier era when powerhouse vocalists were given room to shine.
Celiane says her love of music began in the 1980s, when she first heard Whitney Houston and discovered the bold creativity of Herbie Hancock, Peter Gabriel and other innovators.
“Back then, you had to have a voice, a real talent and be different than everyone else to sell,” she said. “I would see rock bands and all the fans cheering, and I knew I wanted that stage.”
She says opera training gave her technical strength but that she never wanted to remain in one lane. Instead, Celiane says she pulled inspiration from an eclectic mix of artists — Daft Punk’s futuristic beats, Amy Winehouse’s raw soul and Hancock’s experimental brilliance.
“You can’t buy that sound,” Celiane said of Winehouse. “Either you have it or you don’t. That’s the level I work towards.”
Cosplay is also central to her act. She says performing in elaborate costume lets her step fully into the character of Celiane The Voice, a time-bending “technohuman” hero who carries pain, resilience and empathy into every performance.
“I perform as often as I can,” said Celiane, whose pronouns are she and they. “It is tough being a cosplay character because cons (conventions) don’t really have singing — they have dancing and bands. But I perform for more than comic cons — festivals, private events, anywhere they appreciate audible art.”
The COVID-19 pandemic brought setbacks, wiping out many of her bookings. Slowly, though, she says she rebuilt momentum and now performs in and out of costume but prefers being in-character.
“This is my favorite way,” she said.
Celiane says growing up in the Bay Area shaped her creative drive.
“There are so many talented artists that don’t get their shot because people don’t see their vision,” she said. “The Bay Area has always been a mecca of talent that goes untapped.”
She said she recalls hearing remarkable singers on BART and in small bars, people she felt had more musicianship than some pop stars.
“Being in the Bay Area, it is expected to be creative and create a dream for yourself,” said Celiane. “I love how we celebrate our artists when they rise beyond the bay. That drove me.”
Celiane says music is inseparable from storytelling and that each song carries narrative and emotion meant to connect across differences.
“We all have a story,” she said. “I tell mine to let humans know to love each other before it’s too late.”
Her performances take listeners on what she calls an emotional rollercoaster.
“The confusion, the feeling of being lost, the finding of oneself — these are things almost every human can relate to,” she added. “I may not look like you, but I know you.”
She hopes her audience walks away with one message: Authenticity matters.
“If I can show you my authenticity in costume and take that chance, then you can be authentic every day because that is who we love — the real you,” she said.
Celiane says one of her most powerful experiences came two years ago at Portland, Oregon’s Rose City Comic Con. After a performance, a Vietnam veteran approached her.
“He thanked me with the most serious look on his face,” she said. “That meant I did my job. He felt heard and acknowledged.”
Celiane says that moment resonated with her and that she incorporates her own experience with pain and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) into her character’s story.
“Many don’t know how many people suffer from the PTSD of pain,” she said. “I wanted my audience to know I understand part of that story.”
She says her cover of “Inner Universe Reloaded” (bit.ly/iurcelianesong) from the anime “Ghost in the Shell” is the song that best represents her artistry.
“It has spiritual connotations, different languages and flows with my voice where I don’t have to hold back,” she said.
Looking ahead, she expects her music will evolve to become “a bit more grungy” as her character faces new challenges. “Celiane, like all unlikely heroes, has to fall,” she said. “The music will have more meaning.”
For those who want to push boundaries as she has, Celiane emphasizes patience and perseverance.
“Be in it for the long haul,” she said. “Don’t get mad no one has seen you or gets it. It is new, it will take time.”
She also urges authenticity over compromise.
“Be professional from the beginning. You don’t have to pay lots of money to present as a professional,” she said. “Be authentic and don’t sell you for a dollar. You are the one with the vision. Build it — we need to experience you.”
Celiane says that beyond the stage, when she isn’t performing she enjoys writing short stories, crafting, gaming and indulging her love of anime and cooking shows but that everything she does circles back to creativity and expression.
“Thank you for allowing me to share Celiane’s world,” she said. “Keep loving, keep being authentically you in love.”
To learn more about Celiane The Voice, visit her website at celianethevoice.com/about. To hear samples of her music, visit celianethevoice.com/music online.
Reach Charleen Earley, a freelance writer and journalism professor at Diablo Valley college, at charleenbearley@gmail.com or 925-383-3072.
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Charleen Earley
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East Bay parents raising funds for more protection for high school football players
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It was a scary scene at a Contra Costa County high school football game Friday night when multiple players left the field with concussions.
Now, parents are raising funds to provide more protection for players this season and beyond.
“Players were coming off the field in tears, very emotional, hard to see one of their close friends go through something like that,” said Stephen Parini.
He is a parent of one of the Alhambra High School Bulldogs and is describing the scene on Friday night after two players were taken off the field during the game with concussions.
One of the players was wheeled off on a stretcher.
“Me personally I hate to see it and I love football, I’ve coached football my entire adult like and it was just really difficult to process and see,” said Parini.
And it’s a big reason why he’s raising money to buy more protection for the team.
He’s starting an online fundraiser to get guardian caps for every player.
The cost will be around $6,000.
“Our coach has wanted to get these caps for a little while, these unfortunately weren’t in the school budget this season,” said Parini.
According to the guardian caps website, the cap’s soft shell cover attaches to football helmets — reducing the impact of hits during a game.
Nicholas Cecchi conducted a 2023 study on the guardian caps during his post-doc at Stanford University which showed some reduction in impact during simulations in a lab.
“There are certain impacts on the field that no head gear is able to prevent but improved helmet technology, reducing the severity of all these types of impacts, in our mind, is really a positive,” Cecchi said.
In a statement on the concussions, the district superintendent said:
“Student health and safety is always our number one priority. At this point, we have incomplete information. However, we follow all CIF protocols for student safety including those for any sport’s related injury. We will be looking further into this matter and taking the appropriate actions necessary.”
The players are both recovering but it could be weeks before they hit the field.
Parini hopes they’ll have more protection when they do.
“If it can prevent one concussion, then this is more than worth it for us,” Parini said.
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Pete Suratos
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Vote now: Bay Area News Group girls athlete of the week
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Editor’s note: We prohibit the use of bots and any other artificial methods of voting. Suspicious activity could lead to the disqualification of candidates and a permanent suspension of the Athlete of the Week poll. No voting by email: Votes by email and after 5 p.m. Wednesday are not counted.
Welcome to the Bay Area News Group (Mercury News & East Bay Times) girls Athlete of the Week poll.
For the entire academic year, we will provide a list of candidates who stood out over the previous week and allow you, the reader, to vote for the winner.
This week, we consider performances from Sept. 1-6.
Polls close at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Vote as many times as you’d like until then without using bots or any other artificial methods of voting.
Votes by email and after 5 p.m. Wednesday are not counted.
Scroll to the bottom for the poll.
Winners are announced each Friday online and in the print edition of the Mercury News and East Bay Times sports sections.
Candidates for future Athlete of the Week polls can be nominated at highschools@bayareanewsgroup.com.
We accept nominations until 11 a.m. each Monday.
We also review stats submitted to MaxPreps by coaches/team statisticians.
On to the nominees:
Leilah Abrams, Sacred Heart Prep volleyball: The sophomore had 17 kills in a win over Archbishop Riordan, 21 in a win over Palo Alto and 11 in a win over Burlingame as SHP finished the week 3-0 against a trio of quality Bay Area teams.
Ania Aleshi, Hillsdale flag football: The junior completed 29 of 37 passes for 306 yards and three touchdowns as Hillsdale beat Santa Clara 21-6. She added 13 yards rushing on three carries. She also went 17 of 21 for 116 yards in a loss to San Mateo.
Dora Amirkhany, Menlo School tennis: The freshman went 5-0 at the ninth annual Golden State Classic tennis tournament held at multiple Bay Area high schools, helping Menlo finish fourth of 32 teams competing.
Hannah Gardner, Miramonte water polo: The sophomore scored four goals and added an assist and a steal in a 15-13 win over Archie Williams, then added two steals and a steal in a 13-8 loss to Sacred Heart Prep. She also contributed a steal in an 8-1 win over Campolindo.
Gabriella Gonzalez, Santa Clara flag football: The senior quarterback completed 13 of 20 passes and threw for 130 yards with three touchdowns in a 49-0 win over MacDonald. She added 14 completions for 157 yards and a TD in a loss to Hillsdale.
Natalie Miyamoto, Hercules flag football: The senior had 12 tackles, four passes defended and a 45-yard punt return for a touchdown in a 13-6 win over Mt. Eden. She added eight tackles, a sack, four passes defended and two interception returns for touchdowns in a 25-0 win over Vallejo.
Sabrina Neal, Los Altos flag football: The junior completed 17 of 27 passes for 106 yards as Los Altos beat Presentation 12-6 in a close contest. She added 76 rushing yards and a TD on 12 attempts.
Katie Vail, Granada flag football: The senior completed 19 of 26 passes for 142 yards and three TDs as Granada beat Monte Vista 19-7. She added 163 yards while completing 18 of 27 passes in a loss to Tracy.
Kennedy Whyte, Monte Vista volleyball: The junior led Monte Vista to a 5-0 record and a win at the Bishop O’Dowd Invitational with 68 kills, 17 aces, 12 blocks and 34 digs.
Helena Younan, Los Gatos flag football: The sophomore quarterback completed 11 of 20 passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns in Los Gatos’ 25-0 win over St. Francis, then added 22 of 38 passes for 208 yards and four scores in a 32-0 win over Andrew Hill. She rushed for 52 yards across the two games as well.
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Christian Babcock
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Why Laver Cup conflict looms over potential Valkyries postseason home game
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SAN FRANCISCO — If the Valkyries reach the postseason in their inaugural year, one of the biggest questions will be where they will actually play.
A scheduling conflict with the Laver Cup — an international tennis tournament that includes stars Carlos Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz as well as legend Andre Agassi as a coach — presents Chase Center’s biggest hurdle in trying to accommodate a Valkyries playoff game.
In all likelihood, the Valkyries will not get a Top 4 seed in order to host two games in the first round, meaning their possible lone postseason game will take place either on Sept. 16 or 17.
The Laver Cup runs from Sept. 19-21, but setting up the state-of-the-art tennis court and allowing players time to practice before the tournament starts is the biggest challenge. The event was booked before the Valkyries became a franchise.
Golden State officials said an update on a decision on where the team will play will be coming in the next few days.
“We are finalizing details regarding our potential playoff venue and will share a comprehensive update with fans and season ticket holders in the coming days,” the Valkyries said in a statement sent to this news organization on Thursday. “We appreciate everyone’s patience as we work through the logistics of the possibility of a historic inaugural playoff run and pre-existing scheduling conflict at Chase Center.”
A Golden State Valkyries fan wears a winged helmet while sitting courtside in the fourth quarter of their WNBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025. The Golden State Valkyries defeated the Washington Mystics 99-62. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group) The Valkyries’ issues with scheduling their playoff game hasn’t gone unnoticed by the rest of the league.
“You want to think that you’re past it,” Stewart told SFGATE on Monday. “We want to think that we’re, like, better than this. Listen, sometimes it’s out of the control of everyone involved. But it’s just … You don’t see it happening with the NBA.”
The Valkyries will have other venues to consider should Chase Center not be available.
Oakland Arena, formerly known as Oracle Arena, would be an easy option as it was the Golden State Warriors’ former home. The venue does not have anything on its schedule the week of Sept. 15. SAP Center in San Jose has a concert scheduled on Sept. 15, but will have openings in the four days after.
Seating capacity won’t be a problem for Oakland Arena (19,200) and SAP Center (17,562) as they both seat over 17,000 fans.
Some reports have floated Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, home of the Sacramento Kings, as a possible venue as it is a current NBA Arena, though it would be the farthest trek for Bay Area fans.
Golden State Valkyries fans dress like the female warriors the name represents while cheering for their strong, bold and fierce Valkyries as they battle the Dallas Wings at the Chase Center in San Francisco on July 25, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group) When reached for comment last week, Sacramento officials did not respond to questions about if Golden 1 Center would welcome the Valkyries for a home playoff game.
The Laver Cup is a relatively new tennis tournament, holding its inaugural event in 2017. The tournament pits some of the best international players against the best players from the United States.
According to the Laver Cup website, the unique black playing surface is the largest known court in the world at 49 meters long and 23 meters wide. The website claims the court is portable and can be set up in tight time frames.
Golden State has exceeded expectations this season.
BetMGM had their win total odds at 8.5 before the season started, finishing last in the league. The Valkyries eclipsed the previous highest win total set by an expansion team, previously held by the 1998 Detroit Shock, who had 17 wins in their inaugural season.
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Nathan Canilao
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Valkyries keep defending champion Liberty in check, extend win streak to four
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SAN FRANCISCO — The Valkyries looked as connected as they have all year on Tuesday night.
Playing the star-studded New York Liberty, Golden State made all the right plays, hit all the necessary shots and kept the visiting team’s high-powered offense in check.
The result: The expansion team played perhaps its best game of the season, defeating the defending champion Liberty 66-58 in front of its 20th consecutive sellout crowd of the season.
“I think when we’re communicating and we’re executing the game plan, I think, like I said, we’re pretty dangerous,” Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said. “Credit to our players for believing, trusting and executing.”
Temi Fágbénlé led the Valkyries with 16 points and five rebounds. Janelle Salaun had 10 points. Kate Martin came off the bench and scored 11 points.
Monique Billings made her return to the lineup after missing the last 14 games with a right ankle sprain. She played 20 minutes, scored five points and grabbed three rebounds.
Guard Natasha Cloud was a bright spot for the Liberty, leading New York with 19 points. Walnut Creek native Sabrina Ionescu missed Friday’s game with a toe injury.
The Valkyries held the Liberty to 31.6% shooting and didn’t allow the Liberty to get to the line consistently in the first half, holding the visiting team to two free throw attempts. Breanna Stewart saw only four of her 15 shots go through the basket, but got most of her points at the free throw line.
“We stayed very connected throughout the whole game, through the ups and downs, through the runs. That’s the main thing,” Fágbénlé said. “Communicating throughout the whole game really helped us, and sticking with the schemes.”
With the win, the Valkyries now have a one-game lead over the Indiana Fever for the sixth seed. A Los Angeles Sparks loss against the Atlanta Dream on Wednesday and a Valkyries win over the Dallas Wings on Thursday would clinch a playoff spot for Golden State. The Valkyries are also a game and a half behind the Liberty for the fifth seed.
Golden State fell behind by four points after the first quarter, but an offensive explosion in the second period gave the Valkyries a comfortable halftime lead.
Martin scored all 11 of her points in the second quarter, hitting 3-of-6 of her 3-point attempts to lead the Valkyries in the first half.
The Valkyries held the Liberty to 32.3% shooting through the first two quarters and led 40-26 going into the intermission.
New York’s eight second-quarter points is tied for the fewest points a Valkyries’ opponent has scored all season.
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Golden State Valkyries’ Janelle Salaün (13) celebrates her 3-point basket against the New York Liberty in the third quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
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Golden State Valkyries’ Janelle Salaün (13) celebrates her 3-point basket against the New York Liberty in the third quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State ballooned its lead to 24 early in the third period, but the Liberty finished the quarter strong by forcing seven Valkyries turnovers. The home team went into the final 10 minutes of play with a 12-point lead.
But much like they have done during this home stand, the Valkyries didn’t let up in the fourth quarter.
Golden State’s inside-out attack paced its offense against a more athletic Liberty defense. On the other end, the Valkyries got timely stops and didn’t allow New York’s trio of post players consisting of Stewart, Emma Meesseman and last year’s Finals MVP Jonquel Jones to get going.
During this home stand, the Valkyries have beaten teams by average of 19 points.
The Valkyries will play their final two home games on Thursday and Saturday, starting with a matchup with the Dallas Wings followed by the regular season finale against the Minnesota Lynx two days later.
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Nathan Canilao
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Letters: Battle over Prop. 50 is a fight that’s worth having
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Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.
Prop. 50 is a fight
that’s worth havingRe: “Passing redistricting plan will be uphill battle for governor” (Page A16, Aug. 31).
This opinion piece lists the difficulty of getting voters to the polls for an off-year election, but this is one very special election. For one thing, voting for redistricting is almost as critical as voting for a president. It impacts the entire nation, not just Californians.
Donald Trump’s control of Congress inflicts incredible horrors upon the values of rational citizens. It is not just any off-year election, but the difference between another two years of unfettered Trump rule and the hope of lessening his influence to protect our freedoms.
The most rational threat to the passage of redistricting is the moral question of supporting gerrymandering to achieve neutrality in the congressional districts after the Texas redistricting debacle.
Support the redistricting because it is a prime example of the ends justifying the means. Vote “yes” as a big step toward controlling Trump.
Joan Field
DanvilleMinority representation
is a lie in this stateRe: “Political ads over map fight heating up” (Page A1, Aug. 29).
Those on the left in California who support Gov. Newsom’s gerrymander proposal in Proposition 50 apparently don’t care about minorities if the minority is Republican voters.
The left will oppose voter ID, claiming it suppresses minority voters, but it will support Proposition 50 even though it actually disenfranchises voters who are Republicans and in the minority. Hypocrisy.
Nick Waranoff
OrindaNewsom’s theatrics
a sign of desperationI think Gavin Newsom is acting desperate, seeing his lifelong dream of the presidency being vaporized by President Trump.
Being a Democrat politician in California is easy. Being a lifelong California Democrat politician running for president is much more difficult because the lifelong Democrat politician must now run on their record of accomplishments to lure the small percentage of swing and independent voters who will decide who will become our next president to vote for them. It seems to me that this is why Newsom is acting out with his arm-waving, ranting speeches and Trump-like tweets because he doesn’t have much in the way of accomplishments to sell.
It seems to me Newsom would be better served by keeping his hands in his pockets, keeping his mouth shut and spending the next 12 months actually building a résumé of real California accomplishments to sell to the rest of the country.
Bill Behan
BrentwoodGender care for youth
needs further studyRe: “Handmade cards from classmates comfort a girl wounded in Minneapolis church shooting, aunt says” (Aug. 30).
I am really concerned about school shootings, especially after the latest one in Minneapolis. I am also concerned about the shooter identifying as trans and receiving gender-affirming care as a minor.
I have no problem with adults receiving gender-affirming care. In fact, I know transgender people, and some are my friends. However, I worry about underage people with developing bodies receiving hormone blockers and other gender-affirming drugs.
I feel we should study the effects of those drugs more before giving them to underage people.
Marianne Haas
BerkeleyStop Trump’s attacks on
US Indigenous studentsIt is shameful when Donald Trump’s Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon, threatens to strip the state of New York’s school funding over its ban on mascots that are degrading toward American Indian students. They make the students feel less than human.
I urge McMahon and her boss, President Trump, to stop defending school mascots that are degrading toward American Indian students.
Billy Trice Jr.
OaklandTime to re-evaluate
Israel’s value as allyRe: “Israel’s war in Gaza making it a pariah state” (Page A7, Aug. 28).
How much longer can we ignore women in Gaza watching their children starving to death while Israel bleeds our coffers dry?
Israel is not a poor country. It has subsidized education and health care while we have neither and are shouldering a debt of over $37 trillion. Yet, we continue to unquestionably fund its unrelenting slaughter of innocent women and children — a disgraceful crime against humanity. At the same time, we are stripping ourselves of our First Amendment rights at the behest of this rogue nation.
Israel is not a valuable ally; it is an albatross around our neck. We need more honest public discussion.
Forrest Cioppa
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High school football rankings Week 1, 2025: Bay Area News Group Top 25
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After Week 1, the top three teams in the Bay Area News Group rankings solidified their spots.
De La Salle came away with a gritty win over Florida powerhouse Lakeland, Archbishop Riordan cruised past Oakland heavyweight McClymonds and Pittsburg lit up the scoreboard and then held off Granite Bay, a respected program from the Sac-Joaquin Section.
San Ramon Valley found its way into the Top 5 after beating El Cerrito in a close game.
Though Serra lost to Folsom in a 56-42 thriller, the San Mateo school proved HSRatings’ computer dead wrong. The computer had Serra losing 40-0. For that, the Padres moved up two spots, to No. 5.
Liberty defeated last year’s Division 3-AA state champion Frontier-Bakersfield and rose to the 10th spot in the rankings.
Sacred Heart Cathedral moved into the rankings following an impressive win over Sacred Heart Prep. The West Catholic Athletic League has six teams in the Top 25, the most of any league in the Bay Area News Group’s coverage area.
Now, on to the rankings:
Bay Area News Group Top 25
(Mercury News & East Bay Times)
No. 1 DE LA SALLE (1-0)
Previous ranking: 1
Last week: Beat Lakeland-Florida 10-6
Up next: Saturday at Serra, 2 p.m.
No. 2 ARCHBISHOP RIORDAN (1-0)
Previous ranking: 2
Last week: Beat McClymonds 41-18
Up next: Friday at Monte Vista, 7 p.m.
No. 3 PITTSBURG (1-0)
Previous ranking: 3
Last week: Beat Granite Bay 42-36
Up next: Saturday at Bishop Manogue-Reno, 4 p.m.
No. 4 SAN RAMON VALLEY (1-0)
Previous ranking: 6
Last week: Beat El Cerrito 20-14
Up next: Friday at Soquel, 7 p.m.
No. 5 SERRA (0-1)
Previous ranking: 7
Last week: Lost to Folsom 56-42
Up next: Saturday vs. De La Salle, 2 p.m.
No. 6 ST. FRANCIS (0-1)
Previous ranking: 4
Last week: Lost to Cathedral Catholic 35-7
Up next: Friday at McClymonds, 7 p.m.
No. 7 VALLEY CHRISTIAN (1-0)
Previous ranking: 8
Last week: Beat Wilcox 41-10
Up next: Friday at Salinas, 7 p.m.
No. 8 LOS GATOS (0-1)
Previous ranking: 5
Last week: Lost to Soquel 42-40
Up next: Friday at Liberty, 7 p.m.
No. 9 WILCOX (0-1)
Previous ranking: 9
Last week: Lost to Valley Christian 41-10
Up next: Friday at Archbishop Mitty, 7 p.m.
No. 10 LIBERTY (1-0)
Previous ranking: 13
Last week: Beat Frontier-Bakersfield 14-0
Up next: Friday vs. Los Gatos, 7 p.m.
No. 11 CLAYTON VALLEY CHARTER (0-1)
Previous ranking: 11
Last week: Lost to Spanish Springs-Nevada 42-13
Up next: Friday vs. College Park, 7 p.m.
No. 12 MCCLYMONDS (0-1)
Previous ranking: 10
Last week: Lost to Riordan 41-18
Up next: Friday vs. St. Francis, 7 p.m.
No. 13 AMADOR VALLEY (0-1)
Previous ranking: 12
Last week: Lost to Vanden 21-14
Up next: Friday at Monterey Trail, 7:15 p.m.
No. 14 ACALANES (1-0)
Previous ranking: 16
Last week: Beat Archbishop Mitty 33-12
Up next: Friday vs. Menlo-Atherton 7 p.m.
No. 15 CAMPOLINDO (1-0)
Previous ranking: 17
Last week: Beat Granada 42-7
Up next: Friday at Northgate, 7 p.m.
No. 16 ST. IGNATIUS (0-1)
Previous ranking: 14
Last week: Lost to San Marin 27-24
Up next: Saturday at Tamalpais, 2 p.m.
No. 17 MENLO-ATHERTON (0-1)
Previous ranking: 15
Last week: Lost to Destiny Christian Academy 41-7
Up next: Friday at Acalanes, 7 p.m.
No. 18 MENLO SCHOOL (1-0)
Previous ranking: 18
Last week: Beat Hozho Academy-New Mexico 60-0
Up next: Saturday vs. San Mateo, 2 p.m.
No. 19 SALESIAN (1-0)
Previous ranking: 19
Last week: Beat Piedmont 41-17
Up next: Saturday vs. Moreau Catholic, 1 p.m.
No. 20 EL CERRITO (0-1)
Previous ranking: 20
Last week: Lost to San Ramon Valley 20-14
Up next: Friday vs. Lowell, 7:30 p.m.
No. 21 CALIFORNIA (1-0)
Previous ranking: 24
Last week: Beat Patterson 14-11
Up next: Friday at James Logan, 7 p.m.
No. 22 BISHOP O’DOWD (1-0)
Previous ranking: 23
Last week: Beat Armijo 37-19
Up next: Friday vs. Mater Dei Catholic, 7 p.m.
No. 23 SANTA TERESA (1-0)
Previous ranking: 22
Last week: Beat Fremont-Sunnyvale 42-0
Up next: Friday vs. Milpitas, 7:15 p.m.
No. 24 SACRED HEART CATHEDRAL (1-0)
Previous ranking: Not ranked
Last week: Beat Sacred Heart Prep 35-10
Up next: Friday at Berkeley, 7 p.m.
No. 25 SACRED HEART PREP (0-1)
Previous ranking: 21
Last week: Lost to Sacred Heart Cathedral 35-10
Up next: Friday at El Capitan, 7 p.m.
Editor’s note: Teams eligible for the Bay Area News Group rankings come from leagues based predominantly in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. The news organization’s high school staff chooses the teams.
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Nathan Canilao
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Antioch’s Najee Harris cleared for full-contact practice with Chargers, remains mum on accident details
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EL SEGUNDO — Running back Najee Harris has been cleared to participate in full-contact practice, leaving the running back a possibility to play in the Los Angeles Chargers’ season opener Friday against the Kansas City Chiefs in Brazil.
Harris injured his eye in a July 4 fireworks mishap in his hometown of Antioch, putting him on the non-football injury/illness list ahead of training camp. As a result, he couldn’t be on the field with the team, and instead, he worked on the sideline with a personal trainer.
Harris, who starred at Antioch High School and Alabama before he was drafted in the first round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021, has never missed a game in his NFL career. He said Monday after practice that his vision wasn’t affected by the mishap and called the injury “superficial.”
Asked if he would play Friday, Harris said, “I’m ramping up to it. This is my fifth day of practice. Just trying to get into that football shape. I’m feeling good, and we’ll just see where it leads.”
Coach Jim Harbaugh said Harris has “looked really good in practice. We’ll just take it one day at a time. Has a really good awareness of what we’re doing.”
Harris declined to provide details Monday about the mishap in Antioch during a Fourth of July celebration, saying, “I don’t want to go into that.”
The mishap happened about 12:20 a.m. July 5, in the 2200 block of Spanos Street, and injured more than one person. In a statement at the time, Antioch police said some of the injured were treated at the scene and hospitalized. Others drove themselves to a hospital, police said.
In July, Harris’ agent, Doug Hendrickson of Wasserman Sports, issued a statement saying, “Najee Harris was present at a 4th of July event where a fireworks mishap resulted in injuries to several attendees. Najee sustained a superficial eye injury during the incident, but is fully expected to be ready for the upcoming NFL season.”
Harris called it “a humbling experience.”
“I’m still going through it in a way,” he said. “That whole situation can show you how things can change in the snap of a finger. It’s a blessing every day that we wake up. I’m just happy everybody’s safe and we’re alive.”
“Just recovering, getting in shape – just staying in shape, I mean,” Harris added. “Just trying to stay on top of the playbooks.”
Harris didn’t wear a visor while playing for the Steelers. He’s kept his eyes protected during workouts, leading to speculation that he’s hiding something. He wore sunglasses while speaking outside on Monday.
“It’s not my job to care what other people think,” he said. “It’s my job to do what I got to do.”
Harbaugh said wide receiver Quentin Johnston has cleared concussion protocol. He suffered a concussion in the team’s second preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams, which left him motionless on the field for several seconds.
“I did all the tests and everything was cool, so I got up and moved on from it,” he said.
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Beth Harris
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Monday Morning Lights: Why Serra, Folsom schedule heavyweights in September
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Welcome back to Monday Morning Lights, our weekly feature that sheds more light on the high school football weekend and peeks ahead to the new week. If you haven’t already, please subscribe. Your contributions keep us going.
No matter what happens, Serra and Folsom know that most seasons, they will be in position to compete for section championships at the end of the year.
Which is why both teams go out of their way to schedule exceptionally tough nonleague opponents in September.
This year, Sacramento area power Folsom visited another top team from its area (Grant), bussed to San Mateo to play Serra on Saturday and will fly to Southern California this week to face Mission Viejo.
Serra opened with Folsom and will also take on De La Salle in San Mateo this Saturday. The Padres will finish their nonleague schedule with a trip to face Southern Section powerhouse St. John Bosco.
After beating Serra 56-42, Folsom coach Paul Doherty admitted that earning Northern California’s berth in the CIF Open Division state championship game is the Bulldogs’ goal this season.
Testing themselves – and winning – against the best teams in the state is an important part of making that a reality.
“Every time you go through it, you’re like, ‘This is a bad idea,’” Doherty said. “Tough schedule, that’s the only way to do it. We’ve won four section (championships) in a row. We were in four NorCals in a row. We’ve won two of them, and we lost two by a total of four points. If we’re going to get better, we have to schedule and we have to plan. That’s the DNA or the blueprint of what we’re trying to do.”
Doherty noted that the programs in SoCal especially are “better than ours,” and playing them gives Folsom something to aspire to moving forward.
Serra, meanwhile, is trying to recapture the form that powered the Padres to a 25-0 record against NorCal foes in 2022 and 2023. That stretch came during a run in which the San Mateo school represented Northern California in the Open state title game three consecutive seasons.
Serra’s strong showing against Folsom on Saturday could be the first sign that the Padres are on their way back to being a top NorCal contender.
“There’s a Nelson Mandela quote that says, ‘I either win or I learn,’” Walsh said. “I want to know what we got and what we don’t have. I’m not trying to stack up wins around here. What we’re trying to do is be WCAL champions and CCS champions. And my philosophy has always been to schedule the best, be a part of the best. Challenge yourself against the best coaches and players, and then you know exactly where you are.”
— Christian Babcock
RIORDAN: FAMILY BUSINESS
Early in the first quarter, Riordan quarterback Mike Mitchell Jr. scanned the field for openings in McClymonds’ defense. After going through his reads, Mitchell locked in on a target he is very familiar with.
Younger brother Maxwell, a sophomore receiver, found the soft spot in the defense on a crossing route, pulled in the pass, and ran in for a 27-yard touchdown.
It was a play that the two had informally rehearsed in the backyard for years, and drilled on the practice field all summer.
“It was unreal,” Max Mitchell told the Bay Area News Group. “We did that every day in the summer, so the work definitely paid off.”
– Joseph Dycus
ACALANES: NEW POSITION … SORT OF
After Grant Ricker grabbed three interceptions in Acalanes’ emotional 33-12 victory, he noted that it was his first start ever at defensive back. He had started at receiver last season for Acalanes’ North Coast Section Division III championship team.
“I have to thank my coaches for teaching me on the fly,” Ricker said.
According to teammate Deonte Littlejohn, that isn’t quite true.
“Actually, Ricker played DB freshman year … and he wasn’t the best,” Littlejohn said. “He had a complete turnaround, and now he’s a dog out there. Playing receiver just helps him track that ball down.”
– Joseph Dycus
DE LA SALLE: JEFFERSON CAN SCOOT
Jaden Jefferson is a fast runner.
De La Salle’s two-way speedster reset the state record in the 100-meter dash last spring, clocking a time of 10.01 seconds at the CIF state meet in Clovis.
But his time caused some controversy.
It was widely speculated by those including Arcadia Invitational meet director Rich Gonzalez that the record-breaking time resulted in part because, he suspected, the starter fired the gun too far from the electronic timing sensor, causing a clock delay.
But CIF stood by its time, and so is Jefferson.
“CIF, they confirmed it, they said they had two clocks running,” Jefferson said. “So I’m not really arguing with the people who don’t believe it. I know what I ran, and I came back a second day to run another time. They said they had two clocks running, and they approved it. So I’m not sure what the other people are talking about.”
De La Salle football coach Justin Alumbaugh isn’t too concerned, either. He knows what Jefferson’s wheels do for his team.
“I think he could have broken 10,” Alumbaugh said. “He slowed up at the end. What I know is he was moving. And football-wise, he passes the eye test for speed. You’ll see him out there. He can scoot. No matter what the exact time is, that dude can run. You get under a 10.3, you’re scooting pretty well.”
— Christian Babcock
NORCAL COMMIT FROM FLORIDA ENJOYS TIME IN GOLDEN STATE
Lakeland-Florida running back and Sacramento State commit Ja’darious Dobie got a little taste of the Cali life when the Dreadnaughts played De La Salle on Friday.
Though Lakeland didn’t get the results it wanted, Dobie said he enjoyed his time in NorCal.
“It was beautiful weather out here and it’s just beautiful scenery,” Dobie said. “I wish we could have come out here and dominated better, but at least we lost in Cali. So it feels good to be home.”
Dobie picked Sacramento State over FBS schools Wake Forest, UNLV, Pittsburgh and Georgia Tech. New Sacramento State coach Brennan Marion is a former Bay Area resident, coaching at St. Patrick-St. Vincent in Vallejo, and playing at Foothill and De Anza colleges in the South Bay.
– Nathan Canilao
MENLO SCHOOL: OPENER SHARED CULTURAL EXPERIENCE
It’s not every year you see a California high school team play a season opener against a squad from New Mexico.
Menlo School welcomed Hózhó Academy, a charter school from Gallup, N.M., on Saturday in Atherton. The unusual matchup brought together two small schools with a number of differences but similar values.
Hózhó Academy is located on the edge of the Navajo Nation in New Mexico, a Native American reservation home to the Diné people. Most of the Hózhó Academy players had not traveled off the reservation before coming to the Bay Area this weekend.
“Coach (Todd) Smith and I really clicked when we talked about our coaching philosophies and the bigger picture of helping shape good, young men,” Hózhó Academy coach Cyle Balok said in a release. “We thought this game could be a special opportunity for both of our teams to meet and use the game as a bridge between two vastly different parts of the country.”
Hózhó Academy traveled to Atherton by bus and made the trip thanks to fundraising from local businesses near Gallup. The two teams shared a pregame dinner Friday, and Menlo hopes the connections they make through the game last beyond Week 1.
“We come from very different parts of the country,” said Smith, Menlo’s head coach. “But we started this friendship and knew this could be much more than a regular game.”
— Christian Babcock
PEEK AHEAD TO WEEK 2
Friday
Campolindo (1-0) at Northgate (1-0), 7 p.m.: Campo was in midseason form last week at Granada.
Los Gatos (0-1) at Liberty (1-0), 7 p.m.: Los Gatos will try to tighten its defense before the long trip to Brentwood.
Menlo-Atherton (0-1) at Acalanes (1-0), 7 p.m.: Acalanes aiming to beat CCS school for second week in a row.
St. Francis (0-1) at McClymonds (0-1), 7 p.m.: Tough trip for St. Francis as Lancers try to bounce back from loss to Cathedral Catholic.
San Jose (1-0) vs. Lincoln-San Jose (1-0) at San Jose City College, 7 p.m.: Will Lincoln’s dominance continue in Big Bone game?
Windsor (1-0) at Hayward (1-0), 7 p.m.: Both teams had impressive season-opening wins.
Saturday
De La Salle (1-0) at Serra (0-1), 2 p.m.: DLS remembers its last visit to Serra, a 28-0 loss two seasons ago.
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Christian Babcock, Nathan Canilao, Joseph Dycus
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Clock issues can’t stop Valkyries in win over Caitlin Clark-less Fever
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SAN FRANCISCO — Chase Center turned into a glorified night club on Sunday night.
After electrical issues caused multiple shot clocks to malfunction, and choppy officiating gave way to numerous review stoppages, the fan cam inside the arena was put to work.
The basketball game almost seemed like background noise as fans were asked to dance to a mix of Bay Area classics and new age pop music with each game stoppage. Both the Valkyries and the visiting Indiana Fever were both visibly frustrated by the start-stop nature of Sunday’s game that took two hours and 38 minutes to complete.
But what mattered most is that the Valkyries gave the sold out crowd of 18,064 something to dance for after the game ended.
Golden State Valkyries’ Iliana Rupert (12) scores a 3-point basket against Indiana Fever’s Aerial Powers (23) in the fourth quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) The Valkyries won their third straight game, beating the injury-plagued Indiana Fever 75-63 behind a hot shooting start. The 158-minute game was the longest contest that ended in regulation since the Chicago Sky played the Dallas Wings in a two-hour, 41-minute game on Aug. 6, 2023, per Elias Sports Bureau. Sunday’s game had five clock stoppages in the first half.
The Valkyries attributed the clock malfunctions to a power outage that occurred at Chase Center on Sunday morning.
Iliana Rupert posted a career-high 21 points and hit 5-of-8 shots from the 3-point line. Rookie Janelle Salaün had 10 points, four rebounds and two assists. Veronica Burton finished with eight points, 13 assists and seven rebounds.
“I think it was the first time in all of our lives that we had so much stuff (go on), but it’s not stuff that you can control,” Rupert said after the game. “We really just tried to stay together. The fans obviously helped a lot because you can lose energy really quickly, and they were pushing us.”
A broken shot clock above a basket during the Golden State Valkyries game against the Indiana Fever in the second quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) The Fever were without superstar Caitlin Clark, who missed her 18th straight game with a left groin injury. Former Valkyries guard Aerial Powers scored 17 points off the bench and Kelsey Mitchell had 14 points in the loss.
The Valkyries held the Fever’s other star, Aliyah Boston, to just four points.
“We really tried to be physical with her and try to make the night hard,” Rupert said. “I think we did that really well. So yeah, I’m happy of the work because it was really a team effort to stop her.”
After two different clock stoppages forced a 25-minute delay in the first quarter, the Valkyries went on a run. Golden State hit seven of its eight 3-pointers and took a 25-14 lead after the first 10 minutes.
More stoppages allowed Indiana to get back within striking distance, but Golden State kept the high-paced offense at bay.
The Valkyries led by as much as 20 in the first half behind a 75% shooting quarter from beyond the arc. Rupert and Salaün accounted for 21 of the Valkyries’ 44 first-half points, and the home team led 44-32 after two quarters.
With all the stoppages, the first half lasted a whopping 92 minutes but Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said the breaks in action helped the Valkyries regroup.
Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase (35) talks to Golden State Valkyries’ Temi Fagbenle (14) during their game against the Indiana Fever in the second quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) “We did get to talk about defensively, continuing to focus on our game plan and our execution in terms of the defense and what was hurting us,” Nakase said. “We just tried to make it an advantage as best we can.”
Indiana made headway in the third quarter, cutting the Valkyries’ lead to seven going into the final 10 minutes.
Powers cut the Golden State advantage to just five with a layup at the 7:37 mark of the fourth quarter, giving the Fever a much-needed momentum swing.
But just as Indiana was on the verge of cutting the lead to a single possession, Powers fouled Clark’s former Iowa teammate Kate Martin on a 3-pointer right in front of Indiana’s bench and the second-year guard swished the shot to erupt the Chase Center crowd.
Golden State Valkyries’ Kate Martin (20) heads to the basket against Indiana Fever’s Lexie Hull (10) in the second quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) Martin finished with 10 points.
Indiana never got back into the game after Powers’ foul. Carla Leite iced the game when she hit a wild circus shot while getting fouled from the left wing with just over 90 seconds left in the game.
Despite the odd breaks in the game, Nakase credited the crowd for keeping the energy high.
“That’s just great that our crowd doesn’t just get frustrated. They don’t leave. They stay behind us,” Nakase said. “Credit to our fans for just keeping it lively, keeping it entertaining because at the end of the day, we do want to enjoy this time. When we’re all together for two hours and like 45 minutes, we want to put on a show. We want to entertain people, and we want to have almost like a party.”
The Valkyries will return to Chase Center on Tuesday when they play the New York Liberty (7 p.m., KPIX+).
Golden State Valkyries’ Carla Leite (0) scores a basket and a foul against Indiana Fever’s Natasha Howard (6) in the fourth quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) 
Golden State Valkyries’ Kaila Charles (6) takes a shot against the Indiana Fever in the second quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) -
Golden State Valkyries’ Iliana Rupert (12) celebrates her 3-point basket against the Indiana Fever in the fourth quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
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Golden State Valkyries’ Iliana Rupert (12) celebrates her 3-point basket against the Indiana Fever in the fourth quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
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Nathan Canilao
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Duece Jones-Drew carries shorthanded De La Salle past Florida powerhouse Lakeland
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Jones-Drew plays every snap, scores go-ahead touchdown in gritty season-opening win for top-ranked De La Salle.
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Nathan Canilao
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Brentwood passes tobacco ordinance banning retailers within 500 feet of schools
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BRENTWOOD – After numerous discussions and pushback, Brentwood has established an ordinance that prevents tobacco retailers from being within 500 feet of a youth-oriented establishment.
The Brentwood City Council on Tuesday refined its definition of a youth-oriented establishment as any public or privately owned and operated elementary school, middle school, secondary school, high school, or other institution providing academic instruction for students from kindergarten through 12th grade.
The definition does not include any alternative education facilities, such as daycare or tutoring establishments.
In May, the city had proposed that the tobacco ordinance also include public libraries, youth centers, and any business establishment likely to be frequented by minors, such as arcades, bowling alleys, or skating rinks, among others, to be defined as youth-oriented establishments.
It also proposed a 250-foot distance requirement from those establishments.
However, business owners who sell tobacco-related products expressed concern that the change would reduce revenue or potentially put them out of business.
At Tuesday’s meeting, some councilmembers felt the initial definition of youth-oriented establishments was too broad and agreed that it needed to be narrowed. Some also said the ordinance was not meant to punish businesses, but stricter rules needed to be established to protect youth.
Councilmember Jovita Mendoza stated that the school district had come forward requesting assistance.
“I wish we had an SRO (school resource officer) here because they can tell you the problems we have at our schools right now, the bathroom. My kids have graduated, thank God, because they couldn’t even use the bathroom in the schools because everyone was smoking and vaping and doing things they shouldn’t be doing,” said Mendoza. “Someone said that it’s the parents and the teachers who should be doing things. It was our school that came up and said, ‘Hey, we need help. We can’t do this alone,’ and so that was a catalyst for everything that we’re doing.”
Vice Mayor Pa’tanisha Pierson said the council took the voices of residents and business owners into consideration.
“But we are not going to make everyone happy, and so we’ll try our best,” said Pierson. “This is what we do on council.”
The newly passed ordinance also capped the number of tobacco retailer licenses within the city at 41.
All tobacco retailers must be registered to obtain a license within 30 days from Oct. 9, when the ordinance is expected to take effect.
Existing tobacco retailers who do not meet the 500-foot separation requirement will be issued a 12-month “Wind-Down Permit,” which provides businesses some time to sell their tobacco products and stocks, or wind down their tobacco retail operations.
Interim City Manager Darin Gale said this will give retailers time “to figure things out,” since they are no longer able to sell tobacco-related products.
However, it is unknown how many businesses will be directly impacted by the ordinance yet, Mayor Susannah Meyer said.
“We will not know how many businesses are impacted until staff have the chance to redraw the (city’s) map with the new definition and distance,” said Meyer.
During public comment on Tuesday, Matt Strauch, from Strauch & Company and Strauch Brother Incorporation, who own and operate two ARCO AM/PM stores in Brentwood, said he and his brother have “poured decades of hard work” to develop their businesses.
Strauch said the company has gone “above and beyond” in terms of tobacco compliance and has trained every staff member to check for identification for customers under 35.
“We don’t sell flavored vapes, the product kids actually seek out, but this ordinance treats us the same as businesses that haven’t followed the rules. It puts a huge part of our revenue at risk, not because of anything we’ve done wrong, but simply because of where we’re located,” said Strauch.
He said that other cities have taken a more “compassionate approach” and have allowed license transferability, as well as exempting existing businesses from the distance buffer.
Ronit Shirwagi, a member of the Courage Youth Health Coalition and a senior at Dougherty Valley High School in San Ramon, said tobacco products among high schoolers have been extremely prevalent and accessible.
He said many students take up smoking due to peer pressure and educating students on the dangers of nicotine and tobacco can only do so much.
“Having the proper policy changes like the one proposed will be the most significant change that will reduce teens’ access to tobacco retailers,” said Shirwagi. “With the right policies in place, students will be protected from the pressures and easy access that fuel this issue and will be one more step closer in creating a smoke-free society.”
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Hema Sivanandam
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Kaila Charles finds redemption with Valkyries in career night vs. Wings
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Twice this year, the Dallas Wings told Kaila Charles she wasn’t good enough to keep a roster spot.
Her WNBA journey looked about finished for the 2025 season until the Valkyries gave her an opportunity just after the All-Star break after a plethora of injuries left the expansion team shorthanded. Now, the Valkyries can’t imagine a rotation without her.
Following three hardship contracts, the Valkyries guaranteed the 27-year-old shooting guard’s contract for the rest of the season.
On Sunday, she had her best game of the season as she locked up former teammate and rookie of the year candidate Paige Bueckers while tying a career-high 16 points in a 90-81 win over the Wings.
“I think it was a full circle moment,” Charles said after Sunday’s win. “I started the season here, and to be cut was sad, but it also gave me the opportunity to get film and get picked up by the (Valkyries). So even though it didn’t work out here like I wanted to, it gave me another opportunity where I fit in a little bit more.
“So it just shows that everything happens for a reason, and I’m really glad that I was able to win with my team and do well and help them.”
Dallas Wings guard Paige Bueckers (5) loses control of the ball against Golden State Valkyries guard Kaila Charles during the second half of a WNBA basketball game in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero) When the Valkyries first signed Charles on Aug. 1, the former University of Maryland standout was tasked with learning a new system and teammates on a team that’s in the midst of trying to make a playoff push.
On the morning she joined the team, Charles boarded a plane to Chicago and had a few hours to learn the Valkyries’ playbook before a 7 p.m. tipoff against the Sky. The Valkyries coaching staff quickly briefed Charles before the game and the shooting guard was immediately in the rotation that night.
That night against, Charles played 17 minutes, scored five points, grabbed five rebounds and closed the fourth quarter in her first game with the team.
“Sometimes it’s on the fly,” assistant coach Landon Tatum told this news organization in a recent interview about how they fit players like Charles into their rotation the day of a game. “We know this person can do this really well. So, let’s see if this works. I wouldn’t necessarily say we know ahead of time going into games this is going to for sure work, but I think because we do a solid job of knowing what players do well, we can kind of plug and play specific people with certain people.”
Since then, Charles has been a rotation regular. She’s played in every game and been a valuable piece off the bench for Nakase as a defensive stopper and consistent catch-and-shoot player.
In her first start with the Valkyries on Sunday, Charles was tasked with guarding Bueckers, who came into the game with a streak of 30 consecutive double-digit scoring games.
Charles shadowed Bueckers for every minute she was in the game. Her active hands bothered the rookie star and her quick feet kept Bueckers away from the basket.
Charles held Bueckers scoreless in the first half and eventually limited her to just nine points on 3-of-12 shooting.
“Credit to Kaila for coming and doing what she does,” Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said. “Locking people up, and also on the offensive end, just being confident in her shot making. She makes quick decisions, taking it hard to the basket. Credit to Kaila because she’s really only had two practices with us.”
With the injuries the Valkyries have, Charles’ role will only get larger in the coming weeks as the Valkyries try to secure a playoff spot.
Golden State is currently in eighth place with a half-game lead over the ninth-place Los Angeles Sparks for the final playoff spot. The Valkyries are also a half game behind the sixth-place Indiana Fever and seventh-place Seattle Storm with matchups against both franchises in the coming weeks.
The battle to make the playoffs makes Charles’ presence, and her ability to step in when her team needs her most, all the more valuable.
“I think some people may limit or not understand the challenge that can come from being cut, but her ability to come in and affect everything, not just offensively but also defensively, says a lot about who she is as a person.” Valkyries point guard Veronica Burton said of Charles after Sunday’s win.
“It’s a major testament to come in, back to the team that waived you this season and play 35 minutes and impact the game.”
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – AUGUST 24: |Veronica Burton #22 of the Golden State Valkyries and Kaila Charles #6 celebrate the team’s win over the Dallas Wings following the game at College Park Center on August 24, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) Originally Published:
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Nathan Canilao
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North Coast Section’s leading rusher from 2024 talks transfer to DAL powerhouse, goals for senior year
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Clayton Valley Charter transfer running back Jhadis Luckey, a Fresno State commit, discusses his plans for a follow-up to his breakout junior year at California High.
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Christian Babcock
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Antioch to appoint next city clerk
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ANTIOCH – In a move that would save the city hundreds of thousands of dollars, Antioch will appoint its next city clerk after Melissa Rhodes resigned last month.
The Antioch City Council unanimously voted on Aug. 12 to appoint a replacement instead of holding a special election, which officials said would be a more cost-effective solution.
Rhodes, who was elected in November 2024, resigned as city clerk on July 30. In her resignation letter, the former city clerk did not state why she left office.
According to a staff report, the city clerk position must be filled by the end of September. Because Rhodes had resigned during the first year of her term, an appointment would only be in place until December 2026.
A special election for a new city clerk would need to take place during the November 2026 election.
If Antioch had decided to hold a standalone special election prior to November 2026, it would have cost about $800,000 to nearly $1 million, according to the city.
During public comment, several residents were in favor of holding a special election. Some felt there should be more transparent measures in place should the City Council appoint the next city clerk.
Councilmember Donald Freitas said he was not in favor of spending money to hold a special election but agreed that the appointment process should be transparent.
Freitas said the city should advertise the vacancy for potential candidates.
“We have these candidates who are interested come before us here in this room, or if there’s another facility, and basically allow the council to ask questions, to probe, and to have these individuals state why she or he should be appointed to this position,” said Freitas. “It’s not unlike what all candidates do with regard to our boards and commissions. The difference is this is a critically important constitutional office at the local level.”
Councilmember Tamisha Torres-Walker said she supported the appointment process.
“I’ve seen it be transparent, and I’ve seen it be public,” said Torres-Walker. “When our former District Attorney Mark Peterson needed to go, the Board of Supervisors had the authority to appoint, but they committed to a public process, and that’s how we got our current DA Diana Becton.”
Torres-Walker also urged the public to participate by attending and voicing their opinions during the appointment process.
Councilmember Monica Wilson said the city had just gone through its budget cycle, and having a special election would be costly.
“I don’t think it’s worth almost on the high end, almost a million dollars,” said Wilson.
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Hema Sivanandam
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High school football 2025 preview: EBAL Valley Division
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As part of our high school football content to get you ready for the 2025 season, we are rolling out previews of all leagues in our coverage area.
Today’s focus:
EAST BAY ATHLETIC LEAGUE VALLEY DIVISION
(Predicted order of finish)
No. 1 GRANADA
Coach: Brandon Black
2024 record: 7-5
What to expect: In his first season as coach, Brandon Black led Granada to a league championship and the North Coast Section Division IV semifinals. The Livermore school will be the favorite to repeat as league champion as many of its top performers return along with an infusion of key transfers. Senior Jack Badger earned all-league first-team honors last season at quarterback and will be a multi-tool player this season, playing wide receiver and defensive back. Three-star, 6-foot-5 wide receiver/tight end Damien Miles is aiming to build on a stellar junior season in which he had 40 catches for 673 yards. Wide receivers Ethan Mitchell and Skyler Stuart are fast, physical players who will also contribute as defensive backs. Leading the offense will be quarterback Caiden Van Leer, a transfer from and California whom Black said “is going to be a big surprise for Valley opponents.” The defense lost key starters from last season, but will have Cody Phillips as a returner at linebacker.
Season opener: Aug. 30 vs. Campolindo, 7:15 p.m.
No. 2 LIVERMORE
Coach: John Wade
2024 record: 6-5
What to expect: Since John Wade took over as coach in 2019, the Cowboys have not had a losing season. Expect that streak to continue this year. While Livermore graduated star running back Kamarri Robinson, the Cowboys will have a lethal air attack led by senior all-league first-team quarterback Mateo Lortie, who threw for 1,838 yards and 23 touchdowns last season. All-league receivers Chad Harper and A.J. Carey, along with shifty slot receiver Luke Mederos and senior Benancio Rivera, form a dynamic quartet in the passing game. Livermore’s defense will also be a strength with hard-hitting safety Griffin Lee and run-stopping linebacker Jackson Perotti leading the way. Livermore will be looking for its first league title in at least 30 years.
Season opener: Aug. 29 vs. Castro Valley, 7 p.m.
No. 3 DUBLIN
Coach: Napoleon Kaufman
2024 record: 3-8
What to expect: Last year was a struggle for Napoleon Kaufman in his first season coaching the Gaels. But Dublin still qualified for the NCS playoffs despite a losing record, and the postseason experience could help moving forward. Andre Armendariz, the team’s leading rusher from last season, is set to return after receiving all-league first-team honors last year. He is a team captain. Armendariz will form a dynamic backfield tandem with junior Rome Raymore, who earned all-league second-team honors in 2024. Senior wide receiver Jake Torok was also named a captain and will provide a solid option in the passing game. All-league defensive back Cayden Bennett and senior Tiras Campbell will lead Dublin’s defense. The Gaels’ non-league games includes games against Berkeley, Vanden, Heritage and Windsor.
Season opener: Aug. 29 vs. Berkeley, 7 p.m.
No. 4 FOOTHILL
Coach: Greg Haubner
2024 record: 4-6
What to expect: Foothill was competitive last season, even in its losses. It’ll be an uphill battle for the Falcons this season as they graduated five of their six all-league players. Returning all-league second-team honoree Christian Morales will anchor Foothill’s young offensive line. Wide receiver Jacob Weinstein is set to return for his senior year along with physical pass catcher Liam Shedd. Quarterback Gavin Brown, a junior, is returning from a knee injury. Foothill will be on the road for five of its first six games this season.
Season opener: Aug. 29 at Monte Vista, 7 p.m.
No. 5 DOUGHERTY VALLEY
Coach: Gwangee Pittman
2024 record: 2-8
What to expect: Dougherty Valley will look to get back on track in Gwangee Pittman’s first year after back-to-back 2-8 seasons. The Wildcats lost four of their five all-league players to graduation, but return second-team lineman Nathan Li to anchor the offensive and defensive lines. Junior Ayden Parker was a standout at receiver and defensive back last season. The Wildcats will have two quarterbacks who could be difference makers – Junior Jimenez and Vincente Estrada. Senior Parsa Mahyari will seek to make an impact at running back and linebacker. The Wildcats have just five seniors on their 24-player roster.
Season opener: Aug. 29 at College Park, 7 p.m.
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Nathan Canilao
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Preseason all-Bay Area News Group high school football 2025: Kickers/punters
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As part of our high school football coverage to get you ready for the 2025 season, we are rolling out all-Bay Area News Group preseason recognition.
Today’s position:
KICKERS/PUNTERS
Nathan Bearrows, Pioneer, 6-1, 170, senior
Three-sport athlete also plays soccer and lacrosse. Holds multiple offers from smaller schools. Rated a four-star punter and 3.5-star kicker by ProKicker.com. Averaged 32 yards per punt with a long of 64, landing two inside the 20-yard line. Went 3 for 6 on field goals with a long of 30 yards.
Zach Brien, Bishop O’Dowd, 6-2, 175, junior
Five-star prospect finished first at the Chris Sailer Kicking NorCal training camp. Was 5 of 8 on field-goal attempts and 31 of 36 on PAT tries last season for O’Dowd.
Braden Clark, Branham, 5-9, 135, senior
Kicks, punts and also took a handoff for Branham last season. Has consistent 40-yard punt range with three-plus-second hangtime and 45-plus-yard field-goal range.
Brady Emry, Clayton Valley, 5-9, 170, senior
Four-star punter/kicker hybrid is committed to Minot State, a Division II school in North Dakota. Returning all-Diablo Athletic League honorable mention punter. Punted 27 times last season, averaging 33.8 yards per punt, landing seven punts inside the 20-yard line and hitting a long punt of 52 yards.
Nathan Fox, Sacred Heart Prep, 6-0, 155, senior
Plays soccer and football at SHP. PAL special teams player of the year and all-BANG honorable mention as a sophomore. Made 34 of 36 PAT and 5 of 9 field-goal attempts last season. Also contributes at defensive back.
Chase Graff, Archbishop Mitty, 5-11, 200, senior
Versatile player who was named all-WCAL honorable mention at both kicker and offensive line. Also plays defensive end. Has 60-yard range on field goals.
Aidan James, Heritage, 5-5, 135, senior
Returning all-BANG honorable mention. Hit two field goals in a narrow loss to Antioch last season. Converted 37 of 37 PAT and 5 of 5 on field-goal tries last season. Also plays soccer for Heritage.
Ben Kerrigan, Monte Vista, 5-11, 155, junior
A 4.5-star kicker and punter has 50-plus-yard field goal range and 40-plus-yard punt range as well as 70-yard kickoff range. Finished top four at The Punt Factory last man standing competition this August.
Saul Marks, Serra, 6-0, 160, senior
Five-star kicker and punter is the No. 1 prospect in California and No. 10 in the United States, according to Kohl’s Kicking. Holds offers from Idaho and Idaho State. Has 70-plus-yard range on kickoffs and 60-yard range on field goals.
Sebastian Miles, San Ramon Valley, 5-10, 180, senior
Five-star punter by Chris Sailer Kicking is committed to Northern Arizona. Has 60-plus yard range. Attended Chris Sailer Top 12 camp.
Ricky Miramontes, Milpitas, 6-3, 220, senior
Strong-legged specialist averaged 57.4 yards per kickoff last season. Converted a 46-field goal last year and has range up to 60 yards this year. Also punts for Milpitas.
Anthony Perez, Menlo-Atherton, 6-0, 230, senior
Returning all-BANG honorable mention. Named first-team all-PAL Bay as a punter last season.
Saxton Sinatra, Silver Creek, 5-9, 166, sophomore
Three-star kicker and four-star punter is a developing prospect who was named to the 2024 Sports Illustrated all-freshman team. Has 50-plus-yard range on placekicks.
Zach Tabibian, Campolindo, 5-10, 180, senior
A 4.5-star kicker and punter who has 60-plus-yard field-goal range and 70-plus kickoff range. Converted a 61-yard field goal at an MIT camp this summer and also knocked a 74-yard kickoff through the uprights during a practice session.
Justin Uribarri, De La Salle, 5-9, 180, senior
A 4.5-star kicker and punter by Chris Sailer Kicking. Has 50-plus-yard range on placekicks, 40-plus on punts and 70-plus on kickoffs.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE
Those eligible for all-BANG honors come from leagues based predominantly in Alameda, Contra Costa, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. The news organization’s high school sports staff chooses the players.
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Christian Babcock
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Fire destroys house in Discovery Bay
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A house in Discovery Bay was destroyed in a fire early Thursday morning, according to fire authorities.
The house was destroyed as a result, but no injuries were reported. No one was in the home when firefighters arrived, but there was no information if anyone had evacuated before they arrived.
The Contra Costa Fire Protection District received multiple calls after midnight of flames coming from the roof of the house, which was between Brentwood and Discover Bay. The roof partially collapsed early in the incident, a spokesperson for the fire district said.
The fire was brought under control around 2 a.m. The fire did not spread to any other houses. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
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Nollyanne Delacruz
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Brush fire burns dozens of acres near Highway 4 in Contra Costa County
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A brush fire burned at least 70 acres Wednesday near Highway 4 in Contra Costa County, Cal Fire said
The blaze called the Willow Fire is reported near Willow Pass and Avila roads, north of Concord, according to Cal Fire.
An NBC Bay Area photographer at the scene reported forward progress of the blaze was stopped before 2:40 p.m.
Cal Fire reported just before 3 p.m. the blaze was 30% contained.
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NBC Bay Area staff
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