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What to expect next from the Golden State Valkyries after the WNBA expansion draft

What to expect next from the Golden State Valkyries after the WNBA expansion draft

The Golden State Valkyries have taken their first steps toward building a roster for their inaugural season in 2025, and Friday’s expansion draft suggests they’ll see significantly more turnover in the near future.

General manager Ohemaa Nyanin and head coach Natalie Nakase emphasized the competitiveness of the group they have assembled and combined with owner Joe Lacob’s goal of winning a title within five years, there is a desire to be good now. The consequence of selecting a group ready to compete in 2025 means it is difficult to see the long-term vision of this particular group of 11 players.

For starters, Golden State assembled a veteran-heavy group, as seven of its 11 picks are at least 27 years old, which is the average age across the WNBA in 2024. Two are under contract until 2025, while new contracts are pending for the rest. This puts the Valkyries at a bit of a disadvantage when it comes to roster building for the future, as they don’t have comprehensive team control over these players.

This situation is partly out of Golden State’s control; Only two veterans (i.e. players not on rookie contracts) will be signed across the league beyond the 2025 season as players seek to preserve their freedom ahead of the implementation of a new collective bargaining agreement. But the Valkyries chose not only players with short contracts, but also national players who had sporadic ties to the WNBA.

Julie Vanloo was a 31-year-old rookie in 2024. Temi Fagbenle had a four-year break from the WNBA from 2020 to 2023. Cecilia Zandalisini was out of the league for five years before returning to Minnesota this season. Iliana Rupert has missed two of the last four WNBA seasons due to national team commitments. Maria Conde has never played for the WNBA despite being drafted in 2019, and she told The Athletic that playing for Spain would always be her priority in the summer. Golden State is taking a risk that these players are available and ready to play despite a track record that suggests otherwise.

The first question Nyanin asked in her press conference on Friday was about Conde, and Nyanin admitted that she does not know whether the Spanish citizen will come to the United States in 2025. Conversations with her, Carla Leite and the aforementioned European players are necessary, especially since EuroBasket begins on August 27, 2025 and lasts until the end of the WNBA regular season. The Valkyries also largely start from scratch. For example, when Zandalisini returned to the Lynx, it helped that Cheryl Reeve was still coach. Aside from Rupert and Nakase, who were both in Las Vegas in 2022, there aren’t many established relationships with these players.

“This whole process is complex, there are a lot of unknowns, and unfortunately I say that ad nauseam,” Nyanin said. “I look at it from a human perspective: What can we continue to say to these athletes to make them want to play in this Valkyrie purple and black and white?”

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Golden State also seemingly prioritized players who are winning now over younger players who could take time to develop. Only one of their players is currently under a rookie contract, and while Kate Martin projects to be a good player, she doesn’t necessarily have the potential to be a star. The Valkyries would likely have played against players like Alissa Pili (Lynx), Shaneice Swain (Sparks draftee) or Han). Washington likely had an even longer list of unprotected young players, and Golden State chose the 31-year-old Vanloo despite also signing Veronica Burton (Wings) and Leite at point guard.

“These are players that are hungry, … they are players that could have started on other teams,” Nakase said of their veterans. “I’m just really excited to give them the opportunity.”

These decisions make sense for the 2025 version of the Valkyries. For an expansion team, the smartest move might be to immediately establish a culture of competitiveness. Win now, build a good reputation and become an attractive free agent destination. Golden State’s expansion selection also consists of high-character veterans who could be valuable recruiting tools in the offseason.

The Valkyries are also not obligated to keep any of these players. They can put together an entirely new roster in free agency. Thornton and Talbot also have easily tradeable contracts if another team is interested.

Regardless of what path Golden State takes from here on out, it’s also true that the Valkyries have taken advantage of the opportunity to build for the future with younger players. They don’t have a large pool of young talent in this draft. That doesn’t preclude long-term success, but it does mean that the front office will need to continue to rotate this roster, as veterans tend to move more frequently than players on rookie deals.

Therefore, despite all the excitement surrounding this current generation of Golden State Valkyries, it would be surprising if the majority of them competed on May 16th. Aside from the uncertainty surrounding player availability, Golden State still needs to figure out direction on its roster, which will require more maneuvering. The Valkyries have just begun.

(Photo by Chiney Ogwumike and Natalie Nakase: Mike Rasay / NBAE via Getty Images)

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