When Joe Lacob and company traded fan-favorite guard Monta Ellis to the Milwaukee Bucks for injured center Andrew Bogut in 2012, it didn’t seem like a good move—at least not at first glance. The decision even made it difficult for Lacob to speak during Chris Mullin’s jersey retirement ceremony at Oracle Arena. Every word Lacob uttered was accompanied by loud booing. Mullin and Rick Barry had to come to the rescue, defend the co-owner. Over a decade in, something similar sets in the Bay Area. But is the Warriors’ history enough to tame the crowd?
“This thing is going in the right way. I’ve got great confidence in Joe, [coach] Mark Jackson and everything will work out just fine. Just a little bit of patience,” Mullin had preached when he took the mic over from Lacob that significant day. And years later, you’d believe the #17 had somehow had a glimpse of the future. For those unaware, it paved the way for Stephen Curry to become the team’s cornerstone, leading to multiple championships in the years that followed. Now, Lacob & Co. has made another bold move. This one, in the WNBA as an owner of the Valkyries. But the response? Just like it was a decade ago.
The outrage from W fans erupted after the Golden State Valkyries announced their 12-player roster ahead of the regular season opener on Friday against the Los Angeles Sparks.
According to the updated roster, the team chose to keep Carla Leite, Kayla Thornton, Stephanie Talbot, Janelle Salaün, Temi Fágbénlé, Tiffany Hayes, Kate Martin, Veronica Burton, Cecilia Zandalasini, Monique Billings, Kyara Linskens, and Julie Vanloo. Stacked with talent, no doubt. But it was the Valkyries’ specific choices that left no space for Laeticia Amihere and Kaitlyn Chen that drew the noise.
Canadian Olympian and 2022 No. 8 overall draft pick, Amihere, was seen as a lock by many. And for good reason. She’s been a longtime staple of the Canadian Senior Women’s National Team, competing at the 2022 World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Though she hadn’t cracked Atlanta’s rotation even after three seasons—despite being a solid player—Valkyries seemingly had enough reason to bet on her potential. Even if they didn’t, they had plenty of time to judge. From practice sessions to training camp and the preseason games, she’d been a standout. Notably, Amihere had a team-high 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting during their first preseason game against the LA Sparks. That’s why her cut came as a shock, especially in the manner the news arrived.
“Thank you fam and everyone for the love. To God be the glory, and thank you Valkyries for the opportunity,” she penned on X, thanking the Valkyries.
Thank you fams and everyone for the love to God be the glory and thank you Valkyries for the opportunity
— Laeticia Amihere (@_Theblackqueen_) May 14, 2025
At first, the post raised eyebrows, with many believing she was going to be a core part of the new franchise. But the message made sense once the official roster dropped. Amihere was indeed cut before opening night.
And she wasn’t the only one. Fan favorite Kaitlyn Chen also faced the same fate. The third-round draft pick and former UConn guard made history as the first player of Taiwanese decent to appear in a WNBA preseason game.
Even as she stepped onto the court, the crowd of 17,000 during the Valkyries’ first preseason game gave one of the loudest ovations of the night—showing just how much they wanted her there. Though her on-court minutes were limited, her presence resonated deeply with fans. That popularity could’ve made a difference for the Valkyries—especially considering her jersey was already among the Top 10 in sales. With her, a massive fan base could have followed.
But for the Valkyries, they had a clear list for evaluation. “Consistency throughout camp,” Nyanin said of what the rostered players had in common. “I think some athletes had really, really good days, and some athletes didn’t have so many good days put together, I would say. I want to go on record to say it’s not an indictment if you don’t make a team — it is a result of the athletes that we want to put together.”
And those athletes include nine from the expansion draft, a lone free agent acquisition in Tiffany Hayes, and Linskens and Salaün, who’ve played their entire careers in Europe. Well, the matchup the head coach has put together comes under the limit — rosters cannot exceed 12 players, even with injuries. But fans are not on board with the conclusion they have arrived at, giving Lacob a little deja vu.
Golden State Valkyries spark outrage after axing fan favourites from final roster.
When fans realized how the franchise ignored their favorites, they didn’t hesitate to voice their frustration. And the next moment, the comment section was full of aggression.
“This is what happens when the @wnba hires former walk-ons and coaches that never played over HOF players. They can’t ID talent and certainly can’t mentor and develop young players,” penned a spectator. After going all in on their ‘international players’ theme, the Valkyries failed to prioritize their draft talents. Shyanne Sellers, Juste Joyce, and Kaitlyn Chen– neither of the potential rookies were added into the main roster.
“Ain’t never seen nothing like it. If you’re going to sell jerseys, at least keep them for the first season,” added another spectator. While every cut hurt the same, Chen’s removal was especially shocking since her jersey was already in the top 10. For a new franchise looking for opportunities and ways to survive in the W, she could have added a major boost in terms of marketability.
The Valkyries tried bringing in star power this off-season, with a consideration for Kelsey Plum and/or Nneka Ogwumike. But you know the history. Their only leading face right now, is Kate Martin, who is on a rookie-scale contract. So currently, she is the only positive fans are seeing right now.
“I would’ve drafted HVL due to her star power. Keep Chen, even as a backup for marketing. They really think we know any of these players. The only good thing I can think of is that Money Martin is a good pickup,” penned another user.
As fans somehow digested the rookie cuts — though Sellers was seen as someone who could recover from her apparent injury and develop with the Valkyries — it isn’t limited to the rookies.
“Any team would be very lucky to have you! Your performance this preseason has definitely made me a fan — wishing you the best of luck,” wrote a fan of Amihere. Right, she did a fabulous job during preseason, but keeping her wasn’t just about performance. With more than half the W on expiring contracts this season, Golden State had the opportunity to lock her in on her current salary through the 2026 season, given the new CBA will more than likely lead to a salary rise next season.
“The Golden State Valkyries flew their draft picks into SF the night after the draft, walked them through the facility, had the staff in applause to greet them, fans bought jerseys, had them at the Warriors game, and cut them both,” vented another. Sellers was waived even before she was considered. Joyce wasn’t leaving Europe. But Chen was probably the most upsetting, considering all the love she had received and the hopes it had ignited.
But it’s not like the Valkyries would have waived the rookies had they been given more room. “We need more (roster) spots,” Nakase said last week. “That would be nice. I think having more spots gives us a little bit more leeway. More spots would be nice.”
Well, now the team is left with $351,982 in salary space — and this is something that keeps fans’ hope alive. Will the Valkyries use it for the right move?
The post Angry Fans Question Joe Lacob & Co’s Motive as Golden State Valkyries Cut Kaitlyn Chen & Laeticia Amihere appeared first on EssentiallySports.
