The newest addition to the WNBA gives hoops fans in the Bay Area another team they can call their own as the Golden State Valkyries are set to hit the hardwood in May. But before they do so, they have one final opportunity to bolster their squad. The team, which recently became the first in the league to sell 10,000 season tickets, appeared to prefer established veterans over youth at the expansion draft in December, showcasing an emphasis to build a team that wins now. Having already been assigned a favorable pick in the draft, they were not interested in trading for draft picks last year, and while the Valkyries are shaping up to be a solid side on paper, odds appear to be against them.
Expansion teams haven’t fared well historically, which serves as caution to the fans, who must rationalize their expectations. Rome wasn’t built in a day, after all. One of the brightest examples of teams born out of expansion drafts happens to be the Atlanta Dream, although they suffered in their debut season, ending with a record of 4-26. The draft would then bring fortune the following year as they bagged Angel McCoughtry with the first pick, starting a dreamy era where Atlanta would head to the Finals four years straight, and walk away with one championship.
While the Valkyries continue to strengthen their squad in more ways than one, drafting the right player becomes necessary as the experience they’ve gathered so well must also be surrounded by young prospects with a higher ceiling who can add to the Valkyries in this season and the ones coming up.
How many picks do the Golden State Valkyries have in the WNBA Draft?
The Golden State Valkyries will be participating in the WNBA Draft on April 14th, where they will have three picks. The Valkyries will be picking 5th in all three rounds, having the 5th, 17th and 30th picks in their first draft. With women’s basketball reaching new heights with every passing season, the quality of prospects continues to rise. Being their first draft, GM Ohemaa Nyanin may want to play it safe by going with reliable options who are more likely to adapt to the changing pace of the WNBA.
Here are a few players the Valkyries should be eyeing:
Aneesah Morrow
With Warriors being loved across Bay Area, Morrow’s addition to the Valkyries certainly makes sense. Aneesah is a tough rebounder and defender, having recorded the 2nd most double-doubles in NCAA D1 history. She would also act as a complimentary piece to Janelle Salauna, a 6-foot-3 wing who can stretch the floor with a consistent outside shot, creating more opportunities for Morrow down low in the post. If the Valkyries do select Morrow with their 5th overall pick, it would make her the highest drafted player on the squad.
Kiki Iriafen
As a wing, Kiki can attack the defense well off the catch and create problems, but her utility for the Valkyries depends primarily on her positional versatility. The Valkyries already boast a stacked frontcourt, so her selection would hinge on her ability to play at the 5. While she struggles defensively as a center, her perimeter defense and explosiveness are second to none. However, her performances in the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 left much to be desired, as she could only convert 6 of 28 from the field. If the Valkyries do draft Kiki, they would enjoy the depth that will help Kiki develop in their inaugural season.
Justė Jocytė
A squad with an already significant international presence, Jocytė would add further flavour to the Valkyries. She has been playing professionally since she was 14, leading Lithuania to a silver medal at the U-16 European championship, and a gold medal at the U-18 level. Her ball-handling skills and decision-making when playing the pick-and-roll are impressive for a 19-year-old, even though her play on the other end of the floor might disappoint at times. With a smooth pull-up jumper in the arsenal, Juste has a long way to go, but given her already proven talent combined with her age, very little could go wrong.
Golden State Valkyries Expansion Draft: How did the new WNBA franchise form a team?
Whenever the WNBA decides to add another team to the league, an expansion draft takes place to help the new organizations have an opportunity to compete right from the start. In December 2024, The Valkyries’ expansion draft took place, which was the 6th such draft. In an expansion draft, the new organization can select one available player from each of the 12 teams, regardless of position. The field of available players will include unrestricted free agents, but the Valkyries can only pick up one unrestricted free agent across the entire league. To ensure fairness towards the existing franchises, each team can designate up to six protected players on their roster, making them ineligible for selection by Golden State. Any player designated as core is also ineligible for selection. Every other player is fair game for the Valkyries to select in the expansion draft.
“We are excited to have officially started the journey of building the Golden State Valkyries 2025 team,” said General Manager Ohemaa Nyanin. “Our goal was to construct a roster that embodies both versatility and depth, bringing in a strong mix of leadership, defense, and scoring ability. These players were carefully chosen not only for their skills on the court, but also for their ability to fit into the culture we’re working to build here at Golden State.”
While teams can also trade their expansion draft pieces for players who are protected or for draft picks, the Valkyries steered clear as they made no trades. GM Nyanin has also done a great job, preserving cap space in case they need to bring in a star that was in the protected category in the expansion draft. An expansion draft is an indication that the WNBA is a thriving ecosystem that can nurture and support more organizations, with another such draft taking place this year as Portland and Toronto get teams of their own.
Golden State Valkyries Roster: Who are the stars of the new WNBA franchise?
“We talk about the Valkyries ascending, and I think a synonym of ascending is rising. So, I think that the Valkyries will rise to the occasion and I can’t wait for everybody else to see what we’ve got going on.” said Head Coach Natalie Nakase. The expansion draft was followed by Valkyries having the option to explore free agency, where they had little luck, and while franchises continue to scour the trade markets to find their stars, the Valkyries GM endorsed a patient approach.
“We aren’t looking for the face of our franchise just yet,” general manager Ohemaa Nyanin said in a news conference on Friday. “We need to build our identity and throughout the season, hopefully, the face of the franchise emerges … I want it to be an organic process … who is going to earn it? I don’t want it to just be given to anybody.” Lucky for the Bay Area, the Valkyries have acquired enough candidates looking to claim the spot of their marquee player.
Temi Fagbenle
Temi was a veteran voice on the Indiana Fever last season, being the only player with a championship on that team. A strong, versatile forward, her link-up with Caitlin Clark last season showed a lot of promise for the Fever heading forward as they made their first playoff appearance since 2016. With everyone expecting Fagbenle’s name to be on the protected list, it came as a shocker when the Valkyries selected her. Indiana’s loss will undoubtedly be the Valkyries’ gain. At 32, she averaged 6.4 points and 4.7 rebounds in 18.9 minutes per game last season, but some qualities that get left off the paper are her motor and desire to play high-energy basketball. Her international experience and soft touch on the ball adds another layer Golden State would like.
Tiffany Hayes
The reigning Sixth Woman of the Year, it appeared unlikely that Hayes would leave the Aces in the offseason as their decision to protect her during the expansion draft highlighted her importance for them. The Valkyries played the market with caution as they saved up on cap space to chase stars like Tiffany in the free agency and finally have their first big free agent now.
“Tiffany is a dynamic scorer who can change the momentum of a game in an instant,” Valkyries general manager Ohemaa Nyanin said. “Beyond her on-court impact, she brings an infectious energy and selfless approach that elevates everyone around her. Her willingness to contribute in any way needed, combined with her defensive intensity and scoring ability will add another important piece to what we’re building here in the Bay Area.”
While Hayes isn’t a true No. 1 option on offense at this stage of her career, she can play that role and give the Valkyries someone to build their offense around. She’s still capable of creating her own shot and excels at getting downhill into the paint. Furthermore, she’s a willing defender and a respected vet who will help build a culture in the Bay Area, something that the Valkyries GM places strong emphasis on.
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