If you thought it was just the Golden State Warriors who made no sense whatsoever in the NBA free agency, well, think again! Their WNBA team isn’t doing any better! Yes, the Golden State Valkyries might be one of the dark horses of the league this season after starting the season with a 9-7 record, but their front office has made some questionable moves in the last few days, which have not gone down well. Things have gotten so tense that even Kate Martin had to step in and speak out.
Since the conclusion of the EuroBasket, the Valkyries have made one strange decision after another. With Janelle Salaün, Cecilia Zandalasini, Julie Vanloo, Iliana Rupert, and Temi Fagbenle all away on national team duty, the team knew they’d be missing key players for over a week. Naturally, replacements were brought in. The likes of Chloe Bibby, Kaitlyn Chen, Bree Hall, and Laeticia Amihere were brought through the door to replace them.
With so many players on the side, the fight for those 12 roster spots was always going to be intense. And sadly, some big cuts were made. Bree Hall and Chloe Bibby were among the first to be waived. But it wasn’t going to stop there. The Valkyries also parted ways with Julie Vanloo. More than just a player, she served as the team’s unofficial translator. She was the one who helped unify a diverse locker room. This was a shocker. The worst part about Vanloo getting waived was the fact that the Belgium international had decided to cut the celebrations of winning the EuroBasket to report for Valkyries duty instead. After an 18 hr grueling flight back to San Francisco, Vanloo found out through social media that she was being waived. Simply unacceptable!
Kate Martin spoke from the heart when addressing the difficult roster decisions the team has had to make ahead of their game against the Lynx. “I mean, we know basketball is a business, and I trust our front office and trust our coaching staff. People are going to be missed. I mean, every single person came in and did what they were supposed to do… The girls that, you know, got cut, we’re going to miss them dearly.”
Kate Martin sounds off on recent Valkyrie roster changes from last few days pic.twitter.com/JAXUwm1xWb
— Golden State Valkyries Report (@valkyriesreport) July 2, 2025
Julie Vanloo averaged 4.6 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game for the Valkyries this season. While those numbers aren’t fancy, she still had an important role to play for the team. But letting her go also made sense. The trio of Kaitlyn Chen, Laeticia Amihere, and Chloe Bibby, who were brought in as short-term backups, exceeded expectations.
But these might not be the final roster moves we see from the Valkyries. Coach Natalie Nakase has made it clear that she wants more support to help manage these difficult goodbyes.
Coach Nakase wants more roster spots for Kate Martin and co
With just 12 roster spots available, the fight for places was always going to be intense. “We need more roster spots,” Nakase said. “I’m going to keep saying that over and over again.” Currently, the Valkyries have all 12 roster spots filled. But that doesn’t mean more changes aren’t on the horizon.
Jun 9, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Golden State Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase (right) talks with guard Julie Vanloo (35) in the first half against the LA Sparks at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Remember Iliana Rupert? Well, she is currently not part of the roster yet, but if she returns, someone else will likely be shown the door. But will she return? Coach Nakase isn’t so sure about that! “That I don’t know. You gotta ask our front office,” she admitted when she was asked about Rupert’s status
And even if Rupert doesn’t rejoin, don’t rule out the Valkyries shaking things up further. The front office has already shown they aren’t afraid to make bold calls. But were those the right ones? Especially the decision to waive Vanloo? Let us know what you think in the comments!
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