Darnell Sallins
December 6, 2024, 7:37PM
The Golden State Valkyries took the next step as they officially become the 13th WNBA team with their Expansion Draft. On Friday evening, the Valkyries began the process of constructing their initial roster for the 2025 season. Golden State chose 11 players to begin building their roster.
“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.”
The available players were designated in a pool after the other 12 teams submitted their roster lists. Each of the 12 teams had six players that they could "protect" from the Expansion Draft. The Valkyries chose from that designated pool with four picks at a time.
The Golden State Valkyries first four picks went: Iliana Rupert, center from the Atlanta Dream, Maria Conde, forward from the Chicago Sky, Veronica Burton, guard from the Connceticut Sun, and Carla Leite, guard from the Dallas Wings. Rupert was a 12th overall pick in 2021 and was part the 2022 WNBA Champions Las Vegas Aces. Maria Conde was a third-round pick in 2019 but remained oversees to play her country Spain. Veronica Burton, the seventh overall pick in 2022 to the Dallas Wings. She played in 31 regular season games for the Connecticut Sun in 2024. Carla Leite was the ninth pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft but stayed oversees to play in France.
The next four selections for the Valkyries went as such: Temi Farbenle, center from the Indiana Fever, Kate Martin, guard from the Las Vegas Aces, Stephanie Talbot, forward from the Los Angeles Sparks, and Cecilia Zandalasin, forward from the Minnesota Lynx. Temi Fagbenle is a four-year player, who played in 22 games for the Fever in 2024. The Valkyries selected Kate Martin from the Las Vegas Aces. Martin was the 18th picked in the 2024, playing in 34 games her rookie season. Stephanie Talbot is a five-year veteran player. She has played for the Phoenix Mercury, Minnesota Lynx, Seattle Storm, and the Los Angeles Sparks. Cecilia Zandalasini, a three-year player from Italy. She part of the 2017 WNBA Champions Minnesota Lynx, her rookie season.
The final four selection turned into three because the Valkyries chose not to select any players from the Seattle Storm. Their final three picks went: Kayla Thornton, forward from the New York Liberty, Monique Billings, forward from the Phoenix Mercury, and Julie Vanloo, guard from the Washington Mystics. Probably, the Golden State Valkyries best selection was taking Kayla Thornton from the reigning WNBA Champions, New York Liberty. Thornton is a nine-year veteran and she known for her defensive prowess and her ability to shoot the three-ball. Monique billings, another veteran player from the Phoenix Mercury. Billings had played in 137 games in her four-year career. She recorded nine double-doubles. The Valkyries' final pick was Julie Vanloo from the Washington Mystics. The undrafted rookie played in all 40 games for the Mystics in 2024 from Belgium.
The next step for the Valkyries and the WNBA as a whole is free agency. As defined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Qualifying offers and “Core” player designations can first be sent on Jan. 11 and must be made by Jan. 20. Teams may begin negotiating with players on Jan. 21, while contracts and offer sheets will begin being signed on Feb. 1.
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