Kate Martin is among the many larger names on the Golden State Valkyries’ first roster.
The Las Vegas Aces fan favourite was among the many picks in Friday’s 2025 WNBA enlargement draft, joined by a gaggle of 10 different gamers their groups selected to not defend. The total checklist of the Valkyries’ picks, as introduced by golfer Michelle Wie West, rapper E-40 and former Golden State Warriors participant Baron Davis:
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Iliana Rupert, Atlanta Dream
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María Conde, Chicago Sky
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Veronica Burton, Connecticut Solar
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Carla Leite, Dallas Wings
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Temi Fagbenle, Indiana Fever
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Kate Martin, Las Vegas Aces
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Stephanie Talbot, Los Angeles Sparks
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Cecilia Zandalasini, Minnesota Lynx
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Kayla Thornton, New York Liberty
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Monique Billings, Phoenix Mercury
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Julie Vanloo, Washington Mystics
The Valkyries didn’t choose a participant from the Seattle Storm. In addition they maintain the fifth total decide within the 2025 WNBA Draft, together with ample cap house to signal free brokers. Natalie Nakase has already been introduced because the franchise’s first head coach.
The foundations of the WNBA enlargement draft allowed every of the league’s 12 groups to guard as much as six gamers on their roster as of the ultimate day of the 2024 common season. Athletes with earlier core participant designations, akin to DeWanna Bonner and Brittney Griner, have been additionally ineligible to be chosen. The Valkyries have been then allowed to decide on one unprotected participant from every group, however just one unrestricted free agent whole.
This is extra on every of the gamers chosen:
Kate Martin
Martin being chosen means the Aces opted to not defend her, which is not a lot of a shock given how they used her towards the tip of final season. The 18th total decide of the 2024 WNBA Draft out of Iowa was a nice shock early within the season when Vegas was combating accidents, however her enjoying time plummeted because the group bought wholesome.
After seeing double-digit minutes in 16 of the Aces’ first 21 video games, Martin cracked that threshold solely twice in her last 13, additionally lacking a piece of time in July and August with a decrease leg harm. The collegiate teammate of star Caitlin Clark noticed a grand whole of three minutes within the postseason.
“This league is all about alternative,” Martin advised ESPN after her choice. “I’m very grateful for the Aces and all the pieces I bought to study there, however I am actually excited for this new starting and to construct one thing from the bottom up with the Valkyries.”
Martin additionally joins the Valkyries having already performed beneath Nakase, who was an assistant with the Aces for the final three seasons.
Iliana Rupert
The French middle was chosen by the Aces out of the French basketball league in 2021. She earned a WNBA championship in 2022, her solely season with the group. Rupert then performed with Atlanta in 2023, enjoying in 20 video games that season. She didn’t play within the 2024 WNBA season, and at present performs within the Turkish basketball league.
María Conde
Conde, a Spanish ahead, was drafted by the Sky in 2019. Nonetheless, she has by no means performed within the WNBA, opting as a substitute to remain in Europe. Since being drafted by the Sky, Conde has performed in Spain, Poland and Czechia, however has by no means made it to the States; it’s unclear whether or not she intends to come back again and play for Golden State, or whether or not the Valkyries will merely maintain her rights.
Veronica Burton
One of many Valkyries’ youthful gamers, the 24-year-old level Burton was drafted seventh total by the Wings in 2022 and will probably be coming into her fourth yr within the league. The guard was a three-time Huge Ten Defensive Participant of the 12 months whereas at Northwestern, and was a third-team All-American in her senior yr. Burton performed in 31 video games for the Solar final season as a backup level guard.
Carla Leite
The 20-year-old French guard has but to play in a WNBA sport. Leite, who signed her first professional contract at age 18, was chosen ninth total by the Wings within the 2024 Draft, however opted to remain in France. Leite was on the quick checklist to play for France on the 2024 Paris Olympics, however didn’t make the ultimate roster.
Temi Fagbenle
Fagbenle is a 32-year-old veteran with expertise within the WNBA and overseas. After enjoying with the Lynx from 2017-2019, she crossed the Atlantic to play in Spain, Italy, Turkey, Czechia and England earlier than touchdown with Indiana final season.
She appeared 22 video games off the bench for the Fever, averaging 6.4 factors per sport and exhibiting stable chemistry with Caitlin Clark.
Stephanie Talbot
The Australian nationwide is coming off a career-worst season in nearly all the pieces for the Sparks, which was additionally her first yr again from a torn ACL. Golden State will probably be betting on a bounce again for the frontcourt veteran.
Cecilia Zandalasini
One other European acquisition will probably be a 28-year-old Italian ahead. Zandalasini joined the Lynx in 2024, marking her second stint with the group after enjoying in Minnesota from 2017-2018 and enjoying in Turkey and Italy in between. Zandalasini performed in all 40 video games for the Lynx off the bench, averaging 4.6 factors per sport and 1.1 assists. She received a WNBA Championship with the Lynx in 2017, throughout her first stint, and performed in 11 of the group’s 12 postseason matches this season.
Kayla Thornton
Thornton will be a part of the enlargement group as an WNBA champion, having performed all 40 regular-season video games and 11 postseason video games for the Liberty final season. She was well-liked in New York and is now on her fourth WNBA group, having been drafted by the Mystics and performed six seasons with the Wings.
Monique Billings
It has been fairly a experience for Billings, who spent the primary six seasons of her profession with the Atlanta Dream. She joined the Sparks on a hardship contract final offseason, bought minimize throughout coaching camp, joined the Wings on one other hardship contract, bought launched, landed with the Mercury on a seven-day contract and ended up ending out the season in Phoenix. She is the lone unrestricted free agent to be chosen.
Julie Vanloo
Vanloo entered the WNBA on the age of 31 final season after greater than a decade as an expert within the worldwide leagues. Her “rookie” season was total a hit, main the Mystics in assists per sport (4.3) whereas offering capturing from the perimeter. She’s the early favourite to begin at level guard for Golden State.
