The Golden State Valkyries grew to become an precise crew on Friday night time throughout their long-awaited enlargement draft. In the long run, the WNBA’s latest franchise chosen 11 gamers from across the league, together with Kate Martin from the Las Vegas Aces and Temi Fagbenle from the Indiana Fever, to construct their preliminary roster.
Now, the Valkyries can act like another crew this offseason. That features making trades, signing gamers in free company and taking part within the 2025 WNBA Draft, the place they will have the No. 5 total decide. Come Might, they will take the courtroom for the primary time on opening night time in opposition to the Los Angeles Sparks.
There shall be a lot extra to come back from the Bay Space this winter, however for now, let’s have a look again on the winners and losers from the enlargement draft.
Winner: WNBA
Enlargement has been within the works for plenty of years now, and has been a main purpose for the league and commissioner Cathy Engelbert. Including a brand new franchise for the primary time because the Atlanta Dream in 2008 is a monumental achievement, and the enlargement draft was the primary time that it felt actual.
Since they have been formally launched again in October of 2023, the Valkyries have simply been an idea. On Friday night time, they lastly grew to become a crew. The roster will not look precisely the identical come opening night time, however most of those gamers shall be there. On the very least, we’ve an thought of how the Valkyries will play and fare throughout their inaugural season.
Huge image, this was an awesome night time for the WNBA, and a primary step towards the league’s new future. Quickly, there shall be two extra groups within the combine — the Toronto Tempo and a but unnamed Portland franchise will take part 2026 — in addition to a brand new tv deal and collective bargaining settlement. It ought to solely be upwards from right here.
Loser: WNBA
Zooming in to the precise course of and occasion, the WNBA additionally must be written up as a loser. From begin to end, this has been irritating for followers and the media, and sure even the gamers to some extent.
Initially, the league determined to not reveal the protected lists that every crew turned in late in November, which eradicated nearly the entire drama and pleasure. Each single dialogue, article and podcast in regards to the draft within the construct up was full guesswork, and even within the aftermath it is arduous to completely gauge the Valkyries’ picks with out figuring out who was obtainable. The Nationwide Ladies’s Soccer League made their protected lists public final December earlier than their enlargement draft, and there was no cause the WNBA couldn’t have carried out the identical.
Partially as a result of league’s resolution to withhold the names of the gamers obtainable, Friday’s occasion within the Bay Space was lackluster. This was one of many greatest nights for the league, definitely off the courtroom, up to now 15 years and the dearth of that transparency was an infinite missed alternative within the weeks main as much as the announcement.
Final winter, Billings signed a two-year take care of the Los Angeles Sparks in free company, however was minimize in gorgeous vogue throughout coaching camp. She ultimately linked up with the Dallas Wings on a hardship contract, and whereas she had some large video games, the crew was compelled to launch her as soon as their gamers bought wholesome. From there, it was off to the Phoenix Mercury on a seven-day contract, and ultimately a rest-of-season deal.
Billings ended up enjoying 37 video games for the Wings and Mercury final season, however was resulting from hit unrestricted free company once more this winter and had an unsure future. That every one modified on Friday when the Valkyries made her their selection because the one unrestricted free agent they have been allowed to absorb the enlargement draft.
Whereas negotiations are but to happen between the 2 events, the Valkyries might now resolve to make use of the core designation on Billings, giving them unique negotiating rights. The core designation comes with an computerized assured, one-year, supermax contract provide (although the 2 sides might come to a long-term settlement). For 2025, the tremendous max is $249,244.
Once more, it is unclear if Billings will really get that deal, however on the very least this was an indication that she’s valued across the league, and an thrilling finish to a 12 months that began off in irritating vogue. The information is even sweeter for Billings contemplating she’s from California and went to UCLA.
Simply the most important shock of the night time was that the Indiana Fever left veteran middle Temi Fagbenle unprotected. Each single projected record had Fagbenle penciled in for the Fever alongside their 5 main starters, however the crew’s new braintrust clearly noticed issues otherwise.
Previous to returning final season, the 32-year-old Fagbenle had not performed within the WNBA since 2019 with the Minnesota Lynx. It didn’t take her lengthy to reacclimate, although, and he or she shortly grew to become a key a part of the Fever’s rotation due to how properly she performed alongside Caitlin Clark.
Fagbenle’s capacity to run the ground and play within the pick-and-roll made her a favourite of the 2024 Rookie of the Yr. Clark assisted on 21 of Fagbenle’s 54 made discipline targets and the Fever had a plus-6.2 internet ranking within the 346 minutes they performed collectively. After the Olympic break, they have been even higher, posting a plus-14.7 internet ranking in 158 minutes because the Fever surged into the playoffs. About the one draw back to Fagbenle’s season was that she was restricted to simply 22 video games resulting from accidents.
It might be attention-grabbing to listen to from the Fever’s entrance workplace on why they have been keen to let Fagbenle go and break up probably the greatest connections on the crew. Clark is an adaptable participant, however that is definitely a loss for her heading into her second season.
Of the opposite 12 franchises, the Liberty had arguably probably the most to lose heading into Friday night time given their spectacular depth. After profitable their first championship final season, they have been set to lose a key member of that title crew or a participant they held the rights to who might have helped their repeat try.
Certain sufficient, the Valkyries chosen veteran ahead Kayla Thornton, who had some large moments final season, significantly within the title-clinching Recreation 5 win over the Lynx, when she helped change the power of the competition. Whereas dropping Thornton is not good for the Liberty, it was most likely the crew’s best-case state of affairs.
The wing is the place the Liberty have probably the most depth, particularly with Leonie Fiebich’s emergence and Rebekah Gardner’s anticipated return. They might simply re-sign Kennedy Burke as properly, and have final 12 months’s first-round decide, Marquesha Davis, ready within the wings.
Plus, Thornton was beneath contract for the 2025 season at $112,000. Taking her off the books frees up some useful further cap area for the Liberty this offseason.
A tough offseason for the Storm continued on Friday when the Valkyries determined to cross and didn’t choose anybody from Seattle’s roster. The Valkyries weren’t required to take a participant from every crew, nevertheless it was a bit embarrassing for the Storm that they have been the one crew to get that therapy. Certain, they did not lose a participant, nevertheless it’s an indictment on their roster scenario that they’d nobody the Valkyries wished.
Although the Storm’s roster stayed intact for now, that will not be the case by the top of the winter. Franchise icon Jewell Loyd requested a commerce earlier this week after an investigation into claims of harrassment and bullying in opposition to coach Noelle Quinn and her employees went nowhere. Moreover, they’ve plenty of key gamers hitting unrestricted free company, together with Nneka Ogwumike, Gabby Williams, Sami Whitcomb and Mercedes Russell.
It seems the Storm’s superteam experiment shall be short-lived.
