Stocking the Golden State Valkeries

[Aluminny69]

If you do a Youtube search on "WNBA Expansion Draft" you will find several videos explaining the expansion draft set for December 6. A lot of fodder for discussion. Here is just one video:

 

[Aluminny69]

I found the video I initially watched.

 

[CalWBBfan]

Here's a gift link for two recent SF Chronicle articles on the subject, not sure it offers anything new but here you go: Expansion Draft for Valkyries and Who will Valkyries Target in Upcoming Expansion Draft

 

[EricSD]

couldn't read the articles without subscribing.

 

[DRR25]

couldn't read the articles without subscribing.

You don't have to subscribe, just enter your email.

 

[GoUconn7961]

I really wish they were going to be able to get Paige instead of the two places I hate to see her end up.

 

[DEpup]

So when are they going to get a coach? Wouldn't you want a coach before they start drafting players?

 

[12au]

Went through and looked at rosters to determine which players were likely to be protected. It's not a ranking of players.


Atlanta Dream

1. Rhyne
2. J Canada
3. Gray
4. Cheyenne Parker
5. Aerial Powers
6. ?

Haley Jones
Amihere
Nia Coffey
Tina Charles
Naz Hillmon

I feel like there's a clear top 4. Not sure after that.


Chicago Sky

1. Liz Williams
2. Angel Reese
3. Chennedy Carter
4. Kamilla Cardoso
5. Moriah Jefferson
6. ?

Brianna Turner
Izzy Harrison
Dana Evans
Diamond DeShields
Onyenwere
Banham

Again, clear top 4.


Connecticut Sun

Cored twice: Bonner, Brionna Jones

1. Alyssa Thomas
2. Dijonai
3. Marina
4. Tyasha
5. Nelson-Ododa
6. Burton


Indiana Fever

1. CC
2. Kelsey Mitchell
3. Aliyah Boston
4. Lexie Hull
5. Temi
6. NaLyssa Smith

Damiris
Wallace
Berger
Saxton
Wheeler
KLS

I assumed NaLyssa'd be gone. But the other players are just worse assets. Maybe the Fever can trade her to Valkyries to get an asset in return.


New York Liberty

1. Sabrina
2. Stewart
3. Jones
4. Laney
5. Sloot
6. Fiebich

Sabally
Thornton

Maybe a chance Sabally gets protected instead of Sloot?


Wash Mystics

1. Dolson
2. Atkins
3. Sykes
4. A Edwards
5. Shakira Austin
6. Karlie Samuelson

Melbourne
Kone
Engstler
Shatori
Vanloo

I don't have a great feel for these players. Clear top 5 though.


Dallas Wings

1. Arike
2. Sabally
3. McCowan
4. Siegrist
5. Kuier
6. Sheldon

Soares
Brown

Boy this roster is rough. Funny that they had Mabrey, Harris, and Burton over the past few years.


LV Aces

1. Plum
2. Wilson
3. Gray
4. Young
5. Stokes
6. Hayes

Clark

Not sure how to sort out Clark/Stokes/Hayes.


LA Sparks

1. Hamby
2. Brink
3. Rickea
4. Nurse
5. ?
6. ?

McDonald
Lexie Brown
Li Yueru
Burrell
Talbot

Hard to know pecking order here for last 2 spots.


Minnesota Lynx

1. Collier
2. Alanna Smith
3. McBride
4. Carleton
5. Diamond MIller
6. Courtney Williams

Jess Shephard
Dorka
Hiedemann

This is tricky as well. Pretty deep team.


Phx Mercury

1. Copper
2. Griner
3. Cunningham
4. Allen
5. Cloud
6. Mack

Straightforward, maybe except Mack.


Seattle Storm

Cored twice: Nneka

1. SDS
2. Loyd
3. Ezi
4. Horston
5. Gabby Williams
6. ?

First 5 are obvious

 

[TC22]

I have heard that a new coach will be announced in the next couple of weeks.

As for the Aces, I think they’ll keep Clark over Stokes. Also have the think they may want to keep protect Kitley. I think she’ll have a good career under the right system.

It’s amazing how just a change of scenery or a couple of years in the league can make all the difference in the world in a player. Thinking Ty Harris/Hamby/Alana Smith….

 

[nwhoopfan]

Thinking Ty Harris/Hamby/Alana Smith….

I think of Hamby differently than the other two. Clearly a significant contributor while she was with the Aces (2X 6th Player of the Year), she understandably took on a bigger role with a bad LA team. But she had shown to be an above average WNBA player already. Harris and Smith had very little opportunity to do much while they were with Dallas and Phoenix/Indiana respectively. Big increase in production came along with big increase in minutes played.

 

[JellyBean]

I have heard that a new coach will be announced in the next couple of weeks.

As for the Aces, I think they’ll keep Clark over Stokes. Also have the think they may want to keep protect Kitley. I think she’ll have a good career under the right system.

It’s amazing how just a change of scenery or a couple of years in the league can make all the difference in the world in a player. Thinking Ty Harris/Hamby/Alana Smith….

I will be curious to know who they hire as coach.

 

[JellyBean]

I think the Golden State squad, as well as Portland and Toronto, will get some decent players to build a team. Players hungry to prove that they can play in the WNBA. Players like Lou Lopez-Senechal, Grace Berger, undrafted players or any player that is overseas. Teams are getting some players.

 

[GCKSFN4L]

Went through and looked at rosters to determine which players were likely to be protected. It's not a ranking of players.


Atlanta Dream

1. Rhyne
2. J Canada
3. Gray
4. Cheyenne Parker
5. Aerial Powers
6. ?

Haley Jones
Amihere
Nia Coffey
Tina Charles
Naz Hillmon

I feel like there's a clear top 4. Not sure after that.


Chicago Sky

1. Liz Williams
2. Angel Reese
3. Chennedy Carter
4. Kamilla Cardoso
5. Moriah Jefferson
6. ?

Brianna Turner
Izzy Harrison
Dana Evans
Diamond DeShields
Onyenwere
Banham

Again, clear top 4.


Connecticut Sun

1. Alyssa Thomas
2. Bonner
3. Brionna
4. Dijonai
5. Marina
6. Tyasha/Nelson-Ododa

Burton

Clear top 7 here. Valkyries should get a good player.


Indiana Fever

1. CC
2. Kelsey Mitchell
3. Aliyah Boston
4. Lexie Hull
5. Temi
6. NaLyssa Smith

Damiris
Wallace
Berger
Saxton
Wheeler
KLS

I assumed NaLyssa'd be gone. But the other players are just worse assets. Maybe the Fever can trade her to Valkyries to get an asset in return.


New York Liberty

1. Sabrina
2. Stewart
3. Jones
4. Laney
5. Sloot
6. Fiebich

Sabally
Thornton

Maybe a chance Sabally gets protected instead of Sloot?


Wash Mystics

1. Dolson
2. Atkins
3. Sykes
4. A Edwards
5. Shakira Austin
6. Karlie Samuelson

Melbourne
Kone
Engstler
Shatori
Vanloo

I don't have a great feel for these players. Clear top 5 though.


Dallas Wings

1. Arike
2. Sabally
3. McCowan
4. Siegrist
5. Kuier
6. Sheldon

Soares
Brown

Boy this roster is rough. Funny that they had Mabrey, Harris, and Burton over the past few years.


LV Aces

1. Plum
2. Wilson
3. Gray
4. Young
5. Stokes
6. Hayes

Clark

Not sure how to sort out Clark/Stokes/Hayes.


LA Sparks

1. Hamby
2. Brink
3. Rickea
4. Nurse
5. ?
6. ?

McDonald
Lexie Brown
Li Yueru
Burrell
Talbot

Hard to know pecking order here for last 2 spots.


Minnesota Lynx

1. Collier
2. Alanna Smith
3. McBride
4. Carleton
5. Diamond MIller
6. Courtney Williams

Jess Shephard
Dorka
Hiedemann

This is tricky as well. Pretty deep team.


Phx Mercury

1. Copper
2. Griner
3. Cunningham
4. Allen
5. Cloud
6. Mack

Straightforward, maybe except Mack.


Seattle Storm

1. SDS
2. Loyd
3. Nneka
4. Ezi
5. Horston
6. Gabby Williams

Seems obvious...

Pretty good list but some players don't need protection like Nneka, Bri Jones and Bonner because they have already been cored twice. So those teams have some more room to work with.

 

[WBBTakeover]

As for the Aces, I think they’ll keep Clark over Stokes. Also have the think they may want to keep protect Kitley. I think she’ll have a good career under the right system.

I would love to agree, but Becky has this attachment to Kiah Stokes for some reason. I don't think Kiah can hack it on any other team in the league (I've harped on this throughout the season--she would not start for the Liberty, the Lynx, the Sun, or the Storm), but the Aces don't seem to be able (or willing) to part ways with her. Even at 38 (next year), AC is far more valuable.

Having said that, I'd keep Kitley over both. And if Becky disagrees, I'd think long and hard about whether she should be leading the charge back to the top of the mountain.

 

[NycUcWbbFan]

Went through and looked at rosters to determine which players were likely to be protected. It's not a ranking of players.


Atlanta Dream

1. Rhyne
2. J Canada
3. Gray
4. Cheyenne Parker
5. Aerial Powers
6. ?

Haley Jones
Amihere
Nia Coffey
Tina Charles
Naz Hillmon

I feel like there's a clear top 4. Not sure after that.


Chicago Sky

1. Liz Williams
2. Angel Reese
3. Chennedy Carter
4. Kamilla Cardoso
5. Moriah Jefferson
6. ?

Brianna Turner
Izzy Harrison
Dana Evans
Diamond DeShields
Onyenwere
Banham

Again, clear top 4.


Connecticut Sun

1. Alyssa Thomas
2. Bonner
3. Brionna
4. Dijonai
5. Marina
6. Tyasha/Nelson-Ododa

Burton

Clear top 7 here. Valkyries should get a good player.


Indiana Fever

1. CC
2. Kelsey Mitchell
3. Aliyah Boston
4. Lexie Hull
5. Temi
6. NaLyssa Smith

Damiris
Wallace
Berger
Saxton
Wheeler
KLS

I assumed NaLyssa'd be gone. But the other players are just worse assets. Maybe the Fever can trade her to Valkyries to get an asset in return.


New York Liberty

1. Sabrina
2. Stewart
3. Jones
4. Laney
5. Sloot
6. Fiebich

Sabally
Thornton

Maybe a chance Sabally gets protected instead of Sloot?


Wash Mystics

1. Dolson
2. Atkins
3. Sykes
4. A Edwards
5. Shakira Austin
6. Karlie Samuelson

Melbourne
Kone
Engstler
Shatori
Vanloo

I don't have a great feel for these players. Clear top 5 though.


Dallas Wings

1. Arike
2. Sabally
3. McCowan
4. Siegrist
5. Kuier
6. Sheldon

Soares
Brown

Boy this roster is rough. Funny that they had Mabrey, Harris, and Burton over the past few years.


LV Aces

1. Plum
2. Wilson
3. Gray
4. Young
5. Stokes
6. Hayes

Clark

Not sure how to sort out Clark/Stokes/Hayes.


LA Sparks

1. Hamby
2. Brink
3. Rickea
4. Nurse
5. ?
6. ?

McDonald
Lexie Brown
Li Yueru
Burrell
Talbot

Hard to know pecking order here for last 2 spots.


Minnesota Lynx

1. Collier
2. Alanna Smith
3. McBride
4. Carleton
5. Diamond MIller
6. Courtney Williams

Jess Shephard
Dorka
Hiedemann

This is tricky as well. Pretty deep team.


Phx Mercury

1. Copper
2. Griner
3. Cunningham
4. Allen
5. Cloud
6. Mack

Straightforward, maybe except Mack.


Seattle Storm

1. SDS
2. Loyd
3. Nneka
4. Ezi
5. Horston
6. Gabby Williams

Seems obvious...

I made a post in a different thread on Noteworthy Potential Players in Expansion Draft.

I think that the Valkyries are barred from selecting players who have been cored for 2+ years, regardless of which team(s) cored them. (same point made by GcksFn4L)

• Seattle doesn’t need to protect Nneka, SDS or Jewell;
• Connecticut doesn’t need to protect Jones and Bonner;
• Phoenix doesn’t need to protect Griner and Copper;
• New York doesn’t need to protect Jones;
• same with Charles in Atlanta, Howard in Dallas.

Also, the Valkyries can only select one Unrestricted Free Agent, and has to core that selection. So, teams need not protect most of their UFAs.

Also, I think Elena Delle Donne was cored by Washington in order to get something from Elena’s previous intention to leave. Elena has only been cored just this once.

• So, Washington will need to protect Elena;
• Otherwise, the Valkyries can pick her and core her — Elena may or may not be happy about that.

 

[Geew1992]

 

[Dillon77]

Well, according to this article, the Valkyries will have the 5th pick in all three rounds of the upcoming 2025 draft.
Guess the WNBA powers that be decided that not being in the lottery was the way to go.

Here's a brief article on it....

MSN

 

[GCKSFN4L]

I thinking the Valkyries could find themselves in the playoffs within 2 years. I don't seem them struggling for too long. They will be in the Bay and if I remember correctly they will make use of the recently former Golden State Warriors arena and facilities.

You add to it that the current CBA will likely end next October with most players being free agents in anticipation of rising salaries. I would imagine that as long as their no major drama in year 1 that the Valkyries can aquire a great team given both its location and its own facilities.

 

[JellyBean]

Well, according to this article, the Valkyries will have the 5th pick in all three rounds of the upcoming 2025 draft.
Guess the WNBA powers that be decided that not being in the lottery was the way to go.

Here's a brief article on it....

MSN

The Valkyries, with these options in the actual draft and which players they are able to land in the expansion draft, could be pretty good in Year 2. Heck I would not be surprised if they come out the gate winning in Year One.

 

[JellyBean]

I thinking the Valkyries could find themselves in the playoffs within 2 years. I don't seem them struggling for too long. They will be in the Bay and if I remember correctly they will make use of the recently former Golden State Warriors arena and facilities.

You add to it that the current CBA will likely end next October with most players being free agents in anticipation of rising salaries. I would imagine that as long as their no major drama in year 1 that the Valkyries can aquire a great team given both its location and its own facilities.

I totally agree. The Valkyries could come out the gates being a pretty competitive group and doing well in Year 2. To me it all depends on the players and how simple or complex the coaching style. Some coaches come in with these elaborate systems and don't have the talent to run those systems.

 

[Zanzman]

Unless they can get back-to-back #1 overall picks like the Storm, Aces, and now the Fever have done, they're going to be pretty bad for a while. What could save them is being able to attract high-end free agents and having a competent coach like Natalie.

How do we know how competent Natalie till she actually coaches a game. Lot of good assistants don't work out as head coaches

 

[WBBTakeover]

How do we know how competent Natalie till she actually coaches a game. Lot of good assistants don't work out as head coaches

That's true, but there are several factors acting in her favor. She is 1-0 as an acting head coach. She has extensive experience with the LA Clippers. She's also been an assistant with the team that has been the WNBA's best across two seasons. Finally, she's not a failed NCAA coach.

 

[Zanzman]

That's true, but there are several factors acting in her favor. She is 1-0 as an acting head coach. She has extensive experience with the LA Clippers. She's also been an assistant with the team that has been the WNBA's best across two seasons. Finally, she's not a failed NCAA coach.

We shall see wish her good luck

 

[TheFarmFan]

As of yesterday a proud founding season ticket holder of the Valks.

 

[JellyBean]

How do we know how competent Natalie till she actually coaches a game. Lot of good assistants don't work out as head coaches

Good point. We won't know for sure and some assistants don't work out and then there are some that do work out. Just finding the right fit and how quickly a coach and their staff can adapt with the type of players they have.

 

[jdote33]

Next year's starting lineup if the Valkyrie are smart.

Nika
Azzi - 5th pick
Lou
Dorka
Liv

 

[bballnut90]

Unless they can get back-to-back #1 overall picks like the Storm, Aces, and now the Fever have done, they're going to be pretty bad for a while. What could save them is being able to attract high-end free agents and having a competent coach like Natalie.

I think they’ll be fine in a couple of years. They have money to throw around and WNBA free agency is going to be nuts after the new contracts starting 2026. I imagine the league will look drastically different that season aside from maybe the Fever.

 

[WBBTakeover]

Next year's starting lineup if the Valkyrie are smart.

Nika
Azzi - 5th pick
Lou
Dorka
Liv

We may not see Nika much, if at all, during the 2025 season, unfortunately.

 

[maccca3232]

Watched an recent interview (link) where Sparks 2023 2nd round WNBA pick (14th overall) Shaneice Swain says she is planning to come over for the next WNBA season.