Now that the 2024-25 NCAA women's basketball season has officially concluded, all eyes can shift to the 2025 WNBA Draft — and the elite 38 women who will be picked up by teams on April 14, 2025.
The Golden State Valkyries have the No. 5, 17, and 30 selections of the night, and unlike a lot of teams, also have the cap space to actually retain their rookies on the team's roster this season. According to Spotrac, the Valkyries have plenty of cap space available — it'll just be interesting to see how the team uses it.
There are several athletes who would be great selections for Golden State, but there are three who have truly stood out all season and who would thrive in the WNBA with a few years of development at the highest level under their belts. Here's a look at the three athletes the Golden State Valkyries should be eyeing this year.
No. 5: Aneesah Morrow, LSU
The Golden State Valkyries are set to have a really fun, dynamic first season no matter what happens, but drafted Aneesah Morrow in the first round would be the cherry on top the inaugural team needs. Morrow demonstrated time and time again she's as tough as they come this year at LSU, where she averaged 18.7 points and 13.5 rebounds this season. At 6'1" Morrow also brings size to the squad as well as tenacity, strength, and elite double-double ability.
No. 17: Harmoni Turner, Harvard
Turner has gained a tremendous amount of popularity this season for her 3-point shooting, a skill that's more or less essential for the Valkyries. Turner has a lot of ability as a combo guard and showcased her court dominance on April 5 during the Lily All-Star Game. She averaged 22.5 points for Harvard this season and boasted a three-point percentage of 35.65, making her a more than solid pick for Golden State's No. 17 spot.
No. 30: Diamond Johnson, Norfolk State
Diamond Johnson also enjoyed a standout weekend at the Lily All-Star Combine and Game in Tampa April 4 and 5, where she was named MVP of the entire tournament. Johnson was an integral part of Team Miller's 71-59 win over Team Lieberman and electrified the crowd when she hit the game-winning shot of the afternoon. Johnson, who averaged 18.9 points and 6.1 rebounds for Norfolk State, would be an excellent back-up guard for Golden State and a fun presence to have on the team.