The Golden State Valkyries officially have their first eleven players after making their selections in the expansion draft. That does not necessarily mean that all of them will be on the roster when the 2025 season tips off—some players may even decide to not come to the WNBA for the season—but fans should expect most of them to be at this point of the offseason. After all, the Valkyries drafted with a clear plan and knew exactly what kind of players they wanted to secure.
Nevertheless, some of them might not finish the 2025 season with the Valkyries. In-season trades are rare in the WNBA but not impossible to make. The Valkyries have several players who may be of interest to other teams looking to make final upgrades or find an injury replacement before going to the playoffs.
3. Kayla Thornton
When it became public that teams would be allowed to protect only six players in the expansion draft, it became clear that the New York Liberty would likely lose a key piece of their championship team. The Liberty could not protect Kayla Thornton, and the Valkyries happily picked her up in the expansion draft.
Thornton is a veteran 3-and-D wing with championship experience. She could fit next to whatever young star the Valkyries hope to land and make the face of their franchise. Thornton is also capable of putting together big games, though. In the 2024 season, she scored 15 or more points six times.
On a team like the Valkyries that has no clear star player and a bigger role available than the Liberty, Thornton could quickly break out and greatly increase her trade value. If the Valkyries can get young talent or draft picks in return from a team looking to make a playoff push, they might be convinced to part ways with Thornton before the end of the 2025 season.
2. Cecilia Zandalasini
When the Valkyries selected Cecilia Zandalasini from the Minnesota Lynx, it was somewhat of a surprise. The Lynx had no way of protecting all three of Diamond Miller, Alissa Pili, and Dorka Juhasz. Anyone could have been an interesting piece for a new team just building its identity and looking for young players to break out.
The Valkyries opted to pick another veteran, though. Zandalasini may only have three seasons of WNBA experience, but she has had a long and successful career overseas, winning several championships in Turkey and the 2023 Italian Supercup.
At 6’2” and with a great 3-point shot, Zandalasini is the type of player contenders value and may even trade for. She already proved that she could be a rotational player on a great team with the Lynx but could have a much bigger season with the Valkyries. If she decides to play in the WNBA, that is. The 2024 season marked the first time since 2018 that Zandalasini played in the U.S.
1. Stephanie Talbot
Stephanie Talbot struggled from three last season, shooting only 26 percent on the season, but that has not been the norm over her six-year WNBA career. Talbot is actually a 36-percent-shooter for her career, shooting around 40 percent in two of the last three seasons.
At 6’2”, Talbot also offers great size on the wing and has significant playoff experience. She has already played in 16 playoff games with the Mercury, Lynx, and Storm, averaging 18.2 minutes per game.
On the Valkyries, Talbot could have a much-improved shooting season and revamp her value. If that happens, it might be worth looking into some trades in case the Valkyries want to amass draft assets and young players rather than keep their veterans around.