The Golden State Valkyries decide to rely on international talent in their first season. Cecilia Zandalasini, Julie Vanloo, Stephanie Talbot, Kyara Linskens, Maria Conde, and Chloe Bibby are all veterans with plenty of experience playing outside the WNBA.
Most of the Valkyries’ young players are also international talents. Janelle Salaün and Carla Leite, for example, have not played in the WNBA yet but are currently doing well in Europe.
Leite, the youngest player on the Valkyries roster, will bring some much-needed playmaking to the table, and Janelle Salaün also has plenty to offer.
3. Spacing
Janelle Salaün’s 3-point shot is still a little up-and-down but overall, she is a solid shooter. Over 13 Euroleague games with Famila Schio, Salaün is shooting 37.5 percent from three, converting 24 of her 64 attempts.
Salaün is not afraid to shoot and can also create her own looks from behind the arc. Both will come in handy with the Valkyries in Salaün’s rookie season and help her establish herself as a WNBA-level player. She will have to prove that she can also hit threes at the same level in the WNBA but that should be no problem. After all, Salaün already has some experience playing against WNBA-level players, like Gabby Williams.
Plus, the Valkyries will need as many 3-point shooters as they can get. The team does not have a clear-cut star, even though Tiffany Hayes can take on the brunt of the scoring load, and will thus have to rely on good ball movement and players knocking down open shots to build a solid offense. Having several bigs and forwards who can space the floor will help with that. Salaün is the perfect forward to play next to bigs like, Temi Fagbenle, Monique Billings, and Kyara Linskens.
2. A strong two-way presence
Salaün can do much more offensively than just knock down some threes. Since going undrafted in the 2023 WNBA Draft, Salaün has established herself as a talented 3-level scorer. She can put the ball on the floor, attack the rim, or convert jump shots.
Defensively, Salaün is just as versatile, and that will help her carve out a role with the Golden State Valkyries. Head coach Natalie Nakase wants her players to compete on both ends of the floor, and building an identity as a tough defensive team is something the Valkyries can easily focus on in their first season. They may not make many flashy offensive plays or beat some of the better teams in the league, but they can at least be a pest defensively and build the foundation for future success. With players like Tiffany Hayes, Kayla Thornton, and Kate Martin on the roster, the Valkyries are well set up to be a solid defensive team.
Salaün could also play a key role defensively. She has great size but is also athletic and quick with good instincts. That allows her to guard all five positions.
1. Future potential
After failing to attract any of the top stars available this offseason, the Valkyries are officially focusing more on the franchise’s future than its immediate success. The key to a successful future for the Valkyries is to gather and develop as many talented young players as possible while also establishing themselves as a free agency destination.
Salaün certainly fits the description of a young player with potential. If her skill set translates well to the WNBA, she is committed to playing in the U.S. regularly, and the Valkyries can develop her correctly, Salaün could quickly become one of the better young players in the league. She is still only 23 but her experience playing in Europe and for the French national team should help her adjust quickly to the new league.
A young core of Salaün, Leite, Iliana Rupert, Kate Martin, Veronica Burton, and whoever the Valkyries can land in the next few drafts could soon make for an interesting team.
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