The Golden State Valkyries are preparing for their inaugural season. They have the fifth pick in the 2025 WNBA first-year player draft and will build their roster through the expansion draft before free agency. Each of the 12 current teams can protect six players, and the remainder are eligible for selection by Golden State. The Valkyries can only take one player from each team and must fill their remaining spots through free agency and trades.
With a clean cap sheet, Golden State can go in any direction. The W’s landscape may change their thinking. The salary cap is expected to rise significantly in 2026, and most players are on one-year contracts. It gives Golden State a chance to succeed quickly, but it starts with putting a strong product on the floor to attract talent.
The Valkyries must avoid loading their cap sheet with massive contracts. Even one-year high-value deals will limit the franchise’s flexibility. Golden State must avoid players who cannot live up to their deals, including these five disastrous contracts.
5. Layshia Clarendon
The veteran guard saw her minutes and production dip for the Sparks in 2024. She averaged just 4.3 points, 2.6 assists, 1.8 rebounds, and 0.7 steals in 16.0 minutes per game. The 33-year-old has not appeared in more than 24 games in a season since 2018 and appears to be on the downside of her career.
The Valkyries want veterans to help their young talent grow and to lead their locker room, but Clarendon is on a $100,000 expiring contract in 2025. It is far from the maximum salary, but there is no way the 33-year-old can effectively play more than 20 minutes per game.
Golden State would be wise to spend elsewhere and try to secure a veteran point guard in free agency capable of handling a larger role on a smaller salary.
4. Katie Lou Samuelson
Samuelson missed the entire 2023 season for maternity but signed a two-year contract with the Fever worth $355,250 ahead of the 2024 campaign. The 6’3 forward has already played for five WNBA teams and struggled to fit around Caitlin Clark. Last season, Samuelson averaged 4.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.4 assists in 18.2 minutes per game.
She should be better in 2025, but the Valkyries must avoid paying an inefficient role player $180,250 for their inaugural season. They can get more production for significantly less in free agency. The Fever may hope Golden State takes Katie Lou, but they shouldn't.
3. Nia Coffey
The 6’1 forward is coming off a disappointing season where she averaged just 3.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 13.4 minutes per game for the Dream. She shot 32.4 percent from the field and 27.3 percent on her 3-point tries. It was her lowest minutes per game average since her rookie season in 2017 and arguably her worst WNBA season.
The 29-year-old is on a $150,000 expiring contract and is best suited to playing 12 to 20 minutes each night. She is the 27th highest-paid player in the league next season before free agency. That is far too much for a fringe starter, even for one season.
2. Moriah Jefferson
Jefferson is set to make $145,500 in 2025 after a season where she averaged 1.3 points, 1.3 assists, and 0.4 rebounds in 8.0 minutes per game. The 5’6 guard has played for five different teams in the last three seasons and has steadily seen her production decline.
The 30-year-old was traded to Chicago mid-season, and the Sky will leave her unprotected in the expansion draft. Golden State may see a quality guard a year removed from averaging 10.5 points, 3.6 assists, and 1.1 steals in 24.9 minutes per game for the Mercury. There is a reason she keeps changing teams. Over the last three years, her teams have gone 31-62 with her in the lineup.
The Valkyries should steer clear of her bloated one-year contract in the expansion draft, but there is a worse multiple-year deal expected to be available.
1. Kalani Brown
The 6’7 center is the rare player on a non-rookie deal signed through 2026. She is set to make $261,250 over the next two seasons and become an unrestricted free agent in the 2027 offseason. That may seem like an advantage, but not if Brown cannot live up to the contract.
She averaged 5.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists, and 0.6 blocks in 13.2 minutes per game last season. Brown has never played more than 16.4 minutes each night and is being paid for what looks like one season of outlier production.
The Valkyries would love to add some size to their roster, but Brown’s bloated contract is not the answer. Golden State would be better off drafting a center or playing small to fill their minutes at the five.
The Golden State Valkyries expansion draft takes place on Dec. 6 and will be a key moment for the franchise. It will help them fill their roster and create an identity, so don't miss it.