The Golden State Valkyries finally have their initial eleven players after the much-awaited expansion draft. The draft was full of surprises and left fans with several questions. The fact that Temi Fagbenle was not protected by the Indiana Fever and is now a member of the Valkyries, blew many fans’ minds, for example.
Another surprising decision, even though more under-the-radar, was the Dallas Wings not protecting Carla Leite. The Valkyries landed several proven WNBA veterans in the draft, like Kayla Thornton, Monique Billings, and Cecilia Zandalasini. They also secured young WNBA talent in Veronica Burton and Kate Martin. And yet, Carla Leite, who has not played a single minute of WNBA basketball yet, could end up being the steal of the draft.
Carla Leite could turn out to be the most underrated pick in the expansion draft
Carla Leite may not be well-known in the U.S. quite yet but her potential is no secret. The Wings used a first-round pick on her for a reason. Leite is only 20 years old but already a starter on the French team Villeneuve d’Ascq. Thus, it was so surprising that the Wings left her unprotected. Young point guard talent is not always easy to come by.
One reason the Wings did not choose to protect her may have been that they were uncertain about her commitment to playing in the WNBA. If Leite decides to come to the WNBA and play for the Valkyries, she could end up being the steal of the draft.
Having a young player to develop in your system is always an asset, but there is much more to Leite. She is currently averaging 14.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 3.8 assists over four EuroLeague games and 16.6 points, 40 percent shooting from three, 1.4 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.1 steals over eight games in the French league.
Leite has only played two games in which she did not score at least 11 points and one in which she did not dish out at least four assists. One concern is her turnovers. Three times this season, Leite turned the ball over six or more times in a game, but that is not uncommon for a young guard. Even Caitlin Clark averaged 5.6 turnovers in her rookie season.
At 20, Leite would still need developmental minutes in the WNBA, but an expansion team like the Valkyries can offer her just that. Plus, there is so much more to be excited about with Leite’s game.
Offensively, Leite can set up her teammates, but also create her own shot. She is quick with the ball in her hands and can get to the rim. As a result, she finds herself at the free-throw line a lot. Over 13 games, she only attempted less than five free throws per game five times.
On top of that, Leite is also a willing 3-point shooter, even if her shot does not always fall consistently. WNBA teams are always looking for guards who can make the right pass, drive the ball, and space the floor offensively. Leite has the potential to become just that.
Defensively, she has great size at 5’9” and can bother opposing guards. Guarding WNBA players night after night may be a challenge at first—it is for many rookies—but Leite already has some experience playing against WNBA-level players. She has, for example, already faced Gabby Williams and Ariel Atkins with Fenerbahce this season. While her team struggled against Fenerbahce’s stifling defense, Leite still put up 14 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists.
If Leite decides to join the Valkyries and give the WNBA a try, she could quickly emerge as one of the most intriguing young guards in the league.