The Golden State Valkyries’ long-awaited debut is finally here. However, the team will be shorthanded when it takes the court for the first time this regular season. Stephanie Talbot (quad) and Cecilia Zandalasini (foot) will be out while Kate Martin (hand) is listed as probable.
Sparks' star Cameron Brink will also miss the game. Brink is still recovering from a torn ACL she suffered during her rookie season and is not expected to suit up for the Sparks until at least June.
Meanwhile, the Valkyries will be without two of their veteran forwards and potentially without their young fan favourite. Kate Martin played little as a rookie with the Las Vegas Aces, but fans quickly grew to love her, and she has carried that over to San Francisco.
The Valkyries tip off their inaugural season against the Sparks
Tonight’s game is a big one for the Valkyries as well as the entire WNBA. The Valkyries are the first expansion team since the Atlanta Dream were added to the league in 2008 and the first of a wave of new teams.
Fans are incredibly excited to have a new WNBA team in a big market. Valkyries’ season tickets sold out even before the team played its first game.
The Valkyries’ home opener will not only be their first real chance to present themselves to the league, but it is also an opportunity to establish what kind of team this is and what fans should expect from the rest of the season.
Expansion teams don’t always do well at first. Over the years, eleven franchises, including the Valkyries, have been added to the WNBA’s original eight teams. Out of the first ten expansion teams, only three won their first-ever regular-season game. The Minnesota Lynx beat the Detroit Shock in 1999, the Indiana Fever got a close win over the Miami Sol in 2000, and the Chicago Sky secured a one-point victory against the Charlotte Sting in 2006. Only one expansion team—the Detroit Shock—has ever finished its inaugural season with a winning record.
Nevertheless, the Valkyries will try to be as competitive as possible, even while being shorthanded in their first game. They already showed in preseason that they can hang with other WNBA teams. However, it wouldn’t be the end of the world if the season ends with a losing record and a lottery pick. Drafting and developing young talent is often the easiest path towards long-term success and there are some great players getting ready to wrap up their college careers in the next few years.
Full injury report
Sparks:
Julie Allemand—Out—Left Knee
Cameron Brink—NWT—Left Knee
Valkyries:
Kate Martin—Probable—Right Hand
Stephanie Talbot—Out—Right Quad
Cecilia Zandalasini—Out—Right Foot