Fans who want a sneak peek at the Golden State Valkyries before the WNBA season begins on May 16 might get their shot — if you can get into the preseason games (ticket information is not yet available).
The Valkyries announced the team's preseason schedule on Tuesday, February 16. The team will host the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday, May 6, at 7 p.m. and then will travel to meet the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday, February 11, at 3 p.m. The team's game against the Sparks will also be the first WNBA match ever played in the Chase Center, offering both rosters the opportunity to be part of history.
The first Valkyries vs. Sparks game will reunite Stephanie Talbot with her old team
The first match between the Valks and the Sparks will also reunite forward Stephanie Talbot with her former team. Talbot, who played for Australia in the 2016, 2020, and 2024 Olympic Games, joined the Sparks in February 2023 but tore her ACL only weeks later. She missed the entire season as a result and made her official WNBA debut in 2024.
Talbot started 10 games for the Sparks and averaged 16.2 minutes for the team. She had one of the best assit-to-turnover ratios for the young team, and was offered a one-year contract extension last August.
The Valkyries scooped Talbot up in the Expansion Draft in December 2024. Raegan Pebley, Sparks GM, said in a press conference at the time, "Steph brought experience, toughness and playmaking ability to our team, and we thank her for everything she brought to the Sparks. Golden State is getting a strong leader, and we wish her the best in the Bay."
Adding Kelsey Plum to the Sparks could spell trouble for the Valkyries
Though the Sparks were in last place at the conclusion of the 2024 season, the team has made a few key free agency moves that will make them more competitive this year. The most obvious example is adding Kelsey Plum to the team's roster, a move that instantly made the team stronger.
Plum is bound to make things difficult for the Valkyries when both teams meet face-to-face in May, but it's not quite time to count Golden State out yet. Signing Tiffany Hayes, 2024's Sixth Woman of the Year and one of the toughest athletes on the court, will help give the fledgling team the boost they need as they navigate their first year together.