Expansion teams usually struggle in their first few seasons while they try to find and develop young talent. Finding a young franchise player is usually the key to long-term success in the WNBA. Thus, expansion drafts typically see a lot of young players on the move. In 2008, the Atlanta Dream’s first-ever roster featured six players the team picked in the expansion draft. All were just in their second or third season.
The Valkyries employed a different strategy, mainly selecting veterans or young players with international experience in the expansion draft. Most of those players also made the roster. Only three players on the roster were free-agent signings. Everyone else came to Golden State in the expansion draft. Except for Carla Leite, Kate Martin, and Veronica Burton, all players selected in the expansion draft are around thirty and have several years of professional experience.
The Valkyries may have approached the expansion draft with a somewhat controversial strategy, but it has worked out well so far.
The Valkyries have found success early in the season
Entering the 2025 season, the Golden State Valkyries were expected to be one of the worst teams in the league. They lost their first game of the season quite significantly but then went on to win two games.
With a solid mixture of good defense, team chemistry, and offensive firepower, the Valkyries look ready to be more competitive than people gave them credit for when the season first started. So far, the Valkyries have faced the Los Angeles Sparks and the Washington Mystics. The Mystics are young, and the Sparks are missing key players, so neither are truly strong opponents and the Valkyries still have to prove that they can be just as competitive against better teams.
Nevertheless, the WNBA’s newest franchise looks promising early in its inaugural season. A big reason for that is that the Valkyries found a solid balance between relying on veterans and giving young players a chance to develop.
The team is currently proving that you can nail the expansion draft without selecting only young, promising players. Young players need veterans to lean on and, knowing that veteran players may not be drawn to an expansion franchise in free agency, the Valkyries ensured they got experienced players in the expansion draft.
The Valkyries are building the foundation for long-term success
Despite the focus on veteran players and the desire to be competitive in their inaugural season, the Valkyries are building a solid foundation for the team’s long-term future.
Among the experienced, older players are three young players with high ceilings the Valkyries get to develop. Carla Leite, Janelle Salaün, and Veronica Burton are all under the age of 25 and have been a big part of the Valkyries’ early success. If they continue to play this well and the two French rookies are dedicated to playing in the WNBA consistently, the Valkyries have a great young core to work with.
Kate Martin is the other young player on the Valkyries’ roster. She has had a rather quiet start to the season but also has great potential as a role player.