In their inaugural season, the Golden State Valkyries have to figure out how to walk a fine line between allowing young players to develop and giving veterans a chance to help the team win. When the Valkyries waived two of their three draft picks and announced that Juste Jocyte wouldn’t join the team until next year, fans grew worried that the organization was leaning in the wrong direction, squandering a chance to develop young talent for the future.
That is not the case, though. The Valkyries may have many veterans on the roster, but the young players on the team are still thriving.
The Valkyries have gotten big games from their young players
The first game of the season was frustrating for the Valkyries. They lost 84-67 to the Los Angeles Sparks and looked a little out of rhythm. The team turned things around quickly, getting two consecutive wins. In both wins, the Valkyries’ young trio of Veronica Burton, Carla Leite, and Janelle Salaün was a major reason for the team’s success.
Against Washington, Burton led the team in points, assists, and rebounds, winning the game with some clutch possessions. Salaün and Leite were two of the other three players in double-figures. Against the Sparks, Leite led the Valkyries with 19 points, three assists, and two rebounds. Salaün and Burton also scored in double-figures and played heavy minutes. On top of that, Kate Martin converted her first field goals in a Valkyries uniform.
The Valkyries created an environment in which young players can thrive
Being a young player in the WNBA is not easy. The young players on the Valykries’ roster have a major advantage in that they have experience playing professional basketball. Veronica Burton may only be 24 years old but she is already in her fourth season. Janelle Salaün and Carla Leite are both rookies, but have experience playing overseas and for their national team.
On top of that, they came to a team prepared to offer the perfect environment for young players to develop. While the Valkyries want to be competitive, there is no real pressure on the team to win many games, meaning that young players can work through mistakes and get plenty of playing time. Moreover, the team has managed to create great chemistry and vibes in a short amount of time.
A big part of that is the presence of so many veterans willing to help their younger teammates. Kayla Thornton, for example, expressed her pride over Leite’s big game against the Sparks and told reporters that she had taken the rookie out for burgers the night before in a wholesome post-game moment. The veterans on the Valkyries’ roster are clearly eager for their young teammates to succeed and that will be the key to a great future for the Valkyries.