There's been a common theme ever since the Golden State Valkyries were announced: expansion teams never do well right away, and fans need to brace themselves for what will probably be a disappointing first season.
That attitude is understandable when one considers the path of the most recent team to join the WNBA, the Atlanta Dream. The Dream was announced in January 2008 and the expansion took place the next month. The Dream added 13 players to its roster in that expansion draft: Carla Thomas, Erika de Souza, Katie Feenstra, Roneeka Hodges, Ann Strother, LaToya Thomas, Kristen Mann, Ann Wauters, Jennifer Lacy, Kristin Haynie, Chantelle Anderson, Betty Lennox, and Yelena Leuchanka.
The team also played its hand in free agency when they traded Thomas to the Detroit Shock in exchange for Ivory Latta, traded Hodges to the Seattle Storm for Iziane Castro Marques, and drafted Tamera Young, Morenike Atunrase, and Danielle Hood that year.
The Dream ultimately suffered 17 straight losses — the longest losing streak at the beginning of a season in WNBA history — from the jump (they're even in the Guinness Book of World Records for "Worst start to a WNBA season, team"). Having said that, the Dream have clearly rebounded and have made it to the playoffs 9 times — though have yet to win a championship.
The Atlanta Dream isn't the only blueprint for the Golden State Valkyries
While it's clear that Nakase is certainly taking the past into consideration, it's also clear that she believes in herself, the Valkyries' front office, and the athletes that have joined the team to date. While there are certainly lessons to be learned from the Dream's inaugural year, those lessons don't define the Golden State Valkyries in 2025.
While speaking to Her Playbook Thursday, Nakase admitted that so far, the journey was been a bit of a "roller coaster ride." As she explained, she was hired just before the Expansion Draft, then immediately had to navigate free agency, and just as she's able to come up for air, it's time for the WNBA Draft. But Nakase is the type of person to identify a challenge and be inspired, something that will serve Golden State well.
Being the new team on the block is an "advantage," Nakase said. Though plenty of people have advised her to keep her expectations low, she sees a lot of opportunity. "You actually get to hand pick players that are going to fit your culture," Nakase said. "Players are the culture... I've gotten to hand pick high-character players that work hard, players who love to play with a chip on their shoulder."
If the Valkyries do tank, it could work out in their favor
If Golden State doesn't come out of the 2025 season with the best record, the team will be poised to potentially draft the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 season — and all signs are pointing to that player being UCLA's Lauren Betts or TCU's Olivia Miles. Both young women are major collegiate athletes who would bring a lot to the Valks for their second season, and who certainly know a thing or two about defying the expectations of others.