Making the playoffs is no easy feat. Last season, several teams were competing for the final spot in the postseason all the way up until the final games of the 2024 season. The next campaign won't be a cakewalk, either. Caitlin Clark just showed what happens when you add next-level talent to a roster, and Paige Bueckers is about to raise the floor of the franchise fortunate enough to draft her.
That means a team like the LA Sparks or Dallas Wings can flip their fortunes and go from the bottom of the league's standings to pushing for a playoff spot. Without a lottery pick and no chance at Bueckers, Golden State isn't likely to make the playoffs in their first year, but year two is a different story. They'll make the postseason in their second year if they can take care of a few key factors.
Culture and careful roster planning are key to a year-two playoff showing
You can't underestimate how important culture is to success. The owners of the Valkyries also own the Warriors, so they understand this. It's no coincidence that they chose Natalie Nakase as their head coach. Nakase spent 10 years as a coach with the LA Clippers before spending the last few as the lead assistant to Becky Hammon and the Las Vegas Aces.
Nakase knows what a positive and winning culture looks like. She was a part of the Clippers organization when Donald Sterling's controversy hit the airwaves, and she was there for Steve Ballmer's acquisition. He transformed the Clippers into a respectable franchise, and her time there is an experience that will help her navigate tough situations.
She sat next to Becky Hammon as they led the Las Vegas Aces to back-to-back championships. That means Nakase has experience with star players, as there's no bigger star in the WNBA than A'ja Wilson. Picking the California-born coach as the leader of San Francisco's new franchise was a home run.
How the Valkyries can make this ambitious goal happen
There is virtually no chance they'll make the playoffs in the first year, so when the expansion draft rolls around, they should focus on constructing the roster around who they believe they'll be able to select in the 2026 draft. When lotteries are involved, nothing is 100%, but sometimes in sports, you make a plan and hope for the best. That's exactly what the Valkyries need to do by taking aim at Lauren Betts.
It's important to note that Betts will turn 22 during the 2025 season, making her eligible for the 2025 draft. However, she's not projected as a lottery pick were she to make that move. That's a hit to her pockets, and she may be able to earn more with another year of college due to the NIL deals.
Not to mention, the players association opted out of the current CBA deal. They want to negotiate new terms due to the influx of intrigue in women's basketball. More money is being generated, and they want a larger piece of the pie. That means salaries could see a major increase in 2026, so it would be smart to wait one more year. For the Valkyries, Betts is worth the wait.
She is a 6'7" center at UCLA with the size and lateral quickness to switch positions 1-5 on defense, block shots, and score in traffic. She passes well, plus she has a smooth handle, allowing her to isolate her matchup to get a favorable shot. The star junior is an extremely impressive hooper, and the Valkyries would do well to target her in the 2026 draft by tanking their inaugural season.
The only thing lacking from Betts's game is 3-point shooting. She often won't take any attempts from deep, so that should be the focus of the expansion draft. If the Valkyries can add reliable shooters and wing defenders to the squad, they can drop Lauren Betts in a couple of years.
The 2025 WNBA Draft is a few months away. If Notre Dame guard Olivia Miles is still on the board, Golden State should leap at a chance to add her shooting to the team, but Miles is projected as a lottery pick. If she's no longer available, South Carolina's Te-Hina PaoPao should shoot up their draft board. Both of these players are guards who can drain threes at a high level.
Either selection would be a perfect running mate for Betts. We're talking sugar, spice, and everything nice, but you're not getting the PowerPuff Girls; you'll get a playoff contender the Bay Area can be proud of.