Earlier this week the Golden State Valkyries took a big step toward preparing for the team's inaugural season. The team named Lorena Torres Ronda as its first Director of Performance, a position that reports directly to GM Ohemaa Nyanin.
"Lorena brings a wealth of experience in elite basketball performance," Nyanin said in a statement. "Her expertise in building comprehensive performance programs and her holistic approach to player health and wellness will help create a strong foundation for our athletes. Her ability to communicate effectively and collaborate across departments, combined with her technical expertise, makes her a strong addition to our team."
As Director of Performance, Ronda will be responsible for creating and overseeing the Valkyries' wellness plans and will work closely with coaches, the front office, and the athletes themselves.
Prior to joining the Valkyries' staff, Ronda served as Director of Player Performance at You First. According to her website, she has spent most of her career working with professional basketball and soccer players. She was the first woman to join the coaching staff of the Spanish National Basketball Federation's senior men's team and was part of the group that helped the team win the 2022 European Championship.
Ronda also has NBA experience under her belt. She worked as the Performance Director for the 76ers and as the Sports Scientist, Research and Developement Coordinator with the Spurs.
The Valkyries still have positions to fill
With three months to go until the WNBA season kicks off, the Golden State Valkyries still have plenty of positions to fill — namely on the team's coaching staff.
Though Coach Nakase and the rest of the team's staff and front office have been tight-lipped about potential candidates, there are certainly a lot of options out there. WNBA teams are typically staffed with an associate head coach and up to three assistant coaches. Teams can bring on up to three assistants as long as the third is a former WNBA player. The rule was added in 2020 and nearly immediately increased the number of coaching positions by 50%.
There are plenty of incredible former players who would be equally fantastic coaches, but not all of them are available – and it's not clear if all of them are interested.
In January we came up with a list of players we'd love to see join the Valkyries as assistant coaches, including Tamika Catchings, Seimone Augustus, and Lisa Leslie.