At the beginning of this year's period of WNBA free agency, it seemed like the Golden State Valkyries stood a chance at adding a few heavyweights to the team's roster. Everyone from Kelsey Mitchell to Jewell Loyd to Brittney Griner was floated as a possibility for the new team, and deals that could have brought each player to the Bay Area made sense.
But the possibility that the Valkyries might not land a seasoned veteran who can help steer the team toward a championship in the coming years has always been on the table. And as vet after vet has made it clear they're going elsewhere, that possibility has become all the more likely.
Kelsey Plum and Jewell Loyd are going to other teams
For weeks it seemed like Plum in the Bay Area was a done deal. Everything seemed to align: the California native had a tough 2024 and seemed open to a new start, she had previously played with and adored Valkyries guard Kate Martin, and obviously was more than familiar with Coach Nakase.
But Plum is now part of a three-way deal that will see her heading to the Los Angeles Sparks, Jewell Loyd to the Las Vegas Aces, and the second-round draft pick to the Seattle Storm — and Golden State is definitely not part of that deal.
Kelsey Mitchell is staying with the Fever
Though plenty of people — including WNBA legend Candace Parker — thought Kelsey Mitchell might sign with a new team, the Indiana Fever announced Mitchell had resigned with the team on January 29. The move keeps the team's entire starting line-up firmly planted in Indianapolis.
That Mitchell is staying with the Fever makes a lot of sense. A run at a championship is well within the Fever's reach, especially with Stephanie White at the team's helm.
Courtney Vandersloot is going to the Sky
The New York Liberty didn't protect Vandersloot as part of the Valkyries Expansion Draft, and there were rumblings that she might be drafted by Golden State then — but those rumors didn't bear fruit. When Vandersloot indicated she was open to negotiations during free agency those rumors were stirred up, and the possibility of adding Vandersloot to the team was compelling.
Unfortunately, Vandersloot agreed to a one-year deal with the Chicago Sky on January 29, ruling out any chance that she'll end up in San Francisco this season.
Brittney Griner signed with the Dream
One of the biggest free agency surprises so far was that Brittney Griner — who has spent her entire career with the Phoenix Mercury — entered free agency for the first time. But almost as quickly as the possibility Griner could sign with the Valkyries was raised, she signed a contract with the Atlanta Dream instead.
What happens if the Valkyries don't sign any new players in free agency
There aren't a lot of athletes who will take a risk on a brand new team, especially since expansion teams tend to sink before they swim. If the Golden State Valkyries don't sign any new players during free agency, the team is still in decent shape with the roster they have — and will be able to draft new players at the no. 5, 17, and 30 spots in this year's WNBA draft.
The team recently signed an unspecified deal with Monique Billings, who can provide a lot of the leadership the team needs. And Belgian Julie Vanloo might only have one year of WNBA experience under her belt, but she's a European champion who has dominated on the courts overseas for a decade — and she shouldn't be underestimated.
The team also boasts a steady squad of young players who are enormously popular with fans, including Kate Martin and Carla Leite. The future might be an uphill battle for the newest team in the WNBA, but that doesn't mean it's not bright.