WNBA free agency isn't over, but it's certainly winding down. College athletes across the United States are winning and losing in March Madness, and after the NCAA Tournament all eyes will be on one event: the 2025 WNBA Draft.
The Golden State Valkyries are in a unique spot in terms of this year's draft. As the league's first expansion team since 2008, the team and front office have a lot ahead of them. Many in the league are skeptical Golden State will have a strong season, and though the team signed some excellent athletes in free agency, there's an overall hint of dissatisfaction in the air.
The 2025 Draft will be a big one for the Valkyries — they'll never get another shot at the team's first-ever draft, and the athletes who join Golden State as the team's first slate of rookies will always be special.
There are plenty of possibilities in this year's Draft for Golden State to sign as the No. 5, 17, and 30 picks: Dominique Malonga, Elena Bosgana, Harmoni Turner, Azzi Fudd, and Janiah Barker are all exciting possibilities. The team should also consider Sydney Affolter, a 5'11" wing who is more than comfortable in her role on the court.
Sydney Affolter missed the beginning of the 2024-25 season
Affolter's season didn't start off with the best news. A knee injury and subsequent surgery sidelined her for the beginning of November 2024; instead of letting the news get her down, Affolter became an instrumental element of Iowa's bench. She has been a vocal supporter of everyone else on her team, and used the time period as an opportunity to encourage the team's freshmen especially.
Once she was back on the court Affolter made it clear that this season has been about improving her game, and to that end she's been more than successful. This month she received the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award and was named to the conference's list of honorable mentions. Though she's averaged 8.5 points per game, she's also averaged 8.1 rebounds — and she's racked those up when Iowa needed them the most.
Affolter would be an exceptional role player for the Valkyries specifically, much as she has for Iowa. This season she showed that she was more than capable of leading her team through a delicate, post-Caitlin Clark transition period, and it's likely she would be a strong teammate through the Valkyries' own transition through their first season.
Affolter has demonstrated skill on the court and loyalty to her team; in a lot of ways, that's exactly what a newbie team needs anyway. When it comes time to give her a shot, hopefully it's an opportunity Golden State takes.