WNBA: It’s going to be a slow build for the Golden State Valkyries

Before the WNBA’s free agency period opened, the Golden State Valkyries could take one of two paths: go for a big name or decide to build slowly.

Whether it was the organization’s choice or not, general manager Ohemaa Nyanin has constructed a primarily young, inexperienced roster, with four rookies on the team prior to the 2025 WNBA Draft. This may actually be a good thing, at least for the league and the players. The league is no longer 144 strong, as Golden State introduces 12 additional roster spots for players who otherwise would miss out on playing in the best league in the world.

With the team jerseys already on sale, here who currently are slated to enter the Valkyries’ first ever training camp:

Backcourt: Carle Leite, Julie Vanloo, Veronica Burton, Tiffany Hayes, Kate Martin

Frontcourt: Stephanie Talbot, Chloe Bibby, Kyara Linskens, Janelle Salaün, Kayla Thornton, Elissa Cunane, Laeticia Amihere, Monique Billings

2025 draft picks: No. 5, No. 17, No. 30

The team also has rights to four unsigned players that they selected in the expansion draft: Temi Fagbenle, Cecilia Zandalasini, Maria Conde and Iliana Rupert. Conde is unlikely to join the team in 2025, as she tore her Achilles in January playing for ZVVZ USK Praha.

Safety under the boards

Among the rookies, the name worth paying attention to is Kyara Linskens, the 28-year-old Belgian big who is so good that Emma Meesseman, one of the best centers in the world, moves to the power forward position when the two play together for the Belgian Cats.The 6-foot-4 Linskens is averaging 13 points and seven boards per game in Russia, playing for Dynamo Kursk. She’s a strong, physical player who guarantees a double-double every time she plays.

The Valkyries also should have Temi Fagbenle, assuming they agree to a contract with the restricted free agent they plucked from the Indiana Fever in the expansion draft. Fagbenle also will bring championship experience to the Bay, winning a title with the Minnesota Lynx in 2017. Cunane is another interesting name to watch. She was in training camp with the Washington Mystics last year, but was cut prior to the start of the season. For the second year in a row, she’s been playing in the Czech Republic for Žabiny Brno, averaging 13 points and 10 boards per game.

No surefire playmaker

The frontcourt seems more or less set, especially if the Valkyries select Stanford’s Kiki Iriafen, a power forward, or LSU’s Aneesah Morrow, a power wing, in the 2025 WNBA Draft, both of whom could be available with the No. 5 pick.

The backcourt, though, leaves some space for improvement. Julie Vanloo is good for now, Tiffany Hayes is a great veteran presence and Carla Leite is a promising point guard of the future. The Valkyries will probably be rotating between the three, but a stable, reliable primary playmaker would be desirable. All three know their roles, so this may actually work this season, but in no way is this a long-term solution. Possibly, the team will expend some of their more than $800,000 cap room to find the playmaker that they need.