SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Valkyries selected Newton native Veronica Burton, center Iliana Rupert of Atlanta, guard Carla Leite of Dallas, and forward Maria Conde of Chicago with their initial picks of the WNBA expansion draft on Friday, the first players for the new Bay Area franchise that’s set to begin play next season.
Golden State rounded out its 11-woman roster with Indiana center Temi Fagbenle; Las Vegas guard Kate Martin; forwards Steph Talbot of Los Angeles, Cecilia Zandalasini of Minnesota, Kayla Thornton of New York and Monique Billings of Phoenix; and Washington guard Julie Vanloo. The Valkyries did not choose a player from Seattle.
“It’s a long process but it’s also a great process for us,” coach Natalie Nakase said. “We kind of did this cycle, where we collaborate, we discuss and then we go watch film, then do it again . . . and that went over and over again for about two months. And finally we decided, we picked the best players that fit our culture. So we’re excited and can’t wait to get going.”
This marked the WNBA’s first expansion draft in 16 years since the Atlanta Dream joined the league in 2008.
Burton, a 5-foot-9-inch guard, most recently played for the Connecticut Sun. In 31 games last season, she averaged 3.1 points and 1.9 assists as the Sun reached the semifinals, losing in a decisive Game 5 to the Minnesota Lynx.
She was a first-round pick out of Northwestern by the Dallas Wings in 2022 and played 76 games in two seasons before being released before the start of the 2024 season. The Sun signed Burton as a free agent on June 5.
Golden State is able to acquire the contract or negotiating rights to one player from each of the other 12 WNBA teams. The Valkyries can also choose one player from throughout the league who’s eligible to become an unrestricted free agent.
The Valkyries will play at Chase Center, the 5-year-old home of the Golden State Warriors, and practice across the bay in the organization’s Oakland training facility.
Warriors star Draymond Green sported a Valkyries jersey with No. 25 on the back — for the inaugural campaign of 2025 — while sitting out injured during Thursday’s win over the Houston Rockets.
