Everyone thought the Golden State Valkyries roster 2025 would be a simple case of "pick the best names available and go." Expansion teams are usually just a collection of leftovers, right? Not this time. When the Valkyries officially took the court at Chase Center, the front office had already shredded the "expansion team" playbook. They didn't just want bodies; they wanted a specific brand of defensive chaos.
Honestly, it worked.
Looking back at the inaugural season, the roster construction was a masterclass in versatility. General Manager Ohemaa Nyanin and Head Coach Natalie Nakase—who literally won WNBA Coach of the Year for this—didn't chase the flashiest scorers. They chased "grit." They wanted players who could switch everything on defense and shoot the lights out from deep.
The Final 12: Who Stuck After Training Camp
By the time the season opener against the Los Angeles Sparks rolled around on May 16, 2025, some big names were gone. If you were following the draft, you might've been shocked. High-profile picks like Kaitlyn Chen and Laeticia Amihere actually got waived before the first real whistle blew.
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Amihere’s cut was especially brutal for fans. She’d just dropped 20 points in a preseason game. But Nakase was looking for something very specific. She settled on a 12-player rotation that prioritized veteran experience over raw rookie potential.
The Official 2025 Inaugural Roster:
- Carla Leite (#0): The French guard brought a certain "fearlessness" that was missing in other prospects.
- Kayla Thornton (#5): Basically the heart and soul. She ended up an All-Star and led the team in scoring with 14.0 PPG before an injury.
- Stephanie Talbot (#7): The Australian vet who provided that crucial outside shooting and locker room leadership.
- Janelle Salaün (#13): A 6'2" forward from France who added much-needed length.
- Temi Fagbenle (#14): A defensive anchor in the paint. Getting her from the Fever was a massive steal in the expansion draft.
- Tiffany Hayes (#15): The "bucket getter." You need someone who can create their own shot when the play breaks down.
- Kate Martin (#20): Yeah, the "Money Martin" hype was real. She became a massive fan favorite and a reliable rotational piece.
- Veronica Burton (#22): The defensive engine. She won Most Improved Player in 2025 and led the team with 6.0 assists per game.
- Cecilia Zandalasini (#24): The Italian forward who brought high-level IQ and spacing.
- Monique Billings (#25): A rebounding machine. She was the one "unrestricted free agent" pick allowed, and they cored her immediately.
- Kyara Linskens (#31): The Belgian center who gave them some size.
- Julie Vanloo (#35): Another Belgian standout who helped run the point.
Why the Draft Picks Didn't Make the Cut
This is what most people get wrong about the Golden State Valkyries roster 2025. They think because the team had the No. 5 overall pick, that player was a lock. Justė Jocytė, the Lithuanian phenom, was taken at five. She’s only 19. The team decided to retain her rights but she didn't play stateside in 2025, which let the Valkyries use that roster spot on a vet who could help them win now.
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Shyanne Sellers (17th pick) and Kaitlyn Chen (30th pick) were both in camp. Sellers got waived on May 3, and Chen on May 14. It felt cold. But looking at the 23 wins they pulled off, it's hard to argue with the result. The Valkyries weren't interested in a "rebuild year." They wanted a playoff berth on day one.
The Strategy: Defensive Identity Over Individual Stars
If you watched them play, you noticed it. They led the league in opponent field goal percentage. Basically, they made life miserable for every other team's star player.
Veronica Burton and Kayla Thornton were the primary reasons for that. Burton has this "dog" in her on the perimeter. She pesters ball handlers until they make a mistake. Behind her, you had Fagbenle and Billings cleaning up the glass. It wasn't always pretty basketball, but it was effective.
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Notable Stats from the 2025 Season
- Record: 23-17 (A new WNBA record for an expansion team).
- Defense: Best in the league, allowing only 76.3 points per game.
- Three-Pointers: Ranked top five in the league for shots made from deep.
The "Kate Martin" Factor
You can't talk about the Golden State Valkyries roster 2025 without mentioning Kate Martin. Coming over from the Aces, she brought a championship pedigree and a huge following. While some critics said she was overvalued, she proved her worth as a high-IQ player who rarely made mistakes. In a system like Nakase’s, where "connectivity" is everything, Martin was the glue.
What’s Next for the Roster?
The 2025 season ended with a first-round playoff exit against the Minnesota Lynx, but the foundation is there. The big question moving into the next season is how they handle the roster expansion with Portland and Toronto joining the league. They're likely to lose a key piece in the next expansion draft—there’s no way around it.
If you’re tracking this team, keep an eye on the free-agent market. They have the cap space to go after a "Supermax" player now that they've proven they are a winning destination. The 2025 roster was about survival and culture; 2026 will be about finding that one "X-factor" to turn a 23-win team into a title contender.
Actionable Next Steps for Valkyries Fans:
- Watch the Expansion Draft Protected List: The Valkyries will have to protect only a few players soon; see who they prioritize to understand their long-term core.
- Track Justė Jocytė: Since they still hold her rights, her arrival in the WNBA could be the biggest "addition" to the 2026 roster without involving a trade.
- Monitor the Salary Cap: With several veterans on one-year deals from the expansion draft, the front office has massive flexibility this coming offseason.