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There has been no runway for the Valkyries this offseason — only a compressed window of evaluations and decisions as Year 2 takes shape amid rising expectations.

Golden State opened training camp Sunday in a very different place than a year ago. The franchise is moving forward with a clearer identity and a more defined core, its strengths established and its weaknesses equally visible.

Through the churn of the league’s expansion cycle, free agency, and the draft, the Valkyries’ needs shifted almost as quickly as they were identified. 

GM Ohemaa Nyanin wouldn’t say it outright, but one of the first priorities was adding star power. That arrived in the form of a major free-agency swing for Gabby Williams, the league’s top perimeter defender, who immediately elevates the team’s ceiling. Soon after, the focus turned to continuity, with the Valkyries retaining and stabilizing their core group from a 2025 playoff roster.

Then came the inevitable ripple effects. The departure of Carla Leite created a need behind Veronica Burton at point guard. Veteran Tiffany Hayes signed a new contract, though at 36 and coming off a season interrupted by injuries, she’s not a durable, long-term answer.

In the frontcourt, the departure of Monique Billings and Temi Fagbenle forced another adjustment, shifting size and interior depth to the top of the priority list. Golden State responded by adding Kiah Stokes, bringing in a proven rebounder and defensive presence.

It’s possible the most important returnee is Kayla Thornton, who suffered a season-ending knee injury after making her first WNBA All-Star team. She provides a major boost — someone who can anchor lineups while addressing one of the Valkyries’ biggest concerns: finding a reliable shot-creator who can generate offense and score consistently. Rookie Justė Jocytė could also be a solution in this area. 

Coach Natalie Nakase is four days out from her first look at the roster in action as Golden State plays its lone preseason game Saturday at home against the Seattle Storm. Here’s where the roster stands and what it could look like when the season begins May 8.

The new collective bargaining agreement expanded WNBA rosters from 11 to 12 (including seven guaranteed contracts) and created two developmental slots.

The Valkyries have six players signed to guaranteed contracts: Burton, Thornton, Hayes, Williams, Stokes, and Kaila Charles. 

Add them to a group of four others expected to play key roles: Iliana Rupert, Janelle Salaün, Cecilia Zandalasini, and Jocytė. Kate Martin, who is signed to an unprotected rookie-scale contract, is also seemingly positioned to make the roster. 

That leaves just one full-time roster slot and two developmental opportunities. 

Nyanin didn’t disclose much in an elusive post-draft press conference, but she was direct about her expectations for camp, calling for “lots of competition” as the Valkyries sort through a talented group of players vying for the final spots. 

Nakase was a vocal advocate for a developmental pool throughout last season, especially amid crammed stretches on the WNBA’s compacted summer schedule. She emphasized rest and recovery as priorities, calling the added roster flexibility a “blessing” — not only for managing workloads but for creating opportunities in a league where earning a roster spot — even for top draft picks — is difficult given the volume of competition. 

A developmental player contract does not count against the salary cap, but players still receive a weekly stipend and full benefits. They can be activated for up to 12 games. 

The Valkyries entered training camp with 21 players, but under 2026 rules, only 18 can be present at any given time. With six arriving late from overseas — some having just wrapped EuroLeague play Sunday — availability during training camp will fluctuate.

That staggered arrival guarantees movement throughout camp, with roster cuts expected in waves. The organization forecasts a final roster announcement on the eve of the season opener in Seattle.

The candidates for the three final spots are taking shape — but it’s far too soon for any clarity.

Forward Marta Suárez, who was acquired in the draft-day trade for Flau’jae Johsnon, is an early front-runner but not the only young player who will have to earn her spot. The Valkyries’ 23rd pick, Ashlon Jackson, a 6-foot shooting guard from Duke, brings a scoring punch, perimeter skill, and great positional size in defensive matchups that Nakase and her staff will have to weigh against versatility and depth-chart needs. 

Two familiar players return to the mix in Kaitlyn Chen and Laeticia Amihere, both on training-camp deals after being part of last season’s roster. Each was waived during camp before being brought back a month into the season amid midseason international departures for EuroBasket competition. 

The Valkyries also added challengers in Greek center Mariella Fasoula and Australian sharpshooter Miela Sowah (another Duke product), both of whom enter camp as legitimate candidates to break through. Sowah, in particular, arrives off a strong overseas campaign as a high-volume 3-point shooter, while Fasoula would offer depth at center in tandem with Stokes and Rupert after Golden State lost Fagbenle in free agency. 

How can players vying for jobs make an impression?

“I want them to be themselves. I really do,” Nakase said. “This is why I have a great front office and leadership that picks players that fit our style. With that comes competitiveness, the high IQ, and the selflessness — those are all the qualities.”

The team has four additional training-camp signees — Bailey Maupin, Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda, Caroline Ducharme, and Cate Reese —  none of whom possess WNBA experience. The Valkyries’ third-round selection in this year’s draft, Kokoro Tanaka, a 5-foot-8 Japanese guard taken with the 38th pick, won’t join the team this season and will instead spend another season competing in her home country.