Of all the things that could’ve sent goosebumps down Natalie Nakase’s arms before Wednesday night’s game, it was a question about Temi Fagbenle.

Nakase smiled brightly, talking about missing the former Valkyries center who signed with Toronto on a one-year, $1 million contract in free agency — missing her as a human, as a locker-room presence, and as a person of many talents. But during the Valkyries’ first loss of Year 2, the basketball side of Fagbenle’s absence might have been what Nakase missed the most. 

The Valkyries’ first three games offered a bit of everything: a defensive master class — particularly against Phoenix — in disrupting passing lanes, flashes of Gabby Williams’ brilliance in transition, genuinely intriguing lineup versatility, and, on Wednesday night against the Sky, the clearest evidence yet of where this roster might still be vulnerable. 

Golden State’s frontcourt was unexpectedly thinned on the eve of the season when the team announced Iliana Rupert will miss the year because of pregnancy, prompting the Valkyries to file for a replacement contract 24 hours before opening night in Seattle. Rupert presumably would have been a regular member of the starting lineup, but her absence affects more than just rotations. 

The 6-foot-4 center brought a specific offensive dimension to the Valkyries’ system when she joined the team midway through Year 1 as a stretch big capable of pulling her defender away from the paint — creating space for Golden State’s guards to attack downhill and shooting the pick-and-pop three at a team-best 44.2% clip. 

Last year, Fagbenle quietly made much of Golden State’s ecosystem function. She wasn’t always stuffing the stat sheet, but she was consistently dependable in the interior and a connective piece who stabilized possessions on offense and defense. When Rupert entered the rotation, she gave the Valkyries a different element: spacing. Alternating between Fagbenle’s steadiness inside and Rupert’s stretch-five versatility allowed the Valkyries to attack defenses with contrasting looks — a balance that became key to their playoff push in the second half of the season. 

Nakase probably isn’t looking to replicate that exact balance — she repeatedly says she just wants her players to be themselves — but they still need to determine a frontcourt formula that works. 

Kiah Stokes had her best game in a Valkyries uniform Wednesday, brushing off a rough start for the 33-year-old center. She produced the physicality needed to combat Kamilla Cardoso underneath the basket, keeping her largely under control offensively while rebounding, protecting the rim, and threading some smart passes. 

In many ways, Stokes did exactly what Golden State needed defensively. Cardoso was not the player who buried the Valkyries. Chicago’s guards — Skylar Diggins, then Natasha Cloud, then Jacy Sheldon — were the ones who caught fire. 

But offensively, a five-out scheme with Stokes has limitations. She’s not a perimeter threat, which allowed Cardoso to camp in the paint, shrinking the floor and clogging the lanes to leave the Valkyries scrambling with pick-and-rolls late in the shot clock. That squeeze became especially problematic for a team whose offense depends primarily on pace and drive-and-spray creation. 

Still, there are encouraging developments in the frontcourt rotation. 

Laeticia Amihere was effective off the bench against Seattle and Phoenix — her leap from last season has been considerable. She’s a tenacious defender with the versatility to guard multiple positions, her confidence has improved playing in longer stretches compared to short spurts last season, and her mobility at the four or five gives Golden State a different kind of weapon. Alongside Janelle Salaün in smaller lineups, the Valkyries can force opposing bigs into uncomfortable matchups by dragging them away from the rim and making them defend in space.  

That versatility may become Golden State’s best counterpunch against bigger opponents. Nakase has emphasized combating interior size with transitional speed, switches, and varied defensive coverages. And through three games, the Valkyries have proved that they can be disruptive. 

Is that enough to build a contender? WNBA championship teams are anchored by dominant interior players. Most title-winning rosters have superstar bigs — A’ja Wilson, Jonquel Jones, Breanna Stewart, Candace Parker, Emma Meesseman, Elena Delle Donne. Even as perimeter-oriented stars like Caitlin Clark evolve the game stylistically (similarly to how Steph Curry changed the NBA), elite size continues to be a separator, particularly in the postseason. 

And if the Valkyries are serious about climbing into that tier, or at least taking a step forward after an impressive debut season, frontcourt depth must be more than just a nice-to-have luxury.

The roster does not need a blockbuster trade three games into the season. GM Ohemaa Nyanin, who bet everything on continuity, wouldn’t do that anyway. But as trade conversations start to sprout around the league in the coming months, the Valkyries should remain open to moves. 

Another option in the frontcourt, particularly with players already injured, could keep the team afloat down the stretch. 

Three games in, the Valkyries have already shown they can pressure teams and create chaos. The biggest questions they must answer are whether they have enough size, versatility, and frontcourt sustainability to survive against contending teams.