The Valkyries did not expect to be in that aforementioned bottom tier heading in 2025, but the offseason has not gone as planned for the league’s newest team. Although Golden State is in a major market with high-end facilities, the Valkyries couldn’t convince any noteworthy free agents to take a chance on an expansion squad, despite reportedly pursuing Plum, Jones and Vandersloot. It’s a result that further calls into question Golden State’s expansion draft strategy. The Valkyries selected players who could complement stars, but no one who could be an engine for their offense. It seemed curious at the time that the franchise wouldn’t try to secure more future assets from the expansion draft process, and the decision looks worse in hindsight.
Not clear to me. Teams protected their six best players leaving the Valkyries is the choice of players 7 to 12. The seventh best player on a team is usually not the engine for that team’s offense. So how were they supposed to find that engine through the draft?
The one choice I didn’t understand was Billings. There were numerous UFAs who were not cored and would’ve been good choices.
Dallas Wings is trading Jacy Sheldon and the 2025 No. 8 pick to the Connecticut Sun for DiJonai Carrington, the 2025 No. 12 pick, and the right to swap 2026 second round picks
]]
I can’t even track all the DAL moves. I believe the traded half the team and acquired half the other WNBA players?
I assume the bigger picture is DAL is trying to make it attractive for Paige to come
Kate Martin and the Laces play Saturday 2/1 at 4:15 on Trutv.
Laces lost today by two points, 73-75, in a ferociously competitive game. Martin’s inexperience showed through in this game. IMO. Great learning experiences for her, however.
SF Chronicle says top 3 GSV free agent targets have all ended up elsewhere: Kelsey Plum (Traded to SEA), Brionna Jones (ATL), Courtney Vandersloot (CHI).
BREAKING: The Phoenix Mercury are acquiring Satou Sabally from the Dallas Wings in a three-team trade, sources tell Kendra Andrews and Alexa Philippou.
Wow, Phoenix. Anyone know if they could theoretically afford a contract for Bonner? If they could bring her in, I wonder if DT would play on a minimum. Because that’s a title contender. Just need another shooter or two off the bench.
The Dallas Wings are reportedly trading Sabally, Kalani Brown, and Sevgi Uzun to the Mercury, while Phoenix will send Sophie Cunningham and the No. 19 pick to the Fever. Additionally, Dallas is set to receive NaLyssa Smith and the No. 8 pick from Indiana, as well as Ty Harris and the rights to Kiki Herbert Harrigan from Phoenix.
[[ Might not be announced for a bit, but UFA Monique Billings, selected in the expansion draft, is indeed signing with the Golden State Valkyries, per source. ]]
BREAKING: Brittney Griner has agreed to a deal with the Atlanta Dream, a league source confirms to @benpickman.bsky.social.
]]
Shams adds:
[[ After 11 seasons in Phoenix, 10-time WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner has agreed to a deal with the Atlanta Dream, sources tell me and @alexaphilippou. Griner spent her entire career with Mercury and now heads to Atlanta in one of most stunning free agency moves in league history. ]]
And PHX responds by trading for Alyssa Thomas! (with DeWanna Bonner incoming??)
That's a paradigm-shifting trade. Thomas-Bonner-Copper would also give them the most intense and physically competitive lineup in the league. Should be really fun to watch.
“In just 11 minutes of action during the Laces 83-79 victory over the Vinyl, Martin recorded 11 points on 5-for-11 shooting (1-for-5 from three) with 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal. She had a couple signature highlights, an impressive pass on her lone assist and some crafty finishes inside the arc against defenders with significant size advantages on the guard.”
[[ Blockbuster WNBA deal: The Seattle Storm are trading six-time All-Star Jewell Loyd to the Las Vegas Aces in a multi-team move that sends three-time All-Star Kelsey Plum to the Los Angeles Sparks, sources tell ESPN. ]]
No, she hasn’t. Deadline to declare last year was April 1 or, if still in NCAA tournament, 48 hours after last game. I assume the dates are similar this year.
New thread to confirm the Monique Billings signing. https://valkyrienation.substack.com/p/valkyries-sign-free-agent-monique
Valkyries FO 🤝 Warriors FO
Disappointing their fans by missing out on any splash moves
The Athletic agrees:
( Under the off season losers section)
Golden State Valkyries
The Valkyries did not expect to be in that aforementioned bottom tier heading in 2025, but the offseason has not gone as planned for the league’s newest team. Although Golden State is in a major market with high-end facilities, the Valkyries couldn’t convince any noteworthy free agents to take a chance on an expansion squad, despite reportedly pursuing Plum, Jones and Vandersloot. It’s a result that further calls into question Golden State’s expansion draft strategy. The Valkyries selected players who could complement stars, but no one who could be an engine for their offense. It seemed curious at the time that the franchise wouldn’t try to secure more future assets from the expansion draft process, and the decision looks worse in hindsight.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6107950/2025/02/03/wnba-free-agency-winners-losers-fever-valkyries?source=user-shared-article
Not clear to me. Teams protected their six best players leaving the Valkyries is the choice of players 7 to 12. The seventh best player on a team is usually not the engine for that team’s offense. So how were they supposed to find that engine through the draft?
The one choice I didn’t understand was Billings. There were numerous UFAs who were not cored and would’ve been good choices.
Yes, 2025 is going to involve a lot of losing. But given the league-wide reset coming for 2026, I can understand their high-risk strategy for 2025.
Where did the top free agents sign?
Brittney Griner (agreed to deal with Atlanta Dream)
Diana Taurasi
Nneka Ogwumike (stayed with Seattle Storm)
Brionna Jones (agreed to deal with Atlanta Dream)
DeWanna Bonner (agreed to deal with Indiana Fever)
Natasha Howard (agreed to deal with Indiana Fever)
Courtney Vandersloot (agreed to deal with Chicago Sky)
Chennedy Carter (RFA)
Cheyenne Parker
Kia Nurse (agreed to deal with Chicago Sky)
Aerial Powers
Tina Charles (agreed to deal with Connecticut Sun)
Erica Wheeler
Cored players like Sabally, Et Al were traded. Others, like Stewie, stayed with their teams.
NBC Sports
Marisa Ingemi @mingemi.bsky.social:
[[ another Valkyries target off the board who really seemed realistic for them
Per @alexaphilippou.bsky.social, free agent center Tina Charles is signing with the Connecticut Sun
]]
Across the timeline says:
[[
REPORTED
Dallas Wings is trading Jacy Sheldon and the 2025 No. 8 pick to the Connecticut Sun for DiJonai Carrington, the 2025 No. 12 pick, and the right to swap 2026 second round picks
]]
I can’t even track all the DAL moves. I believe the traded half the team and acquired half the other WNBA players?
I assume the bigger picture is DAL is trying to make it attractive for Paige to come
Kate Martin and the Laces play Saturday 2/1 at 4:15 on Trutv.
Laces lost today by two points, 73-75, in a ferociously competitive game. Martin’s inexperience showed through in this game. IMO. Great learning experiences for her, however.
[[ NEWS: Nneka Ogwumike is re-signing with the Seattle Storm ]]
https://bsky.app/profile/theathletic.bsky.social/post/3lh3asv3po22j
Seems all the All-Star free agents are accounted for. Hopefully GSV can sign from the next tier of players.
SF Chronicle says top 3 GSV free agent targets have all ended up elsewhere: Kelsey Plum (Traded to SEA), Brionna Jones (ATL), Courtney Vandersloot (CHI).
Still hopeful, but not many big splashes left.
BREAKING: The Phoenix Mercury are acquiring Satou Sabally from the Dallas Wings in a three-team trade, sources tell Kendra Andrews and Alexa Philippou.
https://bsky.app/profile/espn.com/post/3lh3awi3oly2h
Boo, was hoping the Vs could get Satou
Wow, Phoenix. Anyone know if they could theoretically afford a contract for Bonner? If they could bring her in, I wonder if DT would play on a minimum. Because that’s a title contender. Just need another shooter or two off the bench.
https://herhoopstats.com/salary-cap-sheet/wnba/team/2024/phoenix-mercury-11eaecc7-357f-c1ca-b611-2362f5011b0b/
This looks like a lot of space to me but I guess it depends what every player signs for
The Dallas Wings are reportedly trading Sabally, Kalani Brown, and Sevgi Uzun to the Mercury, while Phoenix will send Sophie Cunningham and the No. 19 pick to the Fever. Additionally, Dallas is set to receive NaLyssa Smith and the No. 8 pick from Indiana, as well as Ty Harris and the rights to Kiki Herbert Harrigan from Phoenix.
MSN
Kaye Martin plays for Laces BBall club tomorrow at 5:30 PM on TNT or Trutv.
The undefeated Laces! So far.
[[ Might not be announced for a bit, but UFA Monique Billings, selected in the expansion draft, is indeed signing with the Golden State Valkyries, per source. ]]
https://bsky.app/profile/mingemi.bsky.social/post/3lgtgm5qxr22y
The Athletic reports:
[[
BREAKING: Brittney Griner has agreed to a deal with the Atlanta Dream, a league source confirms to @benpickman.bsky.social.
]]
Shams adds:
[[ After 11 seasons in Phoenix, 10-time WNBA All-Star Brittney Griner has agreed to a deal with the Atlanta Dream, sources tell me and @alexaphilippou. Griner spent her entire career with Mercury and now heads to Atlanta in one of most stunning free agency moves in league history. ]]
And PHX responds by trading for Alyssa Thomas! (with DeWanna Bonner incoming??)
That's a paradigm-shifting trade. Thomas-Bonner-Copper would also give them the most intense and physically competitive lineup in the league. Should be really fun to watch.
Look at our guy Nick U'Ren making deals 🥹
Had no idea U’Ren was their GM. That’s awesome!
Rupert and possibly Thorton playing for Euroleague ZVVZ 1/28 at 10AM
UPDATE: 1/28 no Rupert or Thorton in this game. Seems different teammates every game.
Article on Kate Martin, off the bench…
“In just 11 minutes of action during the Laces 83-79 victory over the Vinyl, Martin recorded 11 points on 5-for-11 shooting (1-for-5 from three) with 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal. She had a couple signature highlights, an impressive pass on her lone assist and some crafty finishes inside the arc against defenders with significant size advantages on the guard.”
https://www.goldenstateofmind.com/2025/1/26/24351270/unrivaled-valkyries-kate-martin-shines-laces-victory-over-vinyl?ueid=0efcf2e67f7fa9a4cff407cd33ed8523&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Golden%20State%20of%20Mind%20Daily%20Roundup%202025-01-27&utm_term=Golden%20State%20of%20Mind
The dream is over…
Shams:
[[ Blockbuster WNBA deal: The Seattle Storm are trading six-time All-Star Jewell Loyd to the Las Vegas Aces in a multi-team move that sends three-time All-Star Kelsey Plum to the Los Angeles Sparks, sources tell ESPN. ]]
Kevin Pelton: [[ Grading the blockbuster WNBA trade sending Jewell Loyd to the Aces, Kelsey Plum to the Sparks and the No. 2 pick to the Storm, including a breakdown of the monster pick offer Seattle can now make to move up to No. 1: https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/43558855/wnba-trade-grades-2025-free-agency-winners-losers
]]
Has Bueckers declared for the draft, tho?
No, she hasn’t. Deadline to declare last year was April 1 or, if still in NCAA tournament, 48 hours after last game. I assume the dates are similar this year.
Interesting trade for all sides. The possibility of Seattle moving up to get Bueckers is pretty stirring for the Storm fan in me.
Kate Martin and the Laces play tomorrow, Jan. 27, at ~5:30 PM, on TNT.