Valkyries training camp roster finalized; #5 pick Jocyte may join after June Eurobasket?
18 players competing for up to 12 spots, it could be fierce
Training Camp roster announced
The Golden State Valkyries announced today its 18-player training camp roster, which tips off at the Sephora Performance Center in Oakland on Sunday, April 27.
2025 draftees Shyanne Sellers (17th overall) and Kaitlyn Chen (30th overall) will attend training camp. Nine expansion draft selections will also report: Monique Billings, Veronica Burton, Temi Fágbénlé, Carla Leite, Kate Martin, Stephanie Talbot, Kayla Thornton, Julie Vanloo and Cecilia Zandalasini.
Elissa Cunane and Janelle Salaün will report to training camp following the conclusion of their international commitments.
A full training camp roster can be found at the end.
Who’s likely to make the final 12?
Richard Cohen has a nice overview of who’s likely to make the final 12.
PG: Veronica Burton/Carla Leite/Julie Vanloo
SG: Tiffany Hayes(/Justė Jocytė)/Mamignan Touré/Kate Martin/Kaitlyn Chen
SF: Stephanie Talbot/Cecilia Zandalasini/Janelle Salaün/Shyanne Sellers
PF: Kayla Thornton/Monique Billings/Laeticia Amihere/Chloe Bibby
C: Temi Fagbenle/Kyara Linskens/Elissa Cunane
The only players I have as locks above are those with guaranteed money and No. 5 pick Justė Jocytė…
(go read the whole thing!)
There are certainly other players on the roster that I'd be surprised to see cut. Leite and Salaün are both very talented young French players; Fagbenle is their only center with meaningful WNBA experience; Burton, Vanloo and Zandalasini have all shown useful WNBA-level skills in recent years; Martin looked good in Unrivaled and brings along her remarkable fanbase.
A WNBA roster has 12 players. In case you’re counting, that’s 5 locks plus 7 surprised if cut. Cohen’s 12 would leave out:
#17 pick Sellers
#30 pick Chen
Cult figure Amihere
Respected Cunane…
HOWEVER:
Also bear in mind that teams can keep 12 and 'temporarily suspend' additional players who haven't yet shown up, as long as they have the cap space. With all the international players on this roster, and a EuroBasket Women taking place in June, the Valkyries may well take advantage of that option.
It seems likely that GSV will try to stash (i.e. suspend their contracts and let them play as pros overseas) as many of these players as possible using this option.
What stands out to me is that I do not see a single player in the list that can "bend the defense" - attract double-teams, cause the defense to scramble to generate open shots for others. I see solid role players all around. But playoff teams have players who can bend the defense with their gravity. For example - a Caitlin Clark high PNR with Boston will cause the defense to collapse. Arike at Dallas commands a double-team. Phee Collier at Minny will command a double-team, or she will score in isolation. Stewie with the Liberty is the same, and she's surrounded by other players who also have strong gravity. None of the Valkyrie players in the roster - as far as I know - have strong gravity. It will be interesting to see how they play and what schemes Coach Nakase will use.
Should have taken Paopao