The WNBA draft is kinda fucked because it happens like a week after the tournament so there's no way these teams are drafting on complete information, if she got cut pre-training camp I gotta assume it was a pretty huge medical red flag that would be hard to get through the NBA pre-draft process.
Any idea if Carla Leite is going to be in training camp? Or is she skipping this season and staying in France? I read that she's the MVP of the Euro cup womens 2025.
Nice! I think Leite has a good chance of making the roster - or maybe even starting as the PG. From the clips, she doesn't seem to have the "superstar shot-creation" talent that can scramble a defense. But she's fundamentally solid and can run an offense. Think Alex Smith from the 49ers back in the day.
You wrote that Cunane and Salaun aren’t there but will be there soon. Is everyone else on the 18 person roster physically there? Particularly wondering about Leite…
Her article implied that everyone else was there in-person, but checking for confirmation. And in case it’s not clear, Leite is on the 18 player roster in the parent article.
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.
Yes, that's what I'm saying. They do not have any superstars.
There are some options -- a) Tank, and hope to get lucky in the draft. b) There are some good veteran players out there that are probably available = like Tina Charles or Cheyenne Parker. These types of players can create their own shot from the post. c.) They could try to trade for talented players who won't really have much playing time with their current teams. Marine Johannes, Li Yueru and Han Xu come to mind.
Interesting. Sellers maybe? We'll see if someone can grow into a shot creator, or I guess we'll wait for Jocyte to save us in July? Or maybe not, if that would threaten good lottery position
Sellers is a very solid, 2-way player. Maybe she can grow to become a shot-creator. We'll see. All the players so far are solid players with good fundamentals and positive attitudes who play the right way. But it would be like watching the 2019-2020 Warriors where Kerr was getting players to play his system the right way. But no Steph, no Klay, no KD.
Still excited to see how it turns out. Hopefully they'll surprise us.
Jocyte could be that shot-creator. She is definitely a solid player with good fundamentals and good IQ. Hopefully, she can be similar to peak Goran Dragic. (she's a lefty, has a similar form and similar game)
For me, a shot-creator is someone who will draw double-teams in isolation, or cause the defense to scramble when running a pick and roll. Example - when Caitlin Clark runs a high pick and roll, it's going to create a shot depending on how the defense reacts. When the Lynx's Napheesa Collier sets a high screen, then gets a mismatch when she dives - it causes the defense to scramble - which creates open shots for others. Currently, there's a free agent Chennedy Carter who has that talent. She can run pick and rolls and create her own shot. But she's also known to create locker room problems with immaturity.
But yes - hopefully, the Valks can draft better than Bob out of that 2019-2020 tank season.
Should have taken Paopao
At this point, any pick would have been better than Sellers. But I guess it was a high risk high reward move that busted.
The WNBA draft is kinda fucked because it happens like a week after the tournament so there's no way these teams are drafting on complete information, if she got cut pre-training camp I gotta assume it was a pretty huge medical red flag that would be hard to get through the NBA pre-draft process.
It’s crazy. They do reach out for player interviews, but it’s kind of insane to have to draft a player with no combine and no team workouts.
New (pre) season. Bring it on.
Any idea if Carla Leite is going to be in training camp? Or is she skipping this season and staying in France? I read that she's the MVP of the Euro cup womens 2025.
Marisa Ingemi @mingemi.bsky.social replied:
[[
It looks like Cunane is here today for the first time! I don’t see Salaun but yes to everyone else.
]]
So, yes Leite is in camp!
Nice! I think Leite has a good chance of making the roster - or maybe even starting as the PG. From the clips, she doesn't seem to have the "superstar shot-creation" talent that can scramble a defense. But she's fundamentally solid and can run an offense. Think Alex Smith from the 49ers back in the day.
I asked Chron beat reporter Ingemi this just now:
[[
You wrote that Cunane and Salaun aren’t there but will be there soon. Is everyone else on the 18 person roster physically there? Particularly wondering about Leite…
Keep up the tireless work!
]]
https://bsky.app/profile/ericapricot.bsky.social/post/3lnvk6gepl22e
Her article implied that everyone else was there in-person, but checking for confirmation. And in case it’s not clear, Leite is on the 18 player roster in the parent article.
Anyone found a way to add the Valkyrie’s schedule to your calendar? Looking to add them to ICal. Unsuccessful so far.
Check out the little “Add to Calendar” link at https://valkyries.wnba.com/schedule?season=2025&month=all&location=all&opponent=all
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.
Aren't you essentially saying they have no offensive superstars? How would they achieve such a player?
Yes, that's what I'm saying. They do not have any superstars.
There are some options -- a) Tank, and hope to get lucky in the draft. b) There are some good veteran players out there that are probably available = like Tina Charles or Cheyenne Parker. These types of players can create their own shot from the post. c.) They could try to trade for talented players who won't really have much playing time with their current teams. Marine Johannes, Li Yueru and Han Xu come to mind.
Interesting. Sellers maybe? We'll see if someone can grow into a shot creator, or I guess we'll wait for Jocyte to save us in July? Or maybe not, if that would threaten good lottery position
Sellers is a very solid, 2-way player. Maybe she can grow to become a shot-creator. We'll see. All the players so far are solid players with good fundamentals and positive attitudes who play the right way. But it would be like watching the 2019-2020 Warriors where Kerr was getting players to play his system the right way. But no Steph, no Klay, no KD.
Still excited to see how it turns out. Hopefully they'll surprise us.
That’s an interesting comparison, 2019-20 GSW. Hopefully GSV can draft better than that team…
Jocyte could be that shot-creator. She is definitely a solid player with good fundamentals and good IQ. Hopefully, she can be similar to peak Goran Dragic. (she's a lefty, has a similar form and similar game)
For me, a shot-creator is someone who will draw double-teams in isolation, or cause the defense to scramble when running a pick and roll. Example - when Caitlin Clark runs a high pick and roll, it's going to create a shot depending on how the defense reacts. When the Lynx's Napheesa Collier sets a high screen, then gets a mismatch when she dives - it causes the defense to scramble - which creates open shots for others. Currently, there's a free agent Chennedy Carter who has that talent. She can run pick and rolls and create her own shot. But she's also known to create locker room problems with immaturity.
But yes - hopefully, the Valks can draft better than Bob out of that 2019-2020 tank season.