After the Golden State Valkyries became the first expansion team to make the playoffs in its inaugural season, expectations for their offseason were high. After all, who wouldn’t want to play for a team with a winning culture, an amazing fan base, and an owner willing to invest in their players?
The big splash many had expected didn’t come. The Valkyries signed Gabby Williams, a one-time WNBA All-Star at the time, and Kiah Stokes, who averaged just one point per game for the Las Vegas Aces last year, returned most of last season’s roster, and traded Flau’jae Johnson for basically nothing.
Turns out, those additions were exactly what the Valkyries needed to go from being swept in the first round to the finals. Williams is thriving in the Valkyries’ system, playing like one of the best players in the world in the postseason, and Stokes has been one of the most impactful defenders in the W. Up 1-0 against the Atlanta Dream, the Valkyries have a pretty good chance to win a title in their second season.
The scary part is that this is still just the beginning. No matter the outcome of these finals, the Valkyries can still become a lot better.
The Valkyries could dominate the WNBA for years
The Valkyries made it to the finals with only one million-dollar player in Gabby Williams. Even with Williams, Veronica Burton, Kaila Charles, and Kiah Stokes locked into protected veteran contracts, the Valkyries will have the opportunity to really make a big splash in free agency after this year. Napheesa Collier, Kelsey Plum, Kelsey Mitchell, and Jackie Young are all unrestricted free agents. The first two have been linked to the Valkyries for a while, and there’s a good chance that they can lure at least one of those players away from their current teams.
The Valkyries really have no reason not to go star-chasing. If they lose the championship to the Dream, adding another star in free agency would give them a better chance to get back to the finals and win the second time around. If they win, adding another go-to offensive option would make them even scarier. Collier, in particular, would also fit the team’s defensive identity well as the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year.
Either way, the Valkyries have the system, identity, and infrastructure to become a playoff force and title contender for several years. The sky is the limit for them.
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