The Valkyries wasted no time establishing a winning culture and competing for the playoffs. They set the record for most wins by an expansion team in its first season and are in a great position to clinch a playoff spot soon. A lot of the credit for that early success goes to Natalie Nakase for building a great culture and getting the best out of her team and to the players, who bought into Nakase’s defensive-minded, gritty system. The ownership and its willingness to invest in the team also played a big part in Golden State’s success.
While fans don’t regularly see General Manager Ohemaa Nyanin on the court or the bench, she should not be forgotten when it comes to giving credit for the Valkyries’ early success. She is the mastermind behind the Valkyries’ roster construction.
After the Valkyries’ most recent win over the defending champions, which put them well within reach of clinching a playoff spot, Nakase said that her team’s success was a “credit to Jess [Smith], to Ohemaa [Nyanin].”
Ohemaa Nyanin took a unique approach to building the Valkyries’ first roster
When the Valkyries were announced as the first of several expansion teams, fans were incredibly excited. However, few likely expected the team to be so good so quickly. Expansion teams tend to struggle for a few seasons while they try to amass young talent and build a strong foundation for the future.
The Valkyries didn’t do that. They have interesting young players—Laeticia Amihere, Kaitlyn Chen, Carla Leite, Iliana Rupert, Veronica Burton, Kate Martin, and Janelle Salaün are all 25 or younger—but getting a young, well-known star to build around wasn’t the Valkyries’ priority.
They had plenty of chances to select young talent in the expansion draft, but chose to go with more experienced players who could take on a big role and contribute right away. For example, Nyanin chose to select Cecilia Zandalasini from the Lynx instead of Diamond Miller or Alissa Pili, and picked Julie Vanloo from the Mystics over someone like Emily Englster.
Even most of the young players on the roster are experienced and weren’t fazed when asked to take on big roles. Salaün, Leite, and Rupert played professionally in Europe for a few years before joining the Valkyries, and Burton is already in her fourth WNBA season. Next year, 2025 first-round pick Juste Jocyte should join the Valkyries. She also has experience playing professionally in Europe.
By focusing on experienced players who could contribute immediately, Nyanin built a roster that allowed Nakase to establish a cohesive and mostly consistent system. The Valkyries entered the season without a clear-cut star. While Kayla Thornton took on that role, the rest of the Valkyries’ roster is still very interchangeable. Several players can fill similar roles without much drop-off compared to the first option and the second or third.
For example, going from relying on Thornton to lead the charge on the wing to making Salaün and Zandalasini the top options at that position isn’t a massive drop-off. Similarly, Nakase can rotate Rupert, Fagbenle, and Billings and get consistent production at the center position for 40 minutes.
The Valkyries still have work to do to build a true contender
By now, Golden State has established itself as an organization that players should want to play for. They have great facilities, a dedicated fanbase, and a winning culture. So, after a successful first season, Nyanin might have a lot more options to choose from when it comes to building next year’s roster. The Valkyries should draw attention in free agency, especially considering how many players will enter unrestricted free agency. They will need that attention to build a true contender. Making the playoffs is one thing, but emerging as a true championship contender is another.
Nyanin has experience building a championship contender after she helped construct the Liberty’s title team.