The Golden State Valkyries agreed to a contract with former Minnesota Lynx forward Cecilia Zandalasini on Friday, per the WNBA transactions page. The move gives the WNBA's 13th team extra depth ahead of their debut season in the league.
Golden State already had their expansion draft. The Valkyries are now preparing for the 2025 WNBA Draft. However, they are also able to add players through free agency and trades. Perhaps the Zandalasini signing will give the roster a boost during the upcoming campaign.
Cecilia Zandalasini's WNBA career
Zandalasini made her WNBA debut during the 2017 season with the Lynx. She played in only three games, though. In 2018, Zandalasini played in 29 games, starting six contests. She ended up recording per game averages of 5.7 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists per outing.
Zandalasini played fairly well in the '18 campaign. It seemed as if she was on the verge of playing a pivotal role on the Lynx's roster. In 2019, though, she did not appear in the league. In fact, Zandalasini would not return to the WNBA until 2024.
In 2024, Zandalasini returned to the Lynx and played in all 40 games, averaging 4.6 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists per outing. Now, she is set to join a new WNBA franchise.
Valkyries add depth to roster
Golden State likely won't compete for a championship in the team's first season in the WNBA. That doesn't mean they cannot make things interesting, however.
The Valkyries feature reliable WNBA players on the roster like Monique Billings, Tiffany Hayes and Temi Fagbenle. They have already begun to develop a quality core of players. Golden State needs to add a couple of stars in order to truly make noise in the WNBA standings, but they are on the right track as a WNBA expansion team.
Bringing in Cecilia Zandalasini will help the Valkyries. At 28 years old, Zandalasini has what it takes to positively impact a rather young roster. The 2025 season will serve as a building year for the Valkyries, so players with multiple years of experience in the league will certainly be especially valuable.
The Valkyries could make another roster move or two before the 2025 WNBA season gets underway. They probably will not make any especially notable moves, but anything can happen. Nevertheless, the Golden State Valkyries are preparing to begin their journey in the WNBA.