When the Golden State Valkyries selected Juste Jocyte with the fifth overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, they took many people by surprise. The Lithuanian guard is not incredibly well-known in the U.S. yet, and many fans expected the Valkyries to select a big college star to draw fans to their games.
Jocytė didn’t join the Valkyries this season but is expected to next year. Valkyries fans can still get a first glimpse of her game, though. Jocyte is currently competing in EuroBasket for the Lithuanian national team. She made quite the statement in her first game.
Juste Jocyte had a great EuroBasket debut
This year is Juste Jocyte’s first time playing in EuroBasket with the Lithuanian senior national team. She previously competed in the U16 and U18 EuroBasket competitions. It is also the first time since 2015 that Lithuania made the tournament. The team got to celebrate its return to EuroBasket with a big 77-71 win over Slovenia. Jocyte led the charge for her team.
At 19, Jocyte is the youngest player on the Lithuanian national team and one of only five players born in the 2000s. Being the youngest player on the team didn’t hold her back from also being the best player in Lithuania’s opening game, though.
Jocyte emerged as her team’s main scoring option right from the bat. She scored the first two baskets in the game to give Lithuania a 5-0 lead. The teenager finished the game with a very efficient 17 points, three rebounds, six assists, and two blocks. She led the team in points and assists. The only player who scored more points in the game was Jessica Shepard who impressed with a 25-point 18-rebound double-double.
Jocyte showed her ability to hit jumpers from various distances, get to the rim, and make plays for her teammates.
The Valkyries get to see a glimpse of their future
The Valkyries surprised many people when they entered the 2025 season without any of their first-ever draft picks and quickly made it clear that they wouldn’t be chasing a lottery pick. Golden State is walking a fine line between building for the future and winning now.
They have been able to combine developing Veronica Burton, Janelle Salaün, Carla Leite, and Kate Martin with winning games. They have already exceeded or matched the win total the last two expansion teams accomplished in their inaugural seasons.
The Valkyries already have a young core ready to help a team win now. Juste Jocyte just reminded everyone what else the Valkyries have stored away, ready to make an impact soon. Once Jocyte joins the Valkyries, the team will have a young player who can produce well beyond her years. With Jocyte, the Valkyries will get a tough shotmaker and talented scorer. A young trio of Burton, Salaün, and Jocyte will be difficult to contain, especially with the right veterans around them.