The Golden State Valkyries set the bar high for new expansion teams. Golden State was the first expansion team to make the playoffs in its first season. While the Tempo and Fire might not be able to replicate the Valkyries’ overall success, there are some valuable lessons to be learned.
Toronto doesn’t have a single player on its roster yet. Instead of deciding which players to re-sign and which to replace and exploring possible trades, the franchise will have to prepare for the offseason by examining which players they would like to have on the team’s first roster. The Tempo may follow in the Valkyries’ footsteps when it comes to signing international players.
When Brondello appeared on In Case You Missed It with Khristina Williams, she said, “I would imagine we’re gonna have a lot of international players.” She also noted how great it would be to have some Canadian players on the roster.
Golden State found great success with international players
The Valkyries couldn’t attract many free agents ahead of their inaugural season despite their modern facilities. Most of the top players still viewed joining an expansion team as a risk. So, they filled out their roster with role players they could get in the expansion draft and international talent.
The Valkyries’ roster featured six international players at the end of the season. Carla Leite, Iliana Rupert, and Janelle Salaün are all from France, Cecilia Zandalasini is Italian, Temi Fagbenle went to high school in London, and Laeticia Amihere is from Canada. Julie Vanloo and Chloe Bibby, who are both Belgian, and Australian forward Stephanie Talbot also had stints with the team.
Leite, Salaün, Rupert, and Zandalasini all joined the Valkyries with little or no WNBA experience after years of playing in Europe. None of them played college basketball in the U.S. That experience of playing professionally in Europe, usually starting at a young age, helped them make an immediate impact. It also means they weren’t fazed by the challenge of taking on a big role for the team and leading it to the playoffs.
There’s plenty of Canadian talent for the Tempo to chase
There are a few Canadians among the abundance of international talent in the U.S, most notably Bridget Carleton, Kia Nurse, Aaliyah Edwards, and Laeticia Amihere. Carleton and Nurse would be great veterans to have on an expansion team, and Amihere could offer some interesting young talent to develop. Edwards is under contract with the Sun and likely a part of the organization’s plans for the future.
Natalie Achonwa also played in the WNBA until recently, and Kayla Alexander is playing pretty well for Valencia in Spain. On top of that, some interesting Canadian talent is set to come out of the college ranks soon.
Duke star Toby Fournier is currently in her sophomore season and will be draft eligible in 2028 under the current CBA. Fournier is from Toronto and would be an amazing get for the local team. Syla Swords is also in her sophomore season at Michigan. Cassandre Prosper is currently in her best season at Notre Dame yet, averaging 18.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 steals, and 1.5 blocks over the first four games of her senior season.