The Golden State Valkyries were riding high just over a year ago after the team built its first-ever roster through the December 2024 Expansion Draft. Unfortunately, the Valkyries find themselves on the other side of the table this time around, and there's no nice way to word it: Golden State could be in for a heap of trouble once the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire have made their selections.
The Valkyries smashed every limiting expectation that was placed on them this season. They destroyed the idea that expansion teams can't be great, and essentially hand painted the blueprint the Tempo and Fire will likely consult. But all that success means there are plenty of eyes on them, and that means their roster is probably in trouble.
Who the Golden State Valkyries will protect in the expansion draft
The list of players the team should protect is much longer than the projected five they will be allowed to retain, but the top of the list has to be Veronica Burton, who fought her way back from getting waived by the Wings in 2024 to this season's Most Improved Player. Burton also racked up accolades at AmeriCup, attended Team USA's training camp this month, and will make her Unrivaled debut in January.
The Valkyries are also likely to keep veteran Kayla Thorton on the roster, especially since she has become part of the heart of the organization, and she's available to be cored. That leaves Juste Jocyte, who is likely safe despite not traveling to the US to play for the team in 2025.
The final two protected players could include a whole host of options, but the team is likely to hang on to Janelle Salaun. The final spot will come down to the specific vision the Valkyries have, but Carla Leite and Iliana Rupert are both strong candidates.
Of course, that leaves a lot of incredible players — athletes who are just as central to the team and brand identity Golden State very carefully crafted all season — on the table, and that hurts. The list of potentially unprotected players includes Tiffany Hayes, Kate Martin, Laeticia Amihere, Kaitlyn Chen, Temi Fagbenle, Maria Conde, Monique Billings, and Cecilia Zandalasini.
The good news? The Tempo and Fire can't take them all, even if they might want to. The bad news? They will definitely try to take one or two players from that list.