The Golden State Valkyries have entered their first official WNBA free agency period and could make a splash by adding to the players they selected in the expansion draft.
Players like Breanna Stewart and Kelsey Plum headline the list of 2025 free agents, but perhaps the biggest surprise on the list is Chennedy Carter. The Sky didn't give the guard a qualifying offer, meaning she's an unrestricted free agent. The move shocked many, including Chicago fans, after Carter's resurgent 2024 season.
The Athletic's Sabreena Merchant made several free agency predictions, including saying the Valkyries will sign Carter (subscription required). While it might sound logical for a new expansion team like the Valkyries to pursue a talented guard like Carter, there are reasons for the front office to be skeptical, like her exit from Chicago.
Valkyries shouldn't pursue guard Chennedy Carter in WNBA free agency
Annie Costabile of the Chicago Sun-Times gave insight into why the Sky let Carter walk in free agency (subscription required):
"According to multiple league sources, players were unhappy with the dynamic created in the locker room last year due to Carter's behavior, which went unchecked by former coach Teresa Weatherspoon. There was concern within the team regarding how re-signing Carter would impact the Sky's chances of landing other free agents."
It's enough to make you wonder what team is interested in signing Carter, even after she averaged 17.5 points per game last season for Chicago. Having her lead the Valkyries' offense would be fun to watch, but the off-court issues could derail the culture Golden State is creating.
Head coach Natalie Nakase said the Valkyries are excited to intentionally select the players they want to be on the roster. One qualification Nakase mentioned is players with "high character" who put "the team before self at all times." The reasoning behind Carter's departures from her former teams should be enough to keep Golden State away.
The Valkyries are poised to be one of the top well-run WNBA organizations and could make noise sooner than expected for an expansion team. Golden State has the start of a solid roster after the expansion draft and will continue to build on that in free agency and the WNBA draft. It doesn't seem like Carter fits into their plan, but that's not saying the Valkyries won't take a flier on her.
Watching how free agency plays out is always interesting, but watching where Carter ends up adds another layer of intrigue. Hopefully, she winds up in a situation that's beneficial for both sides.