Four big-time stars are set to enter unrestricted free agency after this season, and all four could change next year’s championship race if they leave their current teams. Kelsey Mitchell just set a new single-season scoring record; Napheesa Collier was the MVP runner-up twice before missing most of this season with ankle injuries; Jackie Young has been the second-best player on a championship contender for years now; and Kelsey Plum was socring at an MVP level before an injury cut her season short.
The Valkyries have proven that they don’t need a superstar to contend for a championship. Gabby Williams, with a deep and versatile supporting cast around her, was enough to carry the team to the finals in its second year of existence. Still, no matter the outcome of this year’s finals, they will certainly consider adding a superstar next to her, and they are in an ideal position to negotiate with all four of the top unrestricted free agents.
They have cap space, great facilities and fans, and can promise immediate on-court success.
The Valkyries can make strong cases to any of those four players
The Valkyries’ connection to Napheesa Collier is perhaps the most obvious one. Ever since Collier was cored by the Minnesota Lynx and signed a one-year contract, Golden State has been a rumored destination for her. She played with Gabby Williams in college and in Europe and fits the team’s defensive identity. She could also compete for a title right away in Golden State, whereas the Lynx seem farther away from title contention than they may have appeared to be during the regular season.
Jackie Young also has an obvious connection to the Valkyries. She played with Kiah Stokes and Tiffany Hayes in Las Vegas, where Natalie Nakase was an assistant coach. If she decides that it’s time for a change, she may as well consider the team that swept the Aces in the semifinals.
Kelsey Plum has been another long-rumored target for the Valkyries. If she doesn’t want to stay in Phoenix, the Valkyries may be her next best option. She wouldn’t lose out on any of the facility benefits that playing for the Mercury offers, and she could compete for a title with a gritty, hard-nosed team.
Last but not least, the Valkyries could also make an intriguing offer to Kelsey Mitchell. The Valkyries are obviously a few steps ahead of the Indiana Fever, so she could be the best scorer on a championship favorite and deal with a very different fan base. In her exit interview, Mitchell talked about how difficult it can be to be a Fever player and all of the toxicity from the fanbase.
Valkyries players have made no such claims about their fanbase and usually perform in front of a dedicated, adoring crowd of roughly 18,000 people. If Mitchell wants to compete for a title without the kind of drama that follows the Fever, the Bay Area might be the place for her.
Add us as a preferred source on Google