Training camp for the Golden State Valkyries began Sunday, and it sounds like the team needs still needs to solve at least one question before the season begins in May: who is going to do all of their scoring?
Kayla Thornton is back on the floor but may not play immediately, Natalie Nakase told reporters following the team's practice today. Thornton, who injured her knee last season and missed 22 games, is also the team's most impactful scorer. That's saying something, because it's well-known the Valkyries like to shoot — but it's still cause for concern.
To be fair, the Valkyries made it into the playoffs last season with Thornton off the floor, an incredible feat for an expansion team in its first year of play. So there are plenty of reasons to assume the team will be more than ready to go when the 2026 season begins, and perhaps concerns about scoring are unjustified. (Veronica Burton, also an excellent shooter, will likely have more than a little bit to say about all of that.)
The team also brought on Gabby Williams, who has one of the most decorated resumes in the WNBA. While she hasn't historically been a go-to shooter, she's definitely more than capable of leading the team as they navigate a second season under a lot of scrutiny. But the WNBA Draft didn't do the Valkyries any favors (or, perhaps, they didn't do themselves any favors after trading Flau'jae Johnson for Marta Suarez and a second-round pick), and right now, it just feels like there's a bit of a hole on the floor.
The Valkyries know how to innovate
If Golden State proved anything last year (and they proved a lot), it's that the team's roster is pretty fearless when it comes to innovation. Granted, this year's team isn't exactly the same as last year's, but it's not too far off, either. It might take a few games, but odds are still great that Golden State continues to build off last year's success, especially once they solve their shooter question.
Until now, it's time to buckle in and see what Nakase has in store for the rest of the league. The Valkyries' front office spent a lot of the offseason in conversation with their scouts, and Nakase made a point of noting that she's supportive of the new CBA. In fact, she also said, she and the front office spent some of that time understanding how they can appropriately support players based on the terms — the kind of statement that indicates the team's player-first culture has never been stronger.
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