The Golden State Valkyries will be well-represented at the World Cup in Berlin. Gabby Williams and Janelle Salaün will represent France, while Cecilia Zandalasini will play for Italy and Miela Sowha will suit up for Australia. Moreover, Natalie Nakase will be an assistant coach for Team USA.
Although the U.S. and Japan are not in the same group, going to Berlin could offer Nakase an opportunity to see the Valkyries’ 2026 third-round pick, Kokoro Tanaka, in action.
Tanaka and the Japanese national team will take on Germany, Spain, and Mali in the group stage, facing off with a ton of WNBA talent, like Leonie Fiebich and Awa Fam. Third-round picks don’t often make WNBA rosters, but the Valkyries can afford to be patient with a young international talent like Tanaka, and she is certainly one of many youngsters to watch at the World Cup. She made FIBA’s list of “10 rising stars ready to light up the Women’s World Cup.”
Kokoro Tanaka has impressed with the Japanese national team before
Tanaka burst onto the scene last year. Instead of going to the U19 World Cup, she made the senior national team for the Asia Cup. Despite being much younger than most players at the tournament, she made the All-Star Five.
In March this year, she averaged 10 points at the World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Istanbul. She scored 17 points in a loss to Australia with WNBA players Sami Whitcomb, Ezi Magbegor, Alanna Smith, Jade Melbourne, Isobel Borlase, Stephanie Talbot, and Chloe Bibby on the other side. She also contributed 14 points in a win over Kia Nurse, Bridget Carleton, Aaliyah Edwards, and the Canadian national team.
If Tanaka has another big tournament with the Japanese national team, it will boost her chances of eventually making the Valkyries’ or another WNBA team’s roster. If she does eventually make her way to Golden State, it would also be a good look for the Valkyries. The story of this year’s draft was that the Valkyries picked Flau’jae Johnson eighth overall only to essentially trade her to the Seattle Storm for Marta Suarez, who didn’t make the roster. They also picked Ashlon Jackson in the second round but waived her during training camp.
Given how much success the Valkyries have already found this season, it’s difficult to blame them for not wanting to focus on new young talent, and Johnson is actually better off in Seattle where she is considered a building block and starter. Still, it would be nice if their third-round pick eventually becomes someone, who can play WNBA minutes. After all, a few more expansion drafts are coming up, and new franchises will undoubtedly have their eyes on players like Kaitlyn Chen and Kaila Charles.
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