WNBA newcomers Golden State Valkyries go international with inaugural roster
Seven of the 11 players selected by the newest WNBA franchise in the expansion draft hail from overseas with six different countries represented.
Basketball
Competitiveness, high character and a never satisfied mindset.
Those were among the characteristics emphasised by the Golden State Valkryies general manager Ohemaa Nyanin and coach Natalie Nakase last Friday (6 December) as they announced their picks from the expansion draft.
Current WNBA teams were able to protect six of their own players from being drafted by the Golden State before the Valkyries were then able to acquire the contract or negotiating rights for one player from each team.
The result was an 11-player initial roster with a surprisingly strong international flavour.
The night’s selection included Temi Fagbenle (Great Britain), Carla Leite (France), Stephanie Talbot (Australia), Cecilia Zandalisini (Italy), Iliana Rupert (France), Julie Vanloo (Belgium), and Maria Conde (Spain), meaning that well over half of the roster came from outside the United States.
Nakase pushed back on any notion that pulling talent from overseas was deliberate. “That wasn’t my mindset. It was building the best team that I wanted to build,” the coach told reporters.
And while the make-up of the final team is still far from known with next year’s free agency and 2025 Draft yet to happen, that hasn’t stopped international fans of the league from being excited about the diversity of WNBA’s 13th team and what it might achieve in its debut season. With the likes of Las Vegas Aces’ rookie Kate Martin and the newly minted WNBA champ Kayla Thornton also on board, the Valkyries have made it clear they want to compete for a title from the get-go.
As the league acquaints itself with the new team, get to know more about the Valkyries’ international players including which ones have made Olympic appearances.
Golden State Valkyries picks from the 2024 WNBA Expansion Draft
NB. The Valkyries chose not to make a selection from the Seattle Storm
- Atlanta Dream: Iliana Rupert, C
- Chicago Sky: Maria Conde, F
- Connecticut Sun: Veronica Burton, G
- Dallas Wings: Carla Leite, PG
- Indiana Fever: Temi Fagbenle, C
- Las Vegas Aces: Kate Martin, G
- Los Angeles Sparks: Stephanie Talbot, F
- Minnesota Lynx: Cecilia Zandalasini, F
- New York Liberty: Kayla Thornton, F
- Phoenix Mercury: Monique Billings, F
- Washington Mystics: Julie Vanloo, G
Stephanie Talbot, 30, Australia
Selected No.33 overall in the 2014 WNBA Draft by the Phoenix Mercury
- FIBA Women’s World Cups: 2018🥈, 2022🥉
- Olympic Games: Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024
- FIBA Women’s Asia Cup: 2019🥉
Carla Leite, 20, France
Selected No.9 overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Dallas Wings
- FIBA U20 Women’s European Championship 2023 🥇 (Tournament MVP)
Julie Vanloo of Team Belgium celebrates during the Women's Bronze Medal game between Team Belgium and Team Australia on day sixteen of the Olympic Games Paris 2024
Julie Vanloo, 31, Belgium
Entered the WNBA with the Washington Mystics in 2024
- FIBA Women’s World Cups: 2018, 2022
- Olympic Games: Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024
- FIBA Women’s EuroBasket: 2008, 2010, 2017 🥉, 2019, 2021🥉, 2023🥇
Iliana Rupert of France shoots from the free throw line during the 2022 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup
Iliana Rupert, 23, France
Selected No.12 overall in the 2021 WNBA Draft by the Las Vegas Aces
- FIBA Women’s World Cups: 2022
- Olympic Games: Tokyo 2020 🥉, Paris 2024🥈
- FIBA Women’s EuroBasket: 2019🥈, 2021🥈, 2023🥉
- WNBA champion 2022 🏆
Temi Fagbenle was selected by the Valkyries from the Indiana Fever, home of Caitlin Clark
Temi Fagbenle, 32, Great Britain
Selected No.35 overall in the 2016 WNBA Draft by the Minnesota Lynx
- Olympic Games: London 2012
- FIBA Women’s EuroBasket: 2015, 2019, 2023
Maria Conde #22 of Team Spain drives to the basket during a Women's Quarterfinal match against Team Belgium on day twelve of the Olympic Games Paris 2024
Maria Conde, 27, Spain
Selected No.27 overall in the 2019 WNBA Draft by the Chicago Sky
- Olympic Games: Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024
- FIBA Women’s EuroBasket: 2017🥇, 2021, 2023🥈
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 05: Cecilia Zandalasini #9 of the Minnesota Lynx in the second half at Crypto.com Arena on June 05, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Cecilia Zandalisini, 28, Italy
Signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Minnesota Lynx in 2017
- FIBA Women’s EuroBasket: 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023
- WNBA champion 2017🏆