Golden State Valkyries Set Opening-Night Roster, Leaving Draft Picks and Amihere Off the List

OAKLAND — On Wednesday, after practice, Golden State Valkyries general manager Ohemaa Nyanin described the day as bittersweet. The expansion franchise had finalized its 12-player roster for Friday's season opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at Chase Center, and the final cuts had just been made. "There are a lot of dreams that came true today and there are a lot of dreams that were deferred," she said.

To reach the roster limit, the Valkyries waived third-round draft pick Kaitlyn Chen and a group of veterans that included Chloe Bibby, Elissa Cunane and Migna Touré. Also off the list is veteran forward Laeticia Amihere, who scored 25 points across the preseason. The result is that the team will open its first season without a single player from its 2025 draft class. Shyanne Sellers, the second-round pick, was released May 3, five days into training camp. First-round pick Justė Jocytė never joined camp and was not expected to start the season because of European basketball commitments.

Whether Jocytė will play for the Valkyries at some point this summer is unclear. Asked about her status, Nyanin did not give an answer, saying only that the rookie's absence did not factor into any of Wednesday's decisions.

Among the surprises was Janelle Salaün, who was not with the team in training camp. She skipped the preseason games while fulfilling international commitments, but Nyanin said the French forward is on her way to the Bay Area and should join the team soon. Kyara Linskens also made it, despite a limited role in the two exhibition games. She was considered a long shot when camp opened, but her rebounding and passing impressed coach Natalie Nakase and the staff. Against the Sparks she grabbed eight rebounds in nine second-half minutes. "I feel overwhelmed because I wasn't expecting it really," Linskens said. "I'm just grateful for the opportunity."

Amihere's absence stands out because she looked like a good bet. The 6-foot-3 forward scored a game-high 20 points in her preseason debut last week against the Sparks, nearly pulling Golden State back from a double-digit second-half deficit. But the Valkyries chose forwards they believe are stronger defensively. Salaün, Kayla Thornton, Stephanie Talbot and Cecilia Zandalasini were judged better defensive options, and the team also wanted to keep more size. Temi Fágbénlé and Monique Billings are expected to log heavy minutes in the front court.

The guard group blends ages: Carla Leite, Kate Martin, Julie Vanloo, Tiffany Hayes and Veronica Burton. Hayes and Vanloo are both in their mid-30s, while Leite, Martin and Burton are all younger than 25. Burton started both preseason games, though Leite has shown potential to become the starting point guard by season's end. A 2024 first-round pick by Dallas, Leite scored 11 points in Sunday's 84-79 preseason win over Phoenix. "I think I'm more comfortable, but I know I need to improve a lot of things about my game," she said.

Nakase said the group has strong chemistry at both ends of the floor. "This 12 is connected," she said, adding that the spacing in Wednesday's practice was probably the best she had seen and that the players were ready for Los Angeles.

The cuts may not be permanent. With rosters capped at 12, injuries could open the door to 10-day contracts later in the season. The women's EuroBasket tournament in mid-June could create openings within weeks, since the Valkyries have seven Europeans on the roster and not all have committed to playing for their home countries. Nyanin said she would not rule out any player cut in camp returning: "We hope that if there's any opportunity to bring them back, that we do that."