NFL
By: Ashmere Prasad
May 25, 2026 – In 2025, the Golden State Valkyries selected Justė Jocytė in their first-ever draft, fifth overall. Jocytė spent her 2025 season at home in Europe. After much anticipation, she will take the floor for the first time on Monday night against the Connecticut Sun.
Fans are excited and eager to see how Jocytė fits in the Valkyries system. The 6’1″ small forward is known for her left-handed three-point shooting, a part of the game Golden State heavily focuses on.
Although Jocytė is considered a rookie for GSV, she has been playing professionally since she was 14, making her one of the youngest players ever in the EuroLeague. At EuroBasket this winter she averaged 16 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game.
It isn’t fair to judge her performance after one game, but with six-plus years of experience expectations are high for that reason.
The Valkyries are known for and emphasize the importance of team basketball. They share the ball, and if it feels like someone is getting hot they feed that player to keep the rhythm going. That sounds like a great fit for Jocytė, who is known for creating her own offense by creating shots off the dribble.
The Valkyries are looking for a consistent scorer and are putting a large bet that Jocytė fills that gap. There are so many questions looming before tip-off: How many minutes will she play? Will she get hot from the arc? How will she improve the Valkyries’ already strong defense? Can she be the go-to shooter that attracts multiple defenders and help GSV spread the floor? We will get a glimpse of that tonight.
