NFL
By: Nathan Snell
The 2025 WNBA season is almost here, and there is already chaos. Amongst the WNBA Twitter faux pas at times causing a stir that means the WNBA is here. If 2024 had taught us anything, we expect the unexpected from injuries, retirements, trades, bullying, online harassment, and false narratives. This season has the opportunity to be new and continue to grow the game. Last year, we saw the arrival of the 2024 WNBA draft, which featured many excellent prospects and had an instant impact. This season, the 2025 class has an opportunity to build off the success. Coming into this season, the WNBA has a new team. The Golden State Valkyries have entered as the 13th franchise of the league, with the Toronto Tempo and Portland coming in 2026. Expect to see other cities put their names in the hat to have a WNBA team.
Who are they?
The Golden State Valkyries are officially the baby sister until Toronto and Portland arrive next year. The Atlanta Dream, as of 2008, was the most recent expansion team.
Led by Natalie Nakase as the inaugural head coach, this team is not in a rush to compete.
Their roster doesn’t make you scream, but there is a foundation and identity you can argue we will see as the season progresses. The first thing that comes from an organizational decision is how this roster was created. They are building for the future, and that is okay. Fun fact: One expansion of ten of the WNBA has had a winning inaugural season: the 1998 Detroit Shock.
They were awarded the fifth overall pick and made little moves in free agency.
5th Pick: Justė Jocytė
17th Pick: Shyanne Sellers (Cut)
30th Pick: Kaitlyn Chen
The Vets/Leaders: Monique Billings, Kayla Thornton, Stephanie Talbot and Tiffany Hayes
Everything else on the roster is strictly role players and understanding how they will fit. That is one downside when you are an expansion team.
The 2025 draft set the tone for the franchise’s complete picture within the next three to five years. From the roster talent standpoint, a higher upside is built on potential. This team is no offensively Juggernaut; however, the defense might be an identity.
While they are the first WNBA team to sell 10,000 tickets, this season will have peaks and valleys. But by the end of next season (2026), we should see what the Golden State Valkyries will be. Welcome to the league; 2026 will be a year of chaos as most players will be free agents and are still negotiating a new CBA for the league simultaneously. Duck
Questions/Concerns:
- Nine International Players who are committing?
- Was drafting Justė Jocytė the right call with the fifth overall pick?
- How will Natalie Nakase look in her first year as a coach?
- How did the front office evaluate the players to envision the franchise’s future?
- Identity, Identity, Identity.
Season Record Prediction: 13 Wins (Misses the Playoffs)
Potential Starting Five:
G: Hayes, G, Vanloo, F, Thornton, F Billings C: Fagbenle
Team MVP: Kayla Thornton
Scorer Leader: Tiffany Hayes
Rebounding Leader: Monique Billings
