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2025 Golden State Valkyries season

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2025 Golden State Valkyries season
CoachNatalie Nakase
ArenaChase Center
Attendanceper game
Results
Record17–15 (.531)
Place4th (Western)

The 2025 Golden State Valkyries season is the franchise's 1st season in the Women's National Basketball Association and under head coach, Natalie Nakase.

Draft

[edit]
See also: 2025 WNBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College/Club Outcome Ref.
1 5 Justė Jocytė G/F  Lithuania ASVEL Féminin Rights retained
2 17 Shyanne Sellers G  United States Maryland Signed rookie contract on April 22
Waived on May 3 		[1][2]
3 30 Kaitlyn Chen  United States /
 Taiwan 		UConn Signed rookie contract on April 22
Waived on May 14 		[3]

Transactions

[edit]
Main article: List of 2025 WNBA season transactions

Front office and coaching

[edit]
Date Details Ref.
October 10, 2024 Hired Natalie Nakase as head coach [4]
February 10, 2025 Hired Lorena Torres Ronda as director of performance [5]
March 27, 2025 Hired Kasib Powell, Sugar Rodgers, and Landon Tatum as assistant coaches [6]
Hired Sidney Parsons as director of player development
Hired Sidney Dobner as head video coordinator/coach development
Hired Daisy Feder as assistant video coordinator
April 25, 2025 Hired Joscelyn Bourne as head of physical therapy [7]
Hired Katelin Knox as head athletic trainer
Hired Allison DeKuiper as assistant athletic trainer and performance coordinator
Hired Papis Sambe as performance coach

Expansion draft

[edit]
Main article: 2024 WNBA expansion draft

On December 6, 2024, an expansion draft took place to help fill the roster for Golden State for the 2025 WNBA season.[8]

Player Former Team Contract Status
(at time of draft) 		Ref.
Iliana Rupert Atlanta Dream Suspended – contract expired [9]
María Conde Chicago Sky Suspended – contract expired
Veronica Burton Connecticut Sun Free agent – reserved
Carla Leite Dallas Wings Unsigned 2024 draft pick (No. 9)
Temi Fágbénlé Indiana Fever Free agent – restricted
Kate Martin Las Vegas Aces Under contract for 2025 season
Stephanie Talbot Los Angeles Sparks Under contract for 2025 season
Cecilia Zandalasini Minnesota Lynx Free agent – reserved
Kayla Thornton New York Liberty Under contract for 2025 season
Monique Billings Phoenix Mercury Free agent – unrestricted
No selection Seattle Storm —
Julie Vanloo Washington Mystics Free agent – reserved

Free agency

[edit]

Re-signed / extensions

[edit]
Player Date Notes Ref.
Temi Fágbénlé June 25 Set as active [10]
Janelle Salaün June 30 [11]
Cecilia Zandalasini
Iliana Rupert July 16 [12]

Additions

[edit]
Player Date Notes Former Team Ref.
Monique Billings February 3 One-year deal N/A – expansion draft pick [13]
Veronica Burton Training camp contract [14]
Julie Vanloo [15]
Chloe Bibby February 5 Spar Girona [16]
Janelle Salaün Famila Schio [17]
Kyara Linskens Belgium [18]
Elissa Cunane February 6 Training camp contract BK Žabiny Brno [19]
Tiffany Hayes One-year deal Las Vegas Aces [20]
Laeticia Amihere Awarded off waivers Atlanta Dream [21]
June 8 Rest of season contract Free agent [22]
Carla Leite February 21 Rookie contract
(2024 draft pick – No. 9) 		N/A – expansion draft pick [23]
Cecilia Zandalasini March 7 One-year deal [24][25]
Temi Fágbénlé April 1 [24][26]
Mamignan Touré April 21 Training camp contract Spar Girona [27]
Kaitlyn Chen April 22 Rookie contract
(2025 draft pick – No. 30) 		UConn Huskies
Shyanne Sellers Rookie contract
(2025 draft pick – No. 17) 		Maryland Terrapins
Aerial Powers June 10 Rest of season contract Atlanta Dream [28]
Chloe Bibby June 15 Free agent [29]
Kaitlyn Chen
Bree Hall June 18 [30]
Kaila Charles August 1 7-day hardship contract [31]
August 8 [32]

Subtractions / unsigned

[edit]
Player Date Reason New Team Ref.
María Conde December 6 Suspended – contract expired N/A – retained rights
Iliana Rupert
Justė Jocytė April 14 Unsigned draft pick
(2025 draft pick – No. 5)
Shyanne Sellers May 3 Waived Atlanta Dream [1][2]
Laeticia Amihere May 14 — [3]
Kaitlyn Chen —
Elissa Cunane —
Mamignan Touré —
Chloe Bibby —
June 30 — [33]
Kyara Linskens June 8 — [34]
Cecilia Zandalasini Suspended contract – temporary N/A – retained rights [35]
Julie Vanloo June 10 [36]
June 30 Waived — [37]
Janelle Salaün June 11 Suspended contract – temporary N/A – retained rights [38]
Temi Fágbénlé June 15 [39]
Aerial Powers June 25 Waived — [10]
Bree Hall June 30 — [33]
Stephanie Talbot July 13 — [40]

Roster

[edit]
Golden State Valkyries roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHeightWeightDOBFromYrs
F3CanadaAmihere, Laeticia6' 3" (1.91m)185 lb (84kg)2001-07-10South Carolina2
F25United StatesBillings, Monique Injured6' 4" (1.93m)192 lb (87kg)1996-05-02UCLA7
G22United StatesBurton, Veronica5' 9" (1.75m)155 lb (70kg)2000-07-12Northwestern3
G/F6United StatesCharles, Kaila6' 1" (1.85m)168 lb (76kg)1998-03-23Maryland4
G2United StatesChen, Kaitlyn5' 9" (1.75m)2002-02-22ConnecticutR
C14United KingdomFagbenle, Temi6' 4" (1.93m)180 lb (82kg)1992-09-08USC4
G15AzerbaijanHayes, Tiffany5' 10" (1.78m)155 lb (70kg)1989-09-20Connecticut12
G0FranceLeite, Carla5' 9" (1.75m)2004-04-16FranceR
G20United StatesMartin, Kate6' 0" (1.83m)172 lb (78kg)2000-06-05Iowa1
C12FranceRupert, Iliana6' 4" (1.93m)189 lb (86kg)2001-07-12France2
F13FranceSalaün, Janelle6' 2" (1.88m)2001-09-05FranceR
F5United StatesThornton, Kayla Injured6' 1" (1.85m)190 lb (86kg)1992-10-20UTEP9
F24ItalyZandalasini, Cecilia6' 2" (1.88m)175 lb (79kg)1996-03-16Italy3
F—SpainConde, María Injured (S)6' 1" (1.85m)152 lb (69kg)1997-01-14Florida State–
G/F—LithuaniaJocytė, Justė (DP)6' 2" (1.88m)2005-11-19Lithuania–
Head coach
United States Natalie Nakase (UCLA)
Assistant coaches
United States Kasib Powell (Texas Tech)
United States Sugar Rodgers (Georgetown)
United States Landon Tatum (Idaho)
Player development
United States Sidney Parsons (Bridgeport)
Athletic trainer
United States Katelin Knox
Assistant trainer
United States Allison DeKuiper
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured
  WNBA roster page
East
ATL
CHI
CON
IND
NY
WAS
West
DAL
GS
LV
LA
MIN
PHO
SEA

Depth chart

[edit]
Pos. Starter Bench
PG Veronica Burton Kaitlyn Chen
Tiffany Hayes
SG Cecilia Zandalasini Carla Leite
Kate Martin
SF Janelle Salaün Laeticia Amihere
PF Kayla Thornton Monique Billings
C Temi Fágbénlé Iliana Rupert

Schedule

[edit]

Preseason

[edit]
2025 pre-season game log
Total: 1–1 (Home: 0–1; Road: 1–0)
May: 1–1 (Home: 0–1; Road: 1–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 May 6 Los Angeles L 82–83 Laeticia Amihere (20) Billings, Linskens (8) Veronica Burton (4) Chase Center
17,428 		0–1
2 May 11 @ Phoenix W 84–79 Mamignan Touré (19) Monique Billings (7) Julie Vanloo (6) PHX Arena
6,430 		1–1
2025 pre-season schedule

Regular season

[edit]
2025 game log
Total: 17–15 (Home: 10–5; Road: 7–10)
May: 2–3 (Home: 1–1; Road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 May 16 Los Angeles L 67–84 Tiffany Hayes (19) Tiffany Hayes (9) Temi Fagbenle (4) Chase Center
18,064 		0–1
2 May 21 Washington W 76–74 Veronica Burton (22) Veronica Burton (9) Veronica Burton (5) Chase Center
18,064 		1–1
3 May 23 @ Los Angeles W 75–72 Carla Leite (19) Kayla Thornton (10) Carla Leite (3) Crypto.com Arena
10,857 		2–1
4 May 27 @ New York L 67–85 Kayla Thornton (13) Kayla Thornton (6) Veronica Burton (6) Barclays Center
14,774 		2–2
5 May 29 @ New York L 77–82 Janelle Salaün (18) Janelle Salaün (13) Julie Vanloo (8) Barclays Center
14,951 		2–3
June : 7–4 (Home: 6–2; Road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
6 June 1 Minnesota L 75–86 Veronica Burton (21) Kayla Thornton (7) Julie Vanloo (4) Chase Center
18,064 		2–4
7 June 5 @ Phoenix L 77–86 Veronica Burton (16) Temi Fágbénlé (11) Julie Vanloo (5) PHX Arena
9,943 		2–5
8 June 7 Las Vegas W 95–68 Kayla Thornton (22) Billings, Thornton (11) Veronica Burton (12) Chase Center
18,064 		3–5
9 June 9 @ Los Angeles W 89–81 (OT) Janelle Salaün (21) Temi Fágbénlé (13) Julie Vanloo (8) Crypto.com Arena
10,921 		4–5
10 June 14 Seattle W 76–70 Kayla Thornton (22) Kayla Thornton (12) Veronica Burton (9) Chase Center
18,064 		5–5
11 June 17 @ Dallas L 71–80 Monique Billings (18) Monique Billings (8) Veronica Burton (5) College Park Center
6,061 		5–6
12 June 19 Indiana W 88–77 Kayla Thornton (16) Kayla Thornton (6) Tiffany Hayes (5) Chase Center
18,064 		6–6
13 June 22 Connecticut W 87–63 Kayla Thornton (21) Laeticia Amihere (12) Stephanie Talbot (4) 7–6
14 June 25 New York L 78–81 Kate Martin (21) Billings, Thornton (7) Veronica Burton (10) Chase Center
18,064 		7–7
15 June 27 Chicago W 83–78 Kayla Thornton (29) Laeticia Amihere (9) Burton, Hayes (4) Chase Center
18,064 		8–7
16 June 29 Seattle W 84–57 Tiffany Hayes (21) Laeticia Amihere (8) Veronica Burton (5) 9–7
July : 4–6 (Home: 1–1; Road: 3–5)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
17 July 5 @ Minnesota L 71–82 Tiffany Hayes (23) Kayla Thornton (10) Burton, Hayes, Talbot (4) Target Center
8,771 		9–8
18 July 7 @ Atlanta L 81–90 Monique Billings (19) Amihere, Billings, Thornton (6) Veronica Burton (7) Gateway Center Arena
3,265 		9–9
19 July 9 @ Indiana W 80–61 Veronica Burton (21) Burton, Hayes, Thornton (8) Veronica Burton (6) Gainbridge Fieldhouse
16,798 		10–9
20 July 12 @ Las Vegas L 102–104 Hayes, Salaün (16) Kayla Thornton (9) Veronica Burton (8) Michelob Ultra Arena
10,070 		10–10
21 July 14 Phoenix L 77–78 Veronica Burton (17) Monique Billings (9) Veronica Burton (6) Chase Center
18,064 		10–11
22 July 16 @ Seattle L 58–67 Cecilia Zandalasini (12) Veronica Burton (8) Veronica Burton (4) Climate Pledge Arena
12,500 		10–12
All-Star Game
23 July 25 Dallas W 86–76 Tiffany Hayes (17) Veronica Burton (9) Tiffany Hayes (5) Chase Center
18,024 		11–12
24 July 27 @ Connecticut L 64–95 Iliana Rupert (13) Fágbénlé, Hayes, Rupert (4) Burton, Fágbénlé (3) Mohegan Sun Arena
8,294 		11–13
25 July 29 @ Atlanta W 77–75 Cecilia Zandalasini (18) Cecilia Zandalasini (8) Tiffany Hayes (5) Gateway Center Arena
3,265 		12–13
26 July 31 @ Washington W 68–67 Kate Martin (14) Burton, Rupert (7) Veronica Burton (10) CareFirst Arena
4,200 		13–13
August: 4–2 (Home: 2–1; Road: 2–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
27 August 1 @ Chicago W 73–66 Veronica Burton (18) Janelle Salaün (9) Veronica Burton (7) Wintrust Arena
7,714 		14–13
28 August 3 @ Las Vegas L 77–101 Iliana Rupert (17) Laeticia Amihere (9) Kaitlyn Chen (5) Michelob Ultra Arena
10,445 		14–14
29 August 6 Las Vegas L 72–78 Tiffany Hayes (14) Tiffany Hayes (9) Janelle Salaün (3) Chase Center
18,064 		14–15
30 August 9 Los Angeles W 72–59 Veronica Burton (16) Janelle Salaün (8) Tiffany Hayes (6) Chase Center
18,064 		15–15
31 August 11 Connecticut W 74–57 Hayes, Zandalasini (17) Temi Fagbenle (9) Veronica Burton (10) Chase Center
18,604 		16–15
32 August 13 @ Washington W 88–83 Veronica Burton (30) Burton, Zandalasini (7) Veronica Burton (7) CareFirst Arena
4,200 		17–15
33 August 15 @ Chicago Wintrust Arena
34 August 17 Atlanta Chase Center
35 August 19 Phoenix Chase Center
36 August 22 @ Phoenix PHX Arena
37 August 24 @ Dallas College Park Center
38 August 30 Washington Chase Center
39 August 31 Indiana Chase Center
September : 0–0 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
40 September 2 New York Chase Center
41 September 4 Dallas Chase Center
42 September 6 Minnesota Chase Center
43 September 9 @ Seattle Climate Pledge Arena
44 September 11 @ Minnesota Target Center
2025 season schedule

Notes:

Standings

[edit]
# Team W L PCT GB Conf. Home Road Cup
1 x – Minnesota Lynx 27 5 .844 – 17–2 16–1 11–4 5–1
2 Atlanta Dream 21 11 .656 6 11–6 10–4 11–7 3–2
3 New York Liberty 21 12 .636 6.5 11–3 13–4 8–8 4–1
4 Phoenix Mercury 19 12 .613 7.5 9–7 11–5 8–7 4–2
5 Las Vegas Aces 19 14 .576 8.5 11–8 11–5 8–9 2–4
6 c – Indiana Fever 18 15 .545 9.5 10–7 10–7 8–8 4–1
7 Golden State Valkyries 17 15 .531 10 7–10 10–5 7–10 3–3
8 Seattle Storm 16 17 .485 11.5 9–10 8–9 8–8 4–2
9 Los Angeles Sparks 15 17 .469 12 5–12 6–10 9–7 2–4
10 Washington Mystics 14 18 .438 13 7–7 9–7 5–11 2–3
11 Dallas Wings 9 24 .273 18.5 3–12 5–12 4–12 1–5
12 Chicago Sky 8 24 .250 19 2–14 5–11 3–13 1–4
13 Connecticut Sun 6 26 .188 21 4–8 5–11 1–15 1–4

Notes

(#) – League Standing
c – Commissioner's Cup winners
x – Clinched playoff berth
e – Eliminated from playoff contention
Source: Overall standings and Commissioner's Cup Standings


Awards and honors

[edit]
Recipient Award Date awarded Ref.
Kayla Thornton Western Conference Player of the Week June 17 [41]
WNBA All-Star Reserve July 7 [42]
Natalie Nakase Coach of the Month – June July 3 [43]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Golden State Valkyries Waive Shyanne Sellers". Golden State Valkyries. WNBA. May 3, 2025. Retrieved May 3, 2025.
  2. ^ a b Atlanta Dream PR [@ATLDreamPR] (May 5, 2025). "The Atlanta Dream have acquired Shyanne Sellers off waivers" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  3. ^ a b "Golden State Valkyries Announce Final Roster For Inaugural Season". Golden State Valkyries. WNBA. May 14, 2025. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  4. ^ Feinberg, Doug (October 10, 2024). "Golden State Valkyries hire Las Vegas Aces assistant Natalie Nakase as their first head coach". apnews.com. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
  5. ^ "Golden State Valkyries Name Lorena Torres Ronda as Director of Performance". Golden State Valkyries. WNBA. February 10, 2025. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
  6. ^ "Valkyries Announce Additions to Coaching and Front Office Staff With Six New Hires". Golden State Valkyries. WNBA. March 27, 2025. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  7. ^ "Golden State Valkyries Announce Performance Staff Hires". Golden State Valkyries. WNBA. April 25, 2025. Retrieved April 25, 2025.
  8. ^ Henderson, Cydney; Horrow, Ellen J. (December 6, 2024). "WNBA expansion draft live updates: Golden State Valkyries pick their players for 2025". USA Today.
  9. ^ "Golden State Valkyries begin constructing inaugural roster with 11 selections in 2024 WNBA Expansion Draft". nba.com. NBA. December 6, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  10. ^ a b "Golden State Valkyries Re-Activate Temi Fágbénlé Following Overseas Commitment". Golden State Valkyries. WNBA. June 25, 2025. Retrieved June 25, 2025.
  11. ^ "Golden State Valkyries Re-Activate Janelle Salaün and Cecilia Zandalasini Following Overseas Commitments". Golden State Valkyries. WNBA. June 30, 2025. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  12. ^ "Golden State Valkyries Activate Iliana Rupert Following Overseas Commitments". Golden State Valkyries. WNBA. July 17, 2025. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  13. ^ "Golden State Valkyries Sign Monique Billings". valkyries.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
  14. ^ @WNBAMoves (February 3, 2025). "The Valkyries have signed Veronica Burton to a training camp contract" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  15. ^ @WNBAMoves (February 3, 2025). "The Valkyries have signed Julie Vanloo to a training camp contract" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  16. ^ "Golden State Valkyries Sign Chloe Bibby". valkyries.wnba.com. WNBA. February 5, 2025. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  17. ^ "Golden State Valkyries Sign Sign (sic) Janelle Salaün". valkyries.wnba.com. WNBA. February 5, 2025. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  18. ^ "Golden State Valkyries Sign Kyara Linskens". valkyries.wnba.com. WNBA. February 5, 2025. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  19. ^ "Golden State Valkyries Sign Elissa Cunane". valkyries.wnba.com. WNBA. February 6, 2025. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
  20. ^ "Golden State Valkyries Sign 2024 Sixth Woman of the Year Tiffany Hayes". valkyries.wnba.com. WNBA. February 6, 2025. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
  21. ^ "Golden State Valkyries Sign Laeticia Amihere". valkyries.wnba.com. WNBA. February 6, 2025. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
  22. ^ "Golden State Valkyries Sign Laeticia Amihere". Golden State Valkyries. WNBA. June 8, 2025. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  23. ^ Ingemi, Marisa (February 21, 2025). "Valkyries pull off surprise signing, get France's Carla Leite inked to play point guard". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
  24. ^ a b Ingemi, Marisa (January 15, 2025). "Valkyries extend qualifying contract offers to four players". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
  25. ^ Ingemi, Marisa (March 7, 2025). "Valkyries sign guard Cecilia Zandalasini, among WNBA's most accurate 3-point shooters". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  26. ^ Ingemi, Marisa (April 2, 2025). "Valkyries sign veteran center Temi Fagbenle, expansion pick with playoff experience". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  27. ^ "Golden State Valkyries Sign Guard Migna Touré". Golden State Valkyries. WNBA. April 21, 2025. Retrieved April 21, 2025.
  28. ^ "Golden State Valkyries Sign Guard Aerial Powers". Golden State Valkyries. WNBA. June 10, 2025. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  29. ^ "Golden State Valkyries Sign Forward Chloe Bibby and Guard Kaitlyn Chen". Golden State Valkyries. WNBA. June 15, 2025. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  30. ^ "Golden State Valkyries Sign Guard Bree Hall". Golden State Valkyries. WNBA. June 18, 2025. Retrieved June 18, 2025.
  31. ^ "Golden State Valkyries Sign Free Agent Kaila Charles To Hardship Contract". Golden State Valkyries. WNBA. August 1, 2025. Retrieved August 1, 2025.
  32. ^ Golden State Valkyries [@valkyries] (August 8, 2025). "Roster Update: The Golden State Valkyries have signed Kaila Charles to a second seven-day roster hardship contract" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  33. ^ a b "Golden State Valkyries Waive Forward Chloe Bibby and Guard Bree Hall". Golden State Valkyries. WNBA. June 30, 2025. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  34. ^ "Golden State Valkyries Waive Kyara Linskens". Golden State Valkyries. WNBA. June 8, 2025. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  35. ^ Golden State Valkyries [@valkyries] (June 8, 2025). "Cecilia Zandalasini will temporarily step away from the Golden State Valkyries..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  36. ^ "Golden State Valkyries' Julie Vanloo to Compete in FIBA EuroBasket 2025". Golden State Valkyries. WNBA. June 10, 2025. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  37. ^ "Golden State Valkyries Waive Guard Julie Vanloo". Golden State Valkyries. WNBA. June 30, 2025. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  38. ^ Canilao, Nathan (June 11, 2025). "Rookie Janelle Salaün temporarily departs from Valkyries to compete in EuroBasket". East Bay Times. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  39. ^ Canilao, Nathan (June 15, 2025). "Valkyries bring back Chen and Bibby as Fágbénlé heads to EuroBasket". East Bay Times. Retrieved June 15, 2025.
  40. ^ "Golden State Valkyries Waive Forward Stephanie Talbot". Golden State Valkyries. WNBA. July 13, 2025. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  41. ^ "Kayla Thornton Named Western Conference Player of The Week". Golden State Valkyries. WNBA. June 17, 2025. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
  42. ^ Feinberg, Doug (July 6, 2025). "WNBA All-Star Game: Kayla Thornton, Gabby Williams, Kiki Iriafen, Sonia Citron among reserves". Associated Press. Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  43. ^ "Natalie Nakase Named WNBA Coach of the Month for June". valkyries.wnba.com. WNBA. July 3, 2025. Retrieved July 3, 2025.
[edit]
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