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Valkyries choose 7 worldwide gamers in WNBA growth draft

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SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Valkyries chosen 11 gamers, together with seven worldwide gamers, on the WNBA growth draft Friday because the league’s thirteenth franchise continues to take form.

The Valkyries will start play within the WNBA subsequent summer season and host the Los Angeles Sparks on opening day on May 16.

The picks have been introduced in three teams of 4 in alphabetical order by crew identify:

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

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

No choice was constituted of the Seattle Storm.

Four gamers on the inaugural Golden State roster have gained a WNBA championship throughout their profession: Fagbenle and Zandalasini with Minnesota in 2017, Rupert with Las Vegas in 2022, and Thornton with New York in 2024.

“Our purpose was to assemble a roster that embodies each versatility and depth, bringing in a powerful mixture of management, protection, and scoring means,” General Manager Ohemaa Nyanin mentioned. “These gamers have been fastidiously chosen not just for their abilities on the courtroom, but additionally for his or her means to suit into the tradition we’re working to construct right here at Golden State.”

Friday marked the WNBA’s first growth draft for the reason that Dream joined the league in 2008. All 12 of the WNBA’s preexisting groups have been capable of shield as much as six gamers — together with each those that completed the season on their roster and all others to whom the crew holds rights. Those six gamers have been exempt from the growth draft, as have been unrestricted free brokers who’ve already performed the utmost two years on contracts signed with the core designation. The league didn’t make the listing of protected gamers public.

The Valkyries might solely select one participant from every crew, and just one whole unrestricted free agent, who then turns into eligible to be designated a core participant by the Valkyries. WNBA groups are allowed 12 gamers on the roster, and the Valkyries will proceed to construct out their personnel in free company, which begins in January, and within the WNBA draft on April 14, when the Valkyries have the Nos. 5, 17 and 29 picks.

Ahead of the 2026 season, the WNBA will maintain further growth drafts for Portland and Toronto, the league’s 14th and fifteenth groups. WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert has mentioned she expects the league to develop to 16 groups by 2028. Last month, Rock Entertainment Group, which can be tied to the NBA’s Cavaliers, mentioned it could bid to carry a WNBA growth crew to Cleveland. Portland, Philadelphia, Denver and South Florida are amongst different cities mentioned to be exploring growth bids.

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