The roar was deafening when Kayla Thornton sank a jumper just 19 seconds into history. Purple-clad fans erupted—18,064 strong—transforming Chase Center into a violet sea for the very first time. Never before had a women’s sports team amassed 15,000 season-ticket deposits before playing a single game. Yet here stood the Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA’s first expansion team in 17 years, carrying the weight of a basketball-mad region’s dreams .
Most expansion franchises collapse under such pressure. But something feels different in the Bay. Despite a preseason loss that night, the Valkyries clawed back from a 14-point deficit, revealing a grit that’s become their early signature. Coach Natalie Nakase’s mantra—“Progress over results”—echoes through every timeout, a necessary compass for a team writing its story in real time .
The Impossible Task: Why WNBA Expansion Teams Traditionally Struggle
Expansion teams enter the WNBA with one hand tied behind their backs. Consider the brutal reality:
- Of 10 past expansion franchises, only one (1999 Lynx) finished above .500
- The 2008 Atlanta Dream started 4-30 (.118 win percentage)
- Rosters are built from other teams’ castoffs, not blue-chip stars
The Valkyries faced additional landmines. Nine of their 12 players hail from overseas leagues, creating a Tower of Babel on the hardwood. Chemistry doesn’t magically materialize when your point guard (Julie Vanloo) speaks Flemish, your forward (Janelle Salaün) thinks in French, and your coach diagrams plays in English .
So why are projections unusually optimistic? Vegas set their win total at 11.5—lowest in the league but historically generous for an expansion squad. Analytics site Her Hoop Stats reveals why: their defense ranks 8th in efficiency (103.4 rating), a minor miracle for a newborn team .
Table: Valkyries vs. Recent WNBA Expansion Teams
| Team | Season | Record | Win % | Playoffs? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Dream | 2008 | 4-30 | .118 | No |
| Chicago Sky | 2006 | 5-29 | .147 | No |
| Golden State | 2025 | 2-4* | .333* | TBD |
| **Through June 1, 2025 ** |
The Valkyrie Blueprint: Defense, Depth, and Defiance
General Manager Ohemaa Nyanin didn’t chase flashy names. She hunted “ultra-competitive, high-IQ players” who’d embrace Nakase’s defensive gospel. The result? A roster of underestimated warriors:
- Kayla Thornton: Championship-tested glue forward (2024 Liberty)
- Temi Fagbenle: A 6’4″ rim protector shooting 59% from the field
- Veronica Burton: A pickpocket artist averaging 2.4 steals
Their identity crystallized instantly. At training camp, Nakase drilled only defense for four straight days. No offensive sets. No shooting drills. Just rotations, closeouts, and communication until voices grew hoarse .
The early returns? Against Minnesota on June 1, they held MVP candidate Napheesa Collier to 4-of-12 shooting. They force 15.8 turnovers per game—3rd highest in the WNBA—turning defense into transition opportunities even when half-court sets sputter .
Rookie Revelation: How Janelle Salaün Is Silencing Doubters
Amid the veteran grind, one name electrifies the Chase Center crowd: Janelle Salaün. The 23-year-old French forward embodies the Valkyries’ upside—raw but radiant.
Exhibit A: Her May 29 explosion against New York
- 18 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists
- 37.5% from three on 8 attempts
- A +10 plus/minus in a 5-point loss
Salaün’s game is a fascinating contradiction. She shoots 44% from deep but attacks the glass like a center, averaging 7.8 rebounds—top-15 among all forwards. “She’s an incredible shooter with elite on-ball defense,” notes Swish Appeal. “Her ceiling is All-Defense team” .
Yet consistency remains elusive. A June 1 faceplant against Minnesota (1-of-7 from three) exposed her growing pains. But Nakase encourages the stumbles: “I want you to make mistakes. That’s what coaches are here for.” For Salaün, every errant shot is a down payment on future dominance .
The Expansion Paradox: Growing Pains vs. Future Gains
At 2-4, the Valkyries teeter between competitiveness and the lottery. But this season was never about wins. It’s about constructing a culture that lures 2026 free agents and prepares for a draft class featuring Stanford’s Lauren Betts and Notre Dame’s Hannah Hidalgo .
Three looming challenges could define their trajectory:
- The EuroBasket Exodus: Vanloo (Belgium), Salaün (France), and Fagbenle (Great Britain) will miss games in June for national team duty, gutting the rotation .
- Offensive Anemia: They rank dead last in points (73.8) and effective field goal percentage (43.7%) .
- Brutal Schedule: 5 of their next 7 games are against 2024 finalists New York and Minnesota .
Still, veterans see sparks in the struggle. “I definitely see culture forming,” forward Monique Billings insists. “We hold each other accountable” .
Beyond the Court: How the Valkyries Are Rewriting the Expansion Narrative
While Salaün battles in the paint, the franchise wages a broader revolution. The Valkyries Collective—featuring Michelle Wie West, rapper P-Lo, and activist Meena Harris—connects the team to Bay Area culture through fashion, music, and social justice .
It’s marketing genius with purpose. Merchandise flies off shelves. Local murals recast Valkyries as mythological warriors. Tickets for their July homestand carry a 200% markup on resale sites. This isn’t just fandom; it’s a cultural awakening .
Owner Joe Lacob’s championship-or-bust ethos looms large: “We’ll win a title in five years.” Bold? Absolutely. But Golden State has already achieved a victory rarely seen in women’s sports: They made expansion look cool .
The Final Whistle: What’s Next for the Valkyries?
The Valkyries won’t raise a trophy this year. They might not even reach 12 wins. But dismissing them as “typical expansion losers” ignores the seismic shifts underway.
Remember:
- Their defense already outranks 5 established teams
- Salaün’s 13.8-point average leads all WNBA rookies
- That “process over results” mantra? It birthed the Warriors dynasty
As Nakase told her team after a narrow preseason loss: “You rallied from 14 down. You fought. That’s our identity.” For a franchise building from zero, that fight—visible in every Salaün rebound, every Burton steal, every roaring possession—is the foundation of something monumental .
The Valkyries have landed. And the WNBA will never look the same.
Key Stats via ESPN, Her Hoop Stats & Basketball Reference . Follow the Valkyries’ inaugural season at valkyries.wnba.com.
