OAKLAND — After an eventful offseason, the Golden State Valkyries lastly received to take the court docket on Sunday at their follow facility in Oakland because the WNBA growth group opened coaching camp.
Whereas expectations received’t be excessive in 12 months 1, Golden State will use the following two-and-a-half weeks to construct a hyper-competitive tradition earlier than internet hosting the Los Angeles Sparks at Chase Heart on Could 16 in its first-ever regular-season sport.
“Everybody has the mindset of win or die,” Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase mentioned. “We want to approach every practice like it’s a battle. I thought every single player did that today.”
Golden State’s roster at the moment sits at 18 gamers and can must be minimize right down to 12 earlier than the season opener.
Whereas Sunday’s follow marked a historic day for the growth group, the method will look quite a bit completely different than the 12 different groups within the league.
“I think this is obviously a different experience than any other training camp,” second-year guard Kate Martin mentioned. “Since it’s a brand new team, we’re all starting from ground zero. … We’re really building something from scratch, and so it’s a lot different, obviously, but it’s been really fun and it’s been really high energy so far.”
Listed here are 5 storylines going into coaching camp:
Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase chats with Golden State Valkyries’ Kyara Linskens (31) throughout coaching camp held on the Sephora Efficiency Heart in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, April 27, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
WHO’S IN CAMP?
The Valkyries have a mixture of rookies, seasoned veterans and every thing in between.
Carla Leite, Kaitlyn Chen, Shyanne Sellers and Martin headline a gritty group of younger guards together with veterans Tiffany Hayes and Veronica Burton. Forwards Kayla Thornton and Monique Billings are slated to be veteran leaders who might be prime scoring choices.
Justė Jocytė, the Valkyries’ first-round draft alternative, was not named to the group’s coaching camp roster, confirming that she is not going to be becoming a member of the group to start out the season. Janelle Salaün and Elissa Cunane are anticipated to affix the roster at a later date after they fulfill worldwide commitments.
Iliana Rupert and María Conde, two gamers chosen in December’s growth draft, aren’t anticipated to affix the group this season. Conde suffered an Achilles tear in January whereas Rupert has been enjoying professionally in Turkey.
Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase, proper, stands subsequent to her gamers throughout coaching camp held on the Sephora Efficiency Heart in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, April 27, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
WHAT ROLE WILL THE VETERANS PLAY?
Whereas the Valkyries entered coaching camp with a plethora of younger expertise, the group will probably be trying towards its veterans to be anchors on each ends of the ground.
Thornton and Hayes carry a mixed 21 years of expertise. Thornton received a WNBA title with the New York Liberty final season. Hayes received the sixth lady of the 12 months award in 2024 after averaging 9.5 factors per sport for the Las Vegas Aces.
Every participant has other ways of being a frontrunner on the ground.
“I want to bring fun. I want to bring leadership. I want to be a leader, not just by example, but also with my voice,” Hayes mentioned.
Thornton, alternatively, is taking a extra measured strategy.
“I don’t do a lot of talking. I kind of just lead by actions,” Thornton mentioned. “What I do on the court and whatever help I can give to the young girls and stuff like that, I’ll lead that way.”
Golden State Valkyries’ Kayla Thornton (5) places on her footwear throughout coaching camp held on the Sephora Efficiency Heart in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, April 27, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
DEFENSE, DEFENSE, DEFENSE
The Valkyries have made it clear that the group’s identification will begin on protection and Golden State has the bodily profile to do exactly that.
Thornton and Billings present size on the perimeter whereas Martin and Hayes are scrappy defenders.
“We know what we want our identity to be and its killers,” Martin mentioned. “We want to be gritty. We want to be relentless. We want to be the ones diving for those balls. We want to be getting stops on defense.”
In keeping with Nakase, Sunday’s follow consisted of all defensive drills and that can possible proceed that manner because the week progresses.
“Today was all about defense,” Nakase mentioned. “It’s going to be defense until we feel that it’s an appropriate time to move up to offense.”
Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase speaks to the media throughout coaching camp held on the Sephora Efficiency Heart in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, April 27, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
ICE BREAKERS
The primary day of coaching camp might be a scary sight, particularly for youthful gamers.
However the Valkyries made positive Sunday’s follow was a lightweight one which included an early movie session and a dance competitors.
“They made us do a little dance to get the jitters out because some people were saying they were nervous,” Hayes mentioned.
Sellers added, “Today was super exciting. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. I was just trying to lean on my vets and soak it all in.”
Hayes mentioned the Valkyries are nonetheless within the means of discovering the place they are going to have their off-court group exercise, however there’s one place that she has on the prime of her record.
“The first thing I want to do is take them to Alcatraz Island,” Hayes mentioned. “We gotta do that one.”
Golden State Valkyries’ Tiffany Hayes (15) solutions questions throughout a press convention at coaching camp held on the Sephora Efficiency Heart in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, April 27, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
A BATTLE OF GUARDS
All eyes will probably be on the guard unit because the group will probably be searching for a strong rotation to enrich Thornton and Billings.
The group’s present group of guards have strengths as shooters and playmakers, however Nakase will probably be searching for greater than a strong offensive sport.
“We’re looking for defense. You have to be able to defend,” Nakase mentioned about what’s going to separate which guards make the group.
Golden State Valkyries’ Kaitlyn Chen (2) shoots a ball throughout coaching camp held on the Sephora Efficiency Heart in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, April 27, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
Golden State Valkyries’ Shyanne Sellers (1) speaks to the media throughout coaching camp held on the Sephora Efficiency Heart in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, April 27, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
Golden State Valkyries’ Kayla Thornton (5) speaks to the media throughout coaching camp held on the Sephora Efficiency Heart in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, April 27, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
Golden State Valkyries’ Kate Martin (20) speaks to the media throughout coaching camp held on the Sephora Efficiency Heart in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, April 27, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
Golden State Valkyries’ Tiffany Hayes (15) solutions questions throughout a press convention at coaching camp held on the Sephora Efficiency Heart in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, April 27, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
Golden State Valkyries follow throughout coaching camp held on the Sephora Efficiency Heart in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, April 27, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
Golden State Valkyries’ Kaitlyn Chen (2) passes a ball throughout coaching camp held on the Sephora Efficiency Heart in Oakland, Calif., on Sunday, April 27, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Space Information Group)
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