The Valkyries signed 2025 third-round draft decide Kaitlyn Chen and ahead Chloe Bibby to their roster on Sunday as beginning middle Temi Fágbénlé is predicted to depart to take part in EuroBasket for her native Nice Britain.
Fágbénlé, the Valkyries’ 6-foot-4 beginning middle, is the final participant anticipated to depart for the EuroBasket event and follows fellow European teammates Janelle Salaün, Julie Vanloo and Cecilia Zandalasini as gamers whose contracts will probably be briefly suspended whereas they’re fulfilling nationwide group duties.
Fágbénlé is averaging a career-high 10.3 factors and 6.3 rebounds for Golden State (5-5). She scored a season-high 16 factors and grabbed seven rebounds within the Valkyries’ 76-70 win over the Seattle Storm on Saturday.
Bibby and Chen each performed for the Valkyries within the preseason. Bibby, 26, was the Polish league MVP final season however has largely performed professionally in her native Australia after her school days at Mississippi State and Maryland. She averaged 5.0 factors and 1.5 rebounds in two preseason video games for the Valkyries.
Chen, the thirtieth total pick of Connecticut, additionally performed for the Valkyries within the preseason. She had two factors, three rebounds and an help in 13 minutes over the 2 video games. The 23-year-old capturing guard began for the 2025 NCAA champion Huskies after three seasons at Princeton.
Dropping Fágbénlé will probably be important for the Valkyries as they already lack dimension and will probably be with out their tallest participant for the following few weeks. However Fágbénlé mentioned she is assured the Valkyries will proceed to play nicely in her absence.
“We know what it takes to be great teammates and we know what it takes to step up and do what we need to do for the team to succeed,” Fágbénlé mentioned after Saturday’s win. “So whoever leaves, it’s gonna be fine. Someone’s gonna step up and we’re gonna do it together. That’s really the strength of our team.”
Based on the WNBA’s collective bargaining settlement, any participant taking a depart to play in EuroBasket has 48 hours to return after their nationwide group has accomplished play.
Ought to Nice Britain make the EuroBasket finals, Fágbénlé will probably be slated to overlook the Valkyries’ subsequent six video games.
Backup middle Monique Billings figures to begin for the following few weeks. Coach Natalie Nakase mentioned on Thursday that newly signed ahead Laeticia Amihere will play spot minutes on the 5.
“When she leaves, it’s going to be a big piece missing,” Valkyries ahead Kayla Thornton mentioned of Fágbénlé. “I’m sure we’re going to have to have (Monique Billings) step up… We’re going to miss her, but we’re going to have to hold it down while she’s gone and until she gets back.”
