Head coach Natalie Nakase and the Golden State Valkyries are set to kick off their inaugural season against the Los Angeles Sparks. This exciting matchup marks a significant milestone for the franchise as they look to establish themselves in the league.
The Valkyries have recently finalized their roster, which includes notable players such as Tiffany Hayes and Monique Billings. However, the team will not feature any of their 2025 draft picks, having waived Shyanne Sellers, the 17th overall pick from Maryland, and Kaitlyn Chen, the 30th overall pick from UConn. Though the team selected Lithuanian guard Justė Jocytė with the fifth overall pick, she will be focusing on EuroBasket and is not expected to join the Valkyries until 2026.
On the Sparks’ side, Kelsey Plum is set to make her regular-season debut following her trade from the Las Vegas Aces. The Sparks had a thrilling pre-season encounter with the Valkyries, narrowly winning by just one point.
Fans can catch the Sparks vs. Valkyries game on Friday, May 16, at 10 p.m. ET, live from the Chase Center in San Francisco.
This inaugural season represents a pivotal opportunity for the Valkyries to make a lasting impression, and fans can look forward to witnessing the development of this new team in the league.