Meet the 11 WNBA gamers the Golden State Valkyries chosen within the growth draft

The picks are in! The Golden State Valkyries — the WNBA’s latest group — has made their official growth draft choices, with 11 gamers being picked.

Every present WNBA group was capable of shield six gamers from their roster, and the Valkyries subsequently chosen one unprotected participant from every group (aside from the Seattle Storm).

Right here’s the total listing of gamers who had been chosen, and can thus make up the inaugural Valkyries roster:

Monique Billings, ahead, Phoenix Mercury

Photograph by Chris Coduto/Getty Photos

Profession stats: 6.2 factors, 5.8 rebounds in 19.4 minutes per recreation
2024 stats: 4.9 factors, 5.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists in 22.8 minutes per recreation

Billings is a 28-year-old, 6’4 ahead with six years of WNBA expertise — together with stints in Atlanta and Dallas. She signed a hardship contract with the Mercury in August and subsequently signed a rest-of-season contract. Billings is one in all 7 worldwide gamers to be drafted by the Valkyries.

Julie Vanloo, guard, Washington Mystics

Photograph by Greg Fiume/Getty Photos

2024 stats: 7.4 factors (34.6% taking pictures, 32.45 from three), 4.2 assists

Vanloo is in a novel place as a 31-year-old rookie. She’s lengthy been a standout abroad participant, however Vanloo made the leap from Belgium to the WNBA this previous season. The 5’8 guard is a dynamic playmaker,

Kate Martin, guard, Las Vegas Aces

Photograph by Kenny Giarla/NBAE by way of Getty Photos

2024 stats: 2.6 factors, 1.6 rebounds in 11.5 minutes

Kate Martin, a Las Vegas Aces rookie drafted with the No. 18 decide in 2024, will probably be a franchise piece for the Martin. Martin is a flexible, do-it-all participant. She’s simply 24 years outdated and has restricted WNBA expertise, however has a strong first yr in Las Vegas and clearly made an impression on head coach Natalie Nakase.

“This league is all about alternative,” Kate Martin mentioned on ESPN shortly after she discovered she was chosen. “You simply want one shot. I’m very grateful for the Aces and every thing I bought to study there, however I’m excited for this new starting and to construct one thing from the bottom up.”

Kayla Thornton, ahead, New York Liberty

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Profession stats: 7 factors, 4.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists in 23.5 minutes per recreation
2024 stats: 5.5 factors, 2.6 rebounds, 0.7 assists in 20 minutes per recreation

Kayla Thornton was a significant member of the Liberty’s bench unit this previous season, taking part in the second-most minutes amongst New York bench gamers throughout the group’s 2024 championship run.

“It’s extremely troublesome to say goodbye to a participant like KT who contributed to the New York Liberty in so some ways over these previous two years, together with our franchise’s first-ever championship,” mentioned Liberty common supervisor Jonathan Kolb in an official assertion. “KT shortly turned an indelible a part of the Liberty household throughout her two seasons right here.”

Carla Leite, Dallas Wings

Photograph by Sylvain Dionisio ATPImages/Getty Photos

Profession stats: N/A

At simply 20 years outdated, Carla Leite is an elite French prospect. Whether or not or not she’ll make the transfer to the U.S. stays to be seen, but it surely’s simple that Leite has monumental potential.

Iliana Rupert, Atlanta Dream

Photograph by Gregory Shamus/Getty Photos

Profession stats: 2.7 factors (42% taking pictures, 33.3% from three), 2.1 rebounds
2024 stats: N/A (sat out to arrange for Olympics)

Rupert didn’t play within the WNBA throughout the 2024 season, however she does have two years of WNBA expertise, taking part in for the Las Vegas Aces in 2022 and the Atlanta Dream in 2023. In her 2022 stint, she gained a championship with the Aces alongside Natalie Nakase, who was an assistant coach on the time.

Maria Conde, Chicago Sky

Photograph by Gregory Shamus/Getty Photos

Profession stats: N/A

Conde hasn’t performed within the WNBA but, however she’s an elite European prospect that the Valkyries could have her rights transferring ahead. The Sky drafted Conde because the No. 27 general decide within the 2019 Draft. She presently performs for ZVVZ USK Praha and was just lately named EuroLeague MVP in November.

Temi Fagbenle, Indiana Fever

Photograph by Harry How/Getty Photos

Profession stats: 3.9 factors (51% taking pictures), 2.6 rebounds in 11.6 minutes
2024 stats: 6.4 factors (50.9% taking pictures), 4.7 rebounds in 18.9 minutes

Fagbenle was a really strong rotation participant for the Fever final season. The 32-year-old veteran has intensive expertise in each the WNBA and abroad, and is somebody that may run the ground nicely and shoot the three.

Veronica Burton, Connecticut Solar

Photograph by Jordan Johnson/NBAE by way of Getty Photos

Profession stats: 2.7 factors (36.1%), 1.6 rebounds, 2 assists in 14 minutes
2024 stats: 3.1 factors (32.6%), 1.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists in 12.7 minutes

Veronica Burton was extremely impactful because the Solar’s backup level guard final season. She’s proven she will each defend and playmaker at a excessive degree, and was a standout for Connecticut after being acquired midseason, taking up the Caitlin Clark defensive project within the Solar’s postseason matchup with the Fever.

Stephanie Talbot, Los Angeles Sparks

Photograph by Ronald Martinez/Getty Photos

Profession stats: 4.6 factors (43% FG, 36% from three), 2.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists in 16.6 minutes 2024 stats: 3.5 factors (39.5% FG, 26% from three), 2.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists in 16.2 minutes

Talbot struggled in her first season again from a torn ACL. However, she’s an skilled veteran who has traditionally been capable of shoot the three, one thing that head coach Natalie Nakase has already made clear will probably be a precedence.

Cecilia Zandalasini, Minnesota Lynx

Photograph by David Dow/NBAE by way of Getty Photos

Profession stats: 4.9 factors (42.9% FG, 41.5% from three), 1.4 rebounds, 1 help in 13.7 minutes 2024 stats: 4.6 factors (45.3% FG, 44.3% from three), 1.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists in 12.2 minutes

Zandalasini is a 28-year-old veteran who gained a championship with the Lynx in 2017. She was a rotation play for the Lynx all through their 2024 playoff run, and in addition has intensive expertise taking part in abroad.