American Football

Meet the 11 WNBA players the Golden State Valkyries selected in the expansion draft

Published on

December 7, 2024

The inaugural team is headlined by Kate Martin, Temi Fagbenle, Veronica Burton, Monique Billings, and several other key WNBA rotation players.

The picks are in! The Golden State Valkyries — the WNBA’s newest team — has made its official expansion draft selections, with 11 players from across the league being picked.

Each existing WNBA team was able to protect six players from their roster, and the Valkyries subsequently selected one unprotected player from each team (except for the Seattle Storm).

Here’s the full list of players who were selected, and will thus make up the inaugural Valkyries roster:

Monique Billings, forward, Phoenix Mercury

Career stats: 6.2 points, 5.8 rebounds in 19.4 minutes per game
2024 stats: 4.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists in 22.8 minutes per game

Billings is a 28-year-old, 6’4 forward with six years of WNBA experience — including 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 of 7 international players to be drafted by the Valkyries.

Julie Vanloo, guard, Washington Mystics

2024 stats: 7.4 points (34.6% shooting, 32.45 from three), 4.2 assists

Vanloo is in a unique position as a 31-year-old rookie. She’s long been a standout overseas player, but Vanloo made the jump from Belgium to the WNBA this past season. The 5’8 guard is a dynamic playmaker,

Kate Martin, guard, Las Vegas Aces

2024 stats: 2.6 points, 1.6 rebounds in 11.5 minutes

Kate Martin, a Las Vegas Aces rookie drafted with the No. 18 pick in 2024, will be a franchise piece for the Martin. Martin is a versatile, do-it-all player. She’s just 24 years old and has limited WNBA experience, but has a solid first year in Las Vegas and clearly made an impression on head coach Natalie Nakase.

“This league is all about opportunity,” Kate Martin said on ESPN shortly after she learned she was selected. “You just need one shot. I’m very thankful for the Aces and everything I got to learn there, but I’m excited for this new beginning and to build something from the ground up.”

Kayla Thornton, forward, New York Liberty

Career stats: 7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists in 23.5 minutes per game
2024 stats: 5.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, 0.7 assists in 20 minutes per game

Kayla Thornton was a vital member of the Liberty’s bench unit this past season, playing the second-most minutes among New York bench players during the team’s 2024 championship run.

“It is incredibly difficult to say goodbye to a player like KT who contributed to the New York Liberty in so many ways over these past two years, including our franchise’s first-ever championship,” said Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb in an official statement. “KT quickly became an indelible part of the Liberty family during her two seasons here.”

Carla Leite, Dallas Wings

Career stats: N/A

At just 20 years old, Carla Leite is an elite French prospect. Whether or not she’ll make the move to the U.S. remains to be seen, but it’s undeniable that Leite has enormous potential.

Iliana Rupert, Atlanta Dream

Career stats: 2.7 points (42% shooting, 33.3% from three), 2.1 rebounds
2024 stats: N/A (sat out to prepare for Olympics)

Rupert didn’t play in the WNBA during the 2024 season, but she does have two years of WNBA experience, playing for the Las Vegas Aces in 2022 and the Atlanta Dream in 2023. In her 2022 stint, she won a championship with the Aces alongside Natalie Nakase, who was an assistant coach at the time.

Maria Conde, Chicago Sky

Career stats: N/A

Conde hasn’t played in the WNBA yet, but she’s an elite European prospect that the Valkyries will have her rights moving forward. The Sky drafted Conde as the No. 27 overall pick in the 2019 Draft. She currently plays for ZVVZ USK Praha and was recently named EuroLeague MVP in November.

Temi Fagbenle, Indiana Fever

Career stats: 3.9 points (51% shooting), 2.6 rebounds in 11.6 minutes
2024 stats: 6.4 points (50.9% shooting), 4.7 rebounds in 18.9 minutes

Fagbenle was a very solid rotation player for the Fever last season. The 32-year-old veteran has extensive experience in both the WNBA and overseas, and is someone that can run the floor well and shoot the three.

Veronica Burton, Connecticut Sun

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

Veronica Burton was highly impactful as the Sun’s backup point guard last season. She’s shown she can both defend and playmaker at a high level, and was a standout for Connecticut after being acquired midseason, taking on the Caitlin Clark defensive assignment in the Sun’s postseason matchup with the Fever.

Stephanie Talbot, Los Angeles Sparks

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

Talbot struggled in her first season back from a torn ACL. But, she’s an experienced veteran who has historically been able to shoot the three, something that head coach Natalie Nakase has already made clear will be a priority.

Cecilia Zandalasini, Minnesota Lynx

Career stats: 4.9 points (42.9% FG, 41.5% from three), 1.4 rebounds, 1 assist in 13.7 minutes 2024 stats: 4.6 points (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 won a championship with the Lynx in 2017. She was a rotation play for the Lynx throughout their 2024 playoff run, and also has extensive experience playing overseas.

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