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Golden State Valkyries Finalize Roster with Draft Picks Ahead of Inaugural WNBA Season

The Valkyries selected Lithuanian guard Justė Jocytė with the No. 5 overall pick, emphasizing global talent and youth in their roster-building strategy.

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Golden State Valkyries General Manager Ohemaa Nyanin, left, and coach Natalie Nakase are building a new WNBA franchise from scratch.
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Overview

  • The Golden State Valkyries, a WNBA expansion team debuting in 2025, completed their roster with the collegiate draft, selecting Lithuanian guard Justė Jocytė as their first-ever pick at No. 5 overall.
  • Jocytė, a 19-year-old professional player from Europe, brings international experience, averaging 12.1 points and 2.6 assists per game for Lyon ASVEL in France.
  • The Valkyries also added Maryland star Shyanne Sellers and UConn's Kaitlyn Chen in later draft rounds, bolstering their roster with versatile collegiate talent.
  • The team has emphasized innovative leadership and entrepreneurial culture, led by General Manager Ohemaa Nyanin and Head Coach Natalie Nakase, the WNBA's first Asian head coach.
  • With strong commercial backing, including a deal with Sephora and record sales of 10,000 season tickets, the Valkyries are poised to make a significant impact in their inaugural season.