Date, Time, and Location: Saturday, April 25th, 5:30pm, Chase Center
Broadcast Information: KPIX (San Francisco Bay Area), KMAX (Sacramento Area), KUNS (Seattle Area), Amazon Prime Video (Seattle’s local broadcast area), WNBA League Pass (Streaming)
The Golden State Valkyries play their lone preseason game on Saturday at home against the Seattle Storm. Their opponents became a bit of a nemesis last season as the teams finished tied in the standings and will also face each other to start the regular season. With both teams missing players expected to play key roles this year, this game will be an opportunity for other rotation players to step up and players who have not secured roster spots to impress and make their case.
The Valkyries
Golden State waived Bailey Maupin on Tuesday to drop down to a roster of 20, but not all of the players are with the team yet. Cecilia Zandalasini and Kaila Charles will finish their seasons on Sunday and Janelle Salaun could also be finished on that date. Juste Jocyte still has the playoffs in the Spanish league to play in before she can join the team. Gabby Williams and Iliana Rupert just finished their seasons with Williams just reporting to the team so neither will play either. Kayla Thornton is likely to play after recovering from the injury that ended her last season.
The Opposition
Seattle made the playoffs last season, but will struggle to match that this year, after major transitions led to offseason rebuilding. Head coach Noelle Quinn was not retained and was replaced by Sonia Raman, who had college head coaching experience, but was most recently an assistant coach with the New York Liberty after an NBA role. The team’s four highest players left in free agency, including Gabby Williams joining the Valkyries.
The team’s rebuilding started with the 3rd overall pick in the draft, young Spanish post Awa Fam, who will not join the team until her European season ends. The team also executed the now infamous trade with the Valkyries that allowed them to add Flau’jae Johnson. Their other first round draft pick was point guard Taina Mair and then they completed the draft by selecting Grace VanSlooten. Her former college teammate Jalyn Brown signed as an undrafted free agent as well as San Francisco native Elle Ladine.
Ezi Magbegor was their most established returnee, having just signed a long-term contract to remain with the team, but she will miss the start of the season due to injury. That leaves Dominique Malonga and Lexie Brown as the only available players who played all year with the team, although Mackenzie Holmes and Zia Cookie did finish the season in Seattle. Katie Lou Samuelson and Jordan Horston had contracts with the Storm, but missed all of last season with injuries and will not be available for this game either.
Seattle brought in several WNBA veterans during free agency as Natisha Hiedeman is slated to be their starting point guard, but will miss this game due to injury, and Stefanie Dolson gives them experience in the post. Jade Melbourne was added as a younger guard option and she has played over 100 games in the league while being born after two players drafted this year, including Marta Suarez. Former Cal player Jaelyn Brown, Beatrice Mompremier, and Rennia Davis were other former WNBA players getting another chance in training camp this season.
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