WNBA NEWS - Golden State Valkyries begin constructing inaugural roster

Former Connecticut Sun Veronica Burton was drafted by the Golden State Valkyries - (WNBA photo)

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Los Angeles Lakers Magic Johnson and Boston Celtics Larry Bird in Game two of the 1985 NBA Finals at Boston Garden Date 30 May 1985 - Steve Lipofsky www.Basketballphoto.com ALL TIME NBA 1st TEAM - BREAKING IT DOWN

With 11 selections in 2024 WNBA Expansion Draft - The team’s roster also boasts seven international players – Maria Conde (Spain), Temi Fagbenle (United Kingdom), Carla Leite (France), Iliana Rupert (France), Stephanie Talbot (Australia), Julie Vanloo (Belgium), and Cecilia Zandalasini (Italy) - Outta Pocket - THIS DAY IN THE NBA

Tuesday December 10, 2024

New York, New York USA

The Golden State Valkyries began the process of building their inaugural roster by selecting 11 players in the 2024 WNBA Expansion Draft presented by State Farm, the WNBA announced.

"We are excited to have officially started the journey of building the Golden State Valkyries 2025 team," said General Manager Ohemaa Nyanin. "Our goal was to construct a roster that embodies both versatility and depth, bringing in a strong mix of leadership, defense, and scoring ability. These players were carefully chosen not only for their skills on the court, but also for their ability to fit into the culture we're working to build here at Golden State."

The list of players selected includes, Iliana Rupert (Atlanta Dream), Maria Conde (Chicago Sky), Veronica Burton (Connecticut Sun), Carla Leite (Dallas Wings), Temi Fagbenle (Indiana Fever), Kate Martin (Las Vegas Aces), Stephanie Talbot (Los Angeles Sparks), Cecilia Zandalasini (Minnesota Lynx), Kayla Thornton (New York Liberty), Monique Billings (Phoenix Mercury), and Julie Vanloo (Washington Mystics). The Valkyries did not select a player from the Seattle Storm.

Four players on the inaugural Golden State roster have won a WNBA championship during their career: Fagbenle and Zandalasini with Minnesota in 2017, Rupert with Las Vegas in 2022, and Thornton with New York in 2024. The team's roster also boasts seven international players - Maria Conde (Spain), Temi Fagbenle (United Kingdom), Carla Leite (France), Iliana Rupert (France), Stephanie Talbot (Australia), Julie Vanloo (Belgium), and Cecilia Zandalasini (Italy).

Golden State selected from a pool of available players as determined by each of the other 12 WNBA franchises. Each team was required to submit a maximum of six players who were "protected" and therefore not eligible for selection in the 2024 Expansion Draft presented by State Farm. Golden State had the opportunity to acquire the player contract of, or the negotiating rights to, one available player from each of the current 12 teams. If a player not signed to a contract for the 2025 season was selected, Golden State shall receive whatever rights to such player that the existing team would have had if that player was not selected in the Expansion Draft.

The Valkyries had the option to select one player who is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent following the 2024 season. Golden State now has the right to designate that unrestricted free agent, Billings, as a "Core" player, giving the team exclusive negotiating rights to her in exchange for an offer of a one-year, fully guaranteed contract at the maximum salary.

Looking ahead, all teams will enter into the WNBA's free agency period, as defined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Qualifying offers and "Core" player designations can first be sent Jan. 11 and must be made by Jan. 20. Teams may begin negotiating with players can negotiate on Jan. 21, while contracts and offer sheets may be signed beginning on Feb. 1.

The Valkyries now hold the fifth, 17th and 30th overall selections in the 2025 WNBA Draft presented by State Farm. Golden State will open the regular season on Friday, May 16 when they host the Los Angeles Sparks, who were led last season by three-time WNBA All-Star Dearica Hamby and 2024 WNBA All-Rookie Team selection Rickea Jackson, and who own the No. 2 overall draft pick in 2025 (10:00 p.m. ET).

Outta Pocket

December 5, 2024 NEW YORK – Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka, forward Tari Eason and center Alperen Sengun have been fined $50,000, $35,000 and $15,000, respectively, it was announced today by Joe Dumars, Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations.

Udoka has been fined $50,000 for confronting and directing profane language toward a game official, failing to leave the court in a timely manner after being ejected, and public criticism of the officiating during his postgame press conference.

Eason has been fined $35,000 for throwing a towel and directing inappropriate language in the direction of a fan in the spectator stands after the game had concluded.

Sengun has been fined $15,000 for directing inappropriate language toward a game official.

The in-game incident, for which Udoka and Sengun were both assessed technical fouls and ejected, occurred with 1:52 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Rockets’ 120-111 loss to the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on Tuesday, Dec. 3.

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Hawks fined

November 26, 2024 NEW YORK – The NBA announced today that the Atlanta Hawks have been fined $100,000 for violating the league’s Player Participation Policy in connection with Trae Young missing the team’s Emirates NBA Cup game on Nov. 12 against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden.

Following an investigation, including review by an independent physician, the NBA determined that the Hawks held Young out of a game that he could have played in under the medical standard in the Policy. The organization’s conduct violated the Policy, which is intended to promote participation in the NBA’s regular season.

THIS DAY IN THE NBA

December 10, 1971 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar scored a career-high 55 points in Milwaukee’s 120-104 victory over Boston.

December 10, 1985 The Boston Celtics beat Atlanta 118-101 to win the first of an NBA-record 38 straight home games over two seasons, ending November 28, 1986.

December 10, 1985 The Indiana Pacers made just 19 field goals in an 82-64 loss to the New York Knicks, setting an NBA record for the fewest field goals made by one team since the inception of the shot clock. The record stood for more than 13 years before the Chicago Bulls converted just 18 field goals in a game against Miami on April 10, 1999.

December 10, 1994 Dallas Coach Dick Motta moved into third place on the all-time coaching wins list (passing Jack Ramsay) with 865 career victories, following the Mavericks’ 99-86 win over visiting Charlotte.

December 10, 1995 James Worthy became the sixth player in Los Angeles Lakers’ history to have his jersey retired, when the team retired his No. 42 jersey at halftime of the game against Detroit at the Great Western Forum. Worthy, who played in 926 regular-season and 143 playoff games for the Lakers over 12 seasons, was also a member of NBA Championship teams in 1985, '87 and '88.

December 10, 1996 In Detroit’s 93-85 win over Milwaukee, Terry Mills of Detroit missed his first three-point field goal attempt since extending his NBA-record streak to 13 straight three-point field goal attempts without a miss against the Nets on December 7th.

December 10, 1999 Chicago Bulls guard Hersey Hawkins saw a streak of 527 consecutive games played end when he was unable to suit up for the Bulls' 71-69 win over New Jersey. Hawkins suffered a torn muscle in his left calf in a December 8 game against Cleveland. Hawkins' 527-game streak was the second-longest active consecutive games played streak behind all-time leader A.C. Green. Before the injury, Hawkins had missed only seven games in his 12-year NBA career.

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