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

A pick is included! The WNBA's newest team, the Golden State Valkyries, have made their official expansion draft selections, with 11 players selected from across the league.

Each existing WNBA team could protect six players from their roster, and the Valkyries then selected one unprotected player from each team (with the exception of the Seattle Storm).

The complete list of players selected to make up the initial Valkyries roster is as follows:

Monique BillingsForward, 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, 28, is a 6-foot-4 forward with six years of WNBA experience, including stints in Atlanta and Dallas. She signed a hard contract with the Mercury in August and was then signed for the remainder of the season. Billings is one of seven international players drafted by the Valkyries.

julie vanlooGuard, Washington Mystics

Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images

2024 stats: 7.4 points (34.6% shooting percentage, 32.45% 3P percentage), 4.2 assists

Vanloo is in a unique position as a 31-year-old rookie. She was a standout player overseas for a long time, but made the jump from Belgium to the WNBA last season. The 5-foot-8 guard is a dynamic playmaker;

kate martinGuard, Las Vegas Aces

Photo credit: Kenny Giarla/NBAE, Getty Images

2024 stats: 2.6 points, 1.6 rebounds in 11.5 minutes.

Las Vegas Aces rookie Kate Martin, the 18th pick in the 2024 draft, will be a part of the franchise for Martin. Martin is a versatile, do-it-all player. She's only 24 and there's only so much she can do. WNBA Although he has a lot of experience, he had 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 learning of the selection. “All I need is one shot. I'm so grateful for the Aces and everything I learned there, but I'm excited for this new beginning and building something from the ground up.”

Kayla ThorntonForward, New York Liberty

Photo by: Sarah Steer/Getty Images

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 key member of the Liberty's bench unit last season, appearing the second-most among New York's bench players during the team's 2024 championship run.

“It's hard to say goodbye to a player like KT, who has contributed to the New York Liberty in so many ways over the past two years, including winning the team's first championship,” Liberty general manager Jonathan Kolb said in an official statement. It's so painful that I can't help it.” “KT quickly became an unforgettable member of the Liberty family in his two seasons here.”

Carla LeiteDallas Wings

Photo credit: Sylvain Dionisio ATPImages/Getty Images

Career statistics: N/A

Carla Leite is just 20 years old and is an elite prospect in France. It remains to be seen whether she will transfer to the United States, but there is no denying that Leite has great potential.

Ileana RupertAtlanta Dream

Photo by Gregory Schamus/Getty Images

Career stats: 2.7 points (42% shooting, 33.3% 3P), 2.1 rebounds
2024 statistics: N/A (absent due to Olympic preparation)

Rupert did not play in the WNBA during the 2024 season, but has 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 the championship with Ace. Together with Natalie Nakase, who was an assistant coach at the time.

maria condeChicago Sky

Photo credit: Gregory Schamus/Getty Images

Career statistics: N/A

Although Conde has yet to play in the WNBA, he is an elite European player who the Valkyries are expected to acquire rights to in the future. The Sky selected Conde with the 27th overall pick in the 2019 draft. She currently plays for ZVVZ USK Praha and was recently named EuroLeague MVP in November.

Temi FagbenleIndiana Fever

Photo by Harry Howe/Getty Images

Career stats: 3.9 points (51% shooting), 2.6 rebounds in 11.6 minutes
2024 stats: 6.4 points (50.9% shooting percentage), 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 both in the WNBA and overseas and is a player who can run the floor well and hit threes.

veronica bartonSan, CT

Photo by Jordan Johnson/NBAE via Getty Images

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 Barton made a huge impact last season as the Sun's backup point guard. She has shown that she can be both a defender and a playmaker at a high level, and was a standout for Connecticut after being acquired midway through the season, filling Caitlin Clark's defensive role in the Sun's postseason matchup against the Fever. I accepted.

Stephanie TalbotLos Angeles Sparks

Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Career stats: 4.6 points (43% FG, 36% 3P), 2.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists in 16.6 minutes 2024 stats: 3.5 points (39.5% FG, 3P) in 16.2 minutes rate 26%), 2.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists

Talbot struggled in his first season back from a torn ACL. But she is a seasoned veteran who has historically been able to shoot the three, and head coach Natalie Nakase has already made it clear that she is a priority.

Cecilia Zandarasini minnesota lynx

Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images

Career stats: 4.9 points in 13.7 minutes (42.9% FG, 41.5% 3P), 1.4 rebounds, 1 assist 2024 stats: 4.6 points in 12.2 minutes (45.3% FG, 41.5% 3P) rate 44.3%), 1.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists

Zandarasini is a 28-year-old veteran who won a championship with the Lynx in 2017. She will be playing in the Lynx's rotation during the 2024 playoffs and has extensive experience playing overseas.