Golden State seeks star scorer

The Golden State Valkyries will enter the 2026 off season with enough money to sign a top-tier free agent. The team won the WNBA championship in 2026 with a roster that lacks a traditional star. Their front office intends to use its financial flexibility to add a high-profile scorer for the 2027 season.

The Valkyries finished the 2026 regular season with a 32-12 record. Their defensive rating of 99.1 was the best in the league. This statistic was more than four points per 100 possessions better than the second-ranked team. They forced a 19.2 percent turnover rate, which ranked second in the league. However, their offense struggled. Their offensive rating of 108.2 ranked seventh. They ranked last in field goal percentage at 42.2 percent. No player on the team averaged 15 points per game.

General Manager Ohemaa Nyanin prioritized salary cap flexibility during the 2025 offseason. She traded the No. 8 pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft to secure two second-round selections. Nyanin stated that this move was designed to allow the team to sign another athlete in the future. The team currently has only $3.2 million in guaranteed money on its books for 2027. The 2027 salary cap is expected to exceed the 2026 figure of $7 million. This gap provides room to sign a player on a maximum contract.

Several star players are available as free agents this winter. Napheesa Collier is considered the most natural fit for the Valkyries. She is an efficient scorer who also contributes on defense. Jackie Young, Kelsey Mitchell, and Kelsey Plum are also on the market. Young offers elite offensive talent without a major defensive downside. Mitchell and Plum are strong scorers but are considered weaker defenders.

The team relied heavily on defense to win the title. Gabby Williams, the Finals MVP, finished second for Defensive Player of the Year. Veronica Burton and Kiah Stokes made the All-Defensive Second Team. The Valkyries held opponents to 31.1 points in the paint per game, a league-leading mark. They limited opponents to just 14 restricted-area attempts per game. Their ability to force turnovers and defend the perimeter masked their offensive inefficiencies during the playoffs.

The Valkyries faced scoring challenges in the postseason. They shot 36.4 percent from the field against the Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals. In the Finals, they shot 32.1 percent in one game, the third-lowest percentage for a winning team in a Finals game in league history. Williams scored 28 of her 30 points in the second half of Game 7. She hit a go-ahead three-pointer with two minutes remaining to secure the championship.

Nyanin believes the team can sign a star without disrupting its current core. The organization has three French players on its roster, including center Iliana Rupert, who was on maternity leave for the 2026 season. The team retains its own picks at Nos. 14, 29, and 44 in the 2027 WNBA Draft. The No. 14 selection is the primary focus if the team chooses to draft.

The Valkyries are the first expansion team to make the playoffs in its inaugural season. They are also the first team in North American professional sports to win a title in its second year. The team achieved this feat without an All-WNBA player on its roster. The front office now aims to pair that defensive identity with elite scoring talent.