SAN FRANCISCO — The Golden State Valkyries selected center Iliana Rupert from the Atlanta Dream, guards Veronica Burton (Connecticut Sun) and Carla Leite (Dallas Wings) and forward Maria Conde (Chicago Sky) with their initial picks of the WNBA expansion draft Friday, making that quartet the first players for the new San Francisco Bay Area franchise that’s set to tip off next season.
Golden State rounded out its 11-woman roster with Indiana Fever center Temi Fagbenle, Las Vegas Aces guard Kate Martin, forwards Steph Talbot (Los Angeles Sparks), Cecilia Zandalasini (Minnesota Lynx), Kayla Thornton (New York Liberty) and Monique Billings (Phoenix Mercury), and Washington Mystics guard Julie Vanloo.
The Seattle Sounders are the lone current WNBA franchise the Valkyries did not choose a player from.
“It’s a long process, but it’s also a great process for us,” Golden State coach Natalie Nakase said of scouting players to begin building a roster. “We kind of did this cycle where we collaborate, we discuss and then we go watch film, then do it again … and that went over and over again for about two months. And finally we decided, we picked the best players that fit our culture. So we’re excited and can’t wait to get going.”
Friday marked the WNBA’s first expansion draft in 16 years, since the Dream joined the league in 2008.