Podcast Summary: "What's in Store for the Golden State Valkyries? + Future of WNBA Expansion"

No Offseason: The Athletic Women's Basketball Show
Release Date: May 6, 2025
Host/Authors: Zena Keita, Chantel Jennings, Sabreena Merchant, and Ben Pickman

Introduction to the Episode

In this engaging episode of No Offseason, the hosts delve deep into the exciting developments within the WNBA, focusing primarily on the introduction of the Golden State Valkyries and the broader landscape of WNBA expansion. Skipping over the initial advertisements, the conversation kicks off with a rich analysis of recent preseason games and the strategic moves surrounding new and existing teams.

Preseason Highlights and Player Performances

The episode begins with Sabrina Merchant reflecting on the standout performances in the recent preseason games. A significant highlight was Jackie Young’s impressive display despite her previous injuries.

[02:38] Sabrina Merchant: "Jackie Young is a player who relies so heavily on her physicality... she put up 28 points, nine assists, zero turnovers, 13 of 13 from the foul line just... looked incredible."

Zena Caida echoes the sentiment, emphasizing Young's flawless performance and her potential impact on the league.

[03:37] Zena Caida: "Yeah, the nine assists, no turnovers, that's pretty good. Nice. That was real good."

The discussion also touches on Ben Pickman's observations of the Chicago Sky's offensive strategies and their shift towards increased three-point attempts under new head coach Tyler Marsh.

[04:16] Ben Pickman: "Chicago, after attempting a league-low 14.9 threes per game last year, they took 12 threes in their first half of their preseason opener and finished the game with 29 three pointers."

Ben Pickman's Experience with the New York Liberty

Ben shares a unique experience from the weekend where he participated in an on-court workout with the reigning WNBA champions, the New York Liberty.

[06:34] Ben Pickman: "We spent about 45 minutes on court... there was a ball handling station, a pick and roll station, a shooting station... then we played a big game of knockout won by Sandy Brondello, the head coach of the New York Liberty."

The playful banter between Zena and Ben highlights the camaraderie and behind-the-scenes interactions within the league.

Introducing the Golden State Valkyries

The episode shifts focus to the Golden State Valkyries, the newest addition to the WNBA. The hosts provide an in-depth background on the team's formation, ownership, and strategic plans.

Ownership and establishment

Ben Pickman outlines the Valkyries' ownership structure and their strategic placement in the economically vibrant Bay Area.

[09:48] Ben Pickman: "Joe Lacob is the Warriors Co-executive chairman and CEO and his partner Peter Guber... much like the Golden State Warriors, the Valkyries are going to play their home games at Chase Center."

Zena adds historical context, highlighting Joe Lacob's longstanding interest in women's basketball.

[11:14] Zena Caida: "Even when I was a part of the Golden State Warriors on the partnership side, this was something they had been thinking about... Stanford basketball, Cal basketball. It's rich history for women's basketball."

Expansion Draft and Roster Building

Sabrina Merchant details the expansion draft process and the Valkyries' approach to assembling their roster.

[13:22] Sabrina Merchant: "Golden State could pick from the non-protected players during the expansion draft. They chose a mix of WNBA veterans like Kayla Thornton and rookies like Kate Martin... they formed their training camp roster for their inaugural season."

Zena emphasizes the challenges of combining players who haven't played together before and the anticipation surrounding their first preseason game.

[15:30] Zena Caida: "This is going to be the Valkyries' first preseason game... we're hearing things. We're hearing things. And I actually was at practice today... but I am excited to dig into this team."

Team Strategy and Expectations

The hosts discuss the Valkyries' strategic focus on physical defense, three-point shooting, and maintaining a fast-paced game.

[20:28] Zena Caida: "Coach Nakase was very adamant about... playing with pace and wanting to make sure that her team ultimately is conditioned."

Sabrina highlights the leadership qualities and experience the Valkyries have brought to establish a strong team culture.

[18:18] Sabrina Merchant: "They have a bunch of pros who know how to play in the WNBA... it's about setting the blueprint for what you want to be in future years."

Ben adds that while high expectations for a deep postseason run may be premature, the focus remains on building a competitive and cohesive team.

[22:06] Ben Pickman: "It's about trying to see who's going to be a part of our long-term plan... a very much experimental year."

Future of WNBA Expansion: Toronto Tempo and Portland Team

The conversation broadens to include upcoming expansion teams, the Toronto Tempo and the yet-to-be-named Portland team, discussing their current status and strategic differences.

Toronto Tempo

Sabrina provides an update on the Toronto Tempo, highlighting their branding and initial organizational hires.

[30:11] Sabrina Merchant: "They hired their first general manager, Monica Wright Rogers... they have their name, the Tempo, all initial branding is complete... very good use of Canadian celebrities in their marketing."

Zena commends the Tempo's effective engagement with local fans and strong branding.

[30:52] Zena Caida: "Toronto Tempo works."

Portland Team

Discussion shifts to the Portland team, focusing on their unique ownership structure and ongoing developments.

[31:10] Sabrina Merchant: "Portland... does not yet have a general manager or a name. They have a president, Inky Sun, and have just broken ground on their practice facility with the Portland Thorns... they have a lot of basketball hires to make."

Ben contrasts the rollout timelines and ownership approaches of the three expansion teams, noting the Golden State Valkyries' more advanced stage compared to Toronto and Portland.

[32:18] Ben Pickman: "Golden State hired their GM a year ago, Toronto named theirs along with their branding ahead of Golden State, while Portland is still in the early stages with key roles yet to be filled."

Potential Future Expansion Cities

The hosts explore other cities vying for WNBA expansion, including Austin, Charlotte, Cleveland, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Kansas City, Nashville, and Philadelphia.

[35:43] Ben Pickman: "More than 10 potential ownership groups submitted formal bids... including Austin, Texas, Charlotte, North Carolina, Cleveland, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Kansas City, Nashville, and Philadelphia."

Sabrina discusses the financial commitments required for expansion, highlighting the rising expansion fees.

[38:48] Sabrina Merchant: "The Golden State Valkyries' expansion fee was $50 million, Toronto Tempo put up $115 million, and Portland's team $125 million, which includes their practice facility."

Economic and Organizational Considerations for Expansion

The discussion addresses the financial aspects of expanding the WNBA, contrasting current expansion fees with past valuations.

[39:43] Sabrina Merchant: "Las Vegas Aces were sold for $2 million and then a $20 million assumption of debt... now the fees have risen to over $100 million."

Ben emphasizes the stability and economic health of the league today compared to previous expansion attempts, suggesting a higher chance of success for new franchises.

[38:48] Sabrina Merchant: "This round of expansion has a better chance of succeeding just because the league is in a much better economically healthy position to support the growth."

"Two Takes and a Lie" - WNBA Predictions

In a fun segment titled "Two Takes and a Lie," Ben presents three predictions about the upcoming WNBA season, challenging Sabrina and Zena to identify the false statement.

[42:13] Ben Pickman:

1. Stephanie White, the Indiana Fever's head coach, will win Coach of the Year in 2025.
2. Caitlin Clark will lead the WNBA in scoring this season.
3. No team will win more than three-quarters of its games this year.

After deliberation, it is revealed that the lie was the expectation of Caitlin Clark leading the league in scoring, based on strategic changes by her coach to distribute playmaking.

[46:55] Ben Pickman: "My lie is that I think Caitlin Clark will lead the WNBA in scoring."

Zena praises Ben for correctly identifying the false prediction.

Conclusion and Teasers for Future Episodes

The episode wraps up with a preview of the next episode, which will focus on WNBA culture, including rivalries, financial aspects, and lifestyle elements such as sneaker drops and fashion influences.

[49:08] Zena Caida: "Coming up on Friday, we got a big culture episode... talking about rivalries, money, sneaker drops, style, and more."

The hosts encourage listeners to follow the show on various platforms and engage with their content for more in-depth coverage of women's basketball.

Notable Quotes

• Sabrina Merchant ([02:38]): "Jackie Young... put up 28 points, nine assists, zero turnovers... looked incredible."

• Ben Pickman ([09:48]): "Joe Lacob is the Warriors Co-executive chairman and CEO and his partner Peter Guber..."

• Zena Caida ([11:14]): "Stanford basketball, Cal basketball. It's rich history for women's basketball."

• Ben Pickman ([22:06]): "It's about trying to see who's going to be a part of our long-term plan... a very much experimental year."

• Sabrina Merchant ([38:48]): "This round of expansion has a better chance of succeeding just because the league is in a much better economically healthy position."

• Ben Pickman ([46:55]): "My lie is that I think Caitlin Clark will lead the WNBA in scoring."

Conclusion

This episode of No Offseason offers a comprehensive look into the current and future state of the WNBA, highlighting the strategic movements of the Golden State Valkyries, insights into upcoming expansion teams, and lively discussions on player performances and league dynamics. With expert analysis and insider perspectives, listeners gain a valuable understanding of the evolving landscape of women's basketball.

For more in-depth coverage and exclusive interviews, tune into upcoming episodes dropping every Tuesday and Friday.