SEATTLE — The Golden State Valkyries’ initial 12-player roster came with a handful of surprises ahead of their season-opening tipoff against the Seattle Storm on Friday night. 

Guard Kate Martin, injured with a Grade 2 quad strain for a majority of training camp, was waived. Additionally, center Iliana Rupert is pregnant, which means the Valkyries filed for a replacement contract to fill Rupert’s spot.

Rupert has full trade protection and is guaranteed the entirety of her contract, with the Valkyries getting salary cap flexibility for that roster spot in return. The request is awaiting league approval.

The pregnancy announcement leaves 10-year veteran Kiah Stokes as the only center on the roster. The Valkyries could add another center once the league approves the replacement contract, or bring back Martin, who played 42 games for Golden State last year. Teams have 48 hours to add Martin to their roster.

The moves also paved the way for Kaitlyn Chen, in her second year with Golden State, to crack the roster as a backup point guard to starter Veronica Burton.

Big free-agent addition Gabby Williams along with veteran Tiffany Hayes, 2025 first-rounder Justė Jocytė and Kaila Charles round out the backcourt portion of the roster. Guard Miela Sowah remains in one of the two developmental roster spots, so one of those is still open.

Player                         Pos.    Ht      Exp        DOB                School                  Country

Gabby Williams           F      5-11      7          9/9/1996        Connecticut         France/U.S.

Laeticia Amihere         F       6-3       3         7/10/2001        South Carolina     Canada

Veronica Burton          G       5-9       4         7/12/2000        Northwestern       U.S.

Kaila Charles            G/F      6-1       5         3/23/1998        Maryland             U.S.

Kaitlyn Chen              G        5-9       1        2/22/2002        Connecticut          U.S.

Tiffany Hayes             G       5-10    13        9/20/1989        Connecticut         U.S.

Justė Jocytė               G/F     6-0       R        11/19/2005            —                    Lithuania/U.S.

Iliana Rupert               C       6-4        3         7/12/2001      Tango (France)    France

Janelle Salaün             F        6-2       1           9/5/2001            —                     France

Miela Sowah*            G       5-10     R          6/4/2000        Duke                  Australia

Kiah Stokes                C        6-3      10        3/30/1993      Connecticut           U.S.

Kayla Thornton          F         6-1     10       10/20/1992       UTEP                   U.S.

Cecilia Zandalasini     F        6-2       4         3/16/1996      PF Schio (Italy)     Italy

Nakase to help coach Team USA: Team USA announced that Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase will serve as an assistant coach to Kara Lawson, Duke’s head coach, for the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup set for September in Berlin. Alongside Nakase are fellow WNBA coaches Nate Tibbetts (Phoenix Mercury) and Stephanie White (Indiana Fever).