Fresh off a historic playoff berth their inaugural season, the Golden State Valkyries got back to action for training camp on Sunday afternoon looking to make a deep run in Year 2.
Not everyone was in camp on day one — new addition Gabby Williams is among those yet to arrive — but absent a full squad, the pillars of a legitimate contender filled the downtown Oakland facility.
One is Veronica Burton, who emerged a star last year with the accolades to show for it. She’s the WNBA’s reigning Most Improved Player and a second-team all defensive player whose growth shows in the numbers.
In her first year with Golden State — since they acquired her from the Connecticut Sun in the expansion draft — she became the first player in WNBA history to multiply her average stats by five points, two rebounds and two assists per game year over year.
She did that partially for the team’s needs in the wake of Kayla Thornton’s season-ending knee injury last July, but in so doing became a key to the Valkyries’ success. She comes to camp as a team leader, the team’s backbone.
“For someone like me, it’s more familiar, so that’s helpful,” Burton said of training camp. “Coming back. Having that camaraderie with the coaching staff and my teammates — it’s always a little bit more comfortable being back and welcoming in new faces. It’s really exciting for them to be here.”
That familiarity will grow. Thornton signed a multiyear deal to stay with Golden State on April 11, when free agency opened after the new collective bargaining agreement was officially signed.
Burton had an impressive year individually, but her goals for 2026 are about the team.
“Our expectations aren’t based on last year,” Burton said. “Last year was incredible. We smashed a lot of expectations but we have new ones this year. We want to compete for a championship, that’s the goal, that’s the reason why we’re here. So it’s not based on last year, it’s off us competing, being professional athletes and wanting to win.”
Another pillar returning to the floor is Thornton, the team’s heartbeat who said she should be ready to go for Game 1 against the Seattle Storm on May 8 following right knee surgery last July. She said the rehab journey was full of “highs and lows” but “I’m back.”
“There were days I felt I was on top of the mountain and days where I was like, ‘What’s going on?’” Thornton said. “It was a journey. To be back with my team, to finally be able to go against other people is great.”
Head coach Natalie Nakase was more cautious to commit to Thornton’s rapid return, saying she is a “big believer in health, so let’s take it one day at a time.”
Briefly: The Valkyries re-signed Tiffany Hayes, 36, to a one-year contract, the team announced Saturday. Hayes averaged 11.7 points, a career-high 3.8 rebounds and 3 assists with Golden State last year. … Also in camp were guards Caroline Ducharme, Bailey Maupin and Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda, who signed training camp contracts.