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What we know about the Valkyries’ offseason amid WNBA uncertainty

  • January 2, 2026

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The Valkyries captured hearts all over the Bay Area in 2025. Now it’s a new year, and unresolved collective bargaining agreement negotiations pose a temporary threat to the momentum the franchise generated.

As the WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) work toward a new CBA ahead of an extended Jan. 9 deadline, the sides remain far apart on the fundamental issue of how revenue should be shared between the league and players, according to ESPN. 

Multiple extensions of the existing CBA have kept negotiations alive since an initial Oct. 31 deadline, but frustration among WNBPA members has grown. In December, the union said there was near-unanimous support (98% of players who voted) for leadership to call for a strike if doing so creates leverage for a better deal.

Golden State entered this offseason with the potential for significant roster turnover, but general manager Ohemaa Nyanin can’t begin to pursue upgrades until a CBA is in place. It’s no secret that the Valkyries and owner Joe Lacob are hoping to land a face-of-the-franchise type player in the near future, and a star-studded free-agent class featuring headliners such as A’ja Wilson, Sabrina Ionescu, and Kelsey Mitchell presents a clear opportunity.

2 days ago

A football player wearing a red jersey with number 13 and a gold helmet celebrates on the field, while a vertical collage of helmet and hands catching a ball images appears on the left.

Friday, Dec. 19

A baseball player wearing a white uniform with "Kent" and number 21 swings a bat during a game, with fans blurred in the background and red-tinted glove images on the left.

Tuesday, Dec. 16

A basketball player in a Golden State Warriors uniform stands with a determined expression, while red-tinted images of a hand holding a basketball appear on the left.

As for the team’s familiar faces? WNBA Most Improved Player Veronica Burton and sharpshooter Cecilia Zandalasini are restricted free agents, meaning that the Valkyries can retain them by matching any other contract offer. Golden State’s veterans – Tiffany Hayes, Temi Fagbenle, Monique Billings, and 2025 All-Star Kayla Thornton (who suffered a season-ending knee injury in late July) – are all unrestricted free agents this offseason, but the Valkyries will likely explore potential reunions. 

When teams can begin making transactions, Nyanin will have to find the balance between seeking external roster upgrades and prioritizing the returns of players who fit coach Natalie Nakase’s system. Every decision is contingent on how much time the front office will have to operate from the moment a CBA is agreed upon to the start of the 2026 season.

There’s another layer of uncertainty as the WNBA will hold an expansion draft so the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo can build out their rosters. The Valkyries navigated their own expansion draft in December 2024, operating under the rules and timeline of the CBA that is now set to expire. 

At that time, teams were allowed to protect six players, though those protection lists were not made public. What remains unclear is how the process will change for the upcoming draft, which will also establish the framework for future teams in Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia. 

Might there be fewer protections per franchise? Could the Valkyries be exempt from losing players in the draft, given that they are only entering their second season? 

For a roster originally assembled through an expansion draft, the idea of turning around and having to protect players in another one is a difficult scenario. Golden State’s breakout debut was powered not by a single star, but by depth and the cohesion of players awaiting a new opportunity in the league. That balance makes protection decisions far from straightforward. 

A mid-December strike authorization wasn’t an immediate call to stop work, but the vote signals how serious the WNBPA is in defending its interests. A strike would likely push back the league’s offseason calendar, putting the expansion draft for the new teams entering the fold and the traditional late-January opening of free agency on hold. 

For fans in the Bay Area, where the Valkyries soared to a playoff bid in their inaugural season, a lingering work stoppage would sting especially hard. After Golden State sold out all 22 home games and led the league in average attendance, no fan base would feel the delay or absence of WNBA action more acutely than Valkyries supporters who just got a taste of what this franchise can be in 2025. 

With so many moving parts in the CBA stall, three broad scenarios are emerging:

The most optimistic outcome: a new CBA is agreed to by Jan. 9 or shortly after, allowing the expansion draft, free agency, and WNBA Draft dates to proceed as expected. The Valkyries could retain core players, re-sign key free-agents, and lure new stars. Golden State’s 2026 season would have momentum and clarity.The next: a delayed CBA and compressed calendar (which looks more likely) as talks stretch later into winter or spring, pushing the key offseason dates back. The Valkyries organization and players would have to make quick decisions – it’s possible many free-agents would return to their previous teams – but the regular season would still take place on time.The final possibility: negotiations break down and players strike to gain leverage. That could delay or cancel offseason events and put the season in jeopardy. In a city eager to embrace the Valkyries once again, a lost or shortened season would be a bitter blow. 

As teams and players continue negotiations, at least Valkyries fans can watch some of their favorite players — Burton, Billings, Hayes, Fagbenle, Kate Martin, — in Unrivaled starting Jan. 5.Â