The Golden State Valkyries announced today that Laeticia Amihere was awarded to the team on a waiver claim.

"Laeticia is the type of player that can fit seamlessly into our program," said Valkyries General Manager Ohemaa Nyanin. "Her competitive nature and effort level are contagious.”

Selected 8th overall in the 2023 WNBA Draft by Atlanta, Amihere played 38 games across two seasons (2023, 2024) with the Dream. The 6-3 forward brings extensive experience as a member of the Canadian National Team, including two Olympic appearances: 2020 in Tokyo and 2024 in Paris. Her international career began in 2015 at the FIBA Americas U16 Championship, where she recorded eight points and 10 rebounds en route to a gold medal. She made history as the first Canadian female basketball player to dunk in a game at age 15 and later became the first player of Ghanaian-Ivorian descent drafted into the WNBA. The Mississauga, Ontario native has represented Team Canada for seven years, totaling 27 senior appearances since her call-up to the senior national team in 2017.

At the University of South Carolina, Amihere helped the Gamecocks to the 2022 National Championship and three Final Four appearances. She is one of seven South Carolina women's basketball alumni to compete at the Olympics, becoming the youngest Dream player and first Canadian in franchise history to do so when she represented Canada at the 2020 Tokyo Games during her collegiate career.

"Laeticia brings that combination of speed and athleticism that thrives in an up-tempo system," said Head Coach Natalie Nakase. "She's a versatile defender with length who protects the rim and plays with tremendous effort on both ends of the floor. Her ability to impact the game in multiple ways fits well with how we want to play."