Valkyries 2025 Roster in Review

Kalyb Champion

The Golden State Valkyries had players have career years up and down their inaugural season roster, carving out their own niche and making a unique impact. Read below for more on the accomplishments from every member of the first roster in franchise history. 

Veronica Burton 

  • Won the WNBA's Most Improved Player award
  • Led the Valkyries in total points (525), rebounds (192), assists (265), steals (50) and blocks (27), the only WNBA player to accomplish this feat for her team this season
  • Tallied the most games with 10+ assists and zero turnovers in the WNBA this season (3)
0:00

Highlights: The Best of Veronica Burton From 2025 After Winning Most Improved Player Award


Kayla Thornton

  • Selected as a WNBA All-Star for the first time, Valkyries' first-ever All-Star and the first undrafted All-Star since 2019
  • Named the first Western Conference Player of the Week in franchise history
  • Averaged a team-high and career-high 14.0 points before season-ending injury, set career-high for points in a game (29)
0:00

Highlights: Kayla Thornton Named to the 2025 WNBA All-Star Roster


Janelle Salaün

  • Ranked top-five among WNBA rookies in points per game (11.3 PPG; 4th) and rebounds per game (5.1 RPG; 3rd)
  • Led the Valkyries in total made 3-pointers (63)
  • Finished second on Golden State in total points (407)

Tiffany Hayes

  • Moved to 31st on the WNBA's all-time scoring list (4,296 career points), averaged double-digit points for 11th season (11.7 PPG)
  • Ranked eighth in the league in 3-point percentage, shooting 40.6 percent on 3.9 attempts per game
  • Tied career-highs in rebounds (3.8 RPG) and assists (3.0 APG) per game 
0:00

Tiffany Hayes Moves to 31st on WNBA's All-Time Scoring List


Temi Fágbénlé

  • Finished second on the Valkyries in total rebounds (190), just two shy of first place
  • Shot over 50 percent from the field for the fifth consecutive season (50.2 FG%)
  • Averaged a career-high 7.4 points, playing a career-high 39 games (38 starts)

Cecilia Zandalasini

  • Averaged a career-high 10.5 points, her first season averaging double figures
  • Ranked seventh in the league in 3-point percentage, shooting 40.7 percent on a career-high 4.8 attempts per game

Iliana Rupert

  • Ranked second in the WNBA in 3-point percentage (44.2 3PT%)
  • Only Valkyrie to make at least 2 3-pointers per game (2.2 3PM)
  • Averaged a career-high 9.3 points over a career-high 21 games, set new single-game high of 21 points
0:00

Highlights: Iliana Rupert Sets New Career-High With 21 Points, Five 3-Pointers vs. Indiana Fever | 8/31/25

Kate Martin

  • More than doubled her per-game scoring output in her sophomore season (6.2 PPG from 2.6 PPG)
  • Ranked third on Golden State in total made 3-pointers (57)

Kaila Charles

  • Averaged a career-high 7.4 points in 18 games with the Valkyries 
  • Set her current career-high in points in a game on three separate occasions (16 points)

Monique Billings

  • Led the Valkyries in blocks per game (0.8)
  • Made more 3-pointers this season (10) than in the rest of her career prior (7)
0:00

Highlights: Monique Billings Season-High 19 Points vs. Dream - 7/7/25


Carla Leite

  • Averaged 7.2 points in 17.2 minutes over 37 games in her rookie season
  • One of seven WNBA rookies with 250+ points (268), 40+ rebounds (45) and 70+ assists (75)

Laeticia Amihere

  • Averaged a career-high 5.4 points over a career-high 29 games

Kaitlyn Chen

  • Played in 24 games, averaging 2.0 points in 10.3 minutes per game in her rookie season
  • Became the first player of Taiwanese descent to play in the WNBA

Related News