Uncertainty looms for Golden State Valkyries players due to upheaval within the CBA
Golden State Valkyries Face Uncertainty as CBA Negotiations Stall
The Golden State Valkyries, an expansion team in the league, had a successful season, breaking attendance records and making a playoff push. However, as the offseason begins, the team and the league are facing uncertainty due to the stalling of Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) negotiations.
The stalling of CBA negotiations has created uncertainty for when the league will hold an expansion draft for the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo. The Valkyries, who had a impressive season, are also feeling the impact of the negotiations.
The Valkyries are set to lose several key players at the end of the season. Most if not all of the Valkyries' players will leave for other basketball commitments after the season, with Zandalasini, Salaün, and Leite leaving for Europe. This includes restricted free agents Cecilia Zandalasini and most improved point guard Veronica Burton.
The Valkyries center Temi Fágbénlé, who is also one of the Valkyries' union representatives, expressed uncertainty about the future due to the CBA negotiations. The team will have the fourth-most cap space in the league in 2026 with a total of $1,402,939, but the uncertainty surrounding the CBA negotiations may impact the team's ability to retain its talent.
The Valkyries have five unrestricted free agents going into the offseason: Fágbénlé, guards Kaila Charles and Tiffany Hayes, forward Kayla Thornton, and center Monique Billings. The team's coach, Natalie Nakase, has publicly stood with the players in fighting for a better CBA.
Last year, the WNBA reached an agreement for a new $2.2 billion media rights deal, which is a positive sign for the future of the league. However, without a new CBA, the future of the Valkyries and other teams remains uncertain.
As the negotiations continue, fans and players alike are hopeful for a fair and equitable agreement that will ensure the continued success of the league and its teams. The Valkyries, in particular, will be hoping for a resolution that allows them to retain their talented roster and build on their successful first season.
