OAKLAND — Like an engineer assembling a computer from scratch, the Golden State Valkyries are piecing together their franchise one piece at a time.
There’s no user manual for building a WNBA team, but the Valkyries are figuring it out as they go.
They are embracing the journey that will begin on Tuesday when Golden State plays the Los Angeles Sparks at Chase Center in its exhibition debut. The Valkyries will open the regular season against the Sparks 10 days later at home.
“We know when we put on our practice uniform or when we put on our real uniform on game day, we don’t take that lightly,” said second-year guard Kate Martin, who was selected in the expansion draft after playing in 34 games with the Las Vegas Aces last season as a rookie. “We know we’re a part of history and we know that it’s something super special. So, we’re just going to make the most of every opportunity that we have.”
Unlike the 12 other WNBA teams, the Valkyries don’t have an established identity to lean on. Golden State is relying on this year’s team to create that culture.
Golden State could use the model of the last WNBA expansion team. The Atlanta Dream played their inaugural season in 2008 and went 4-30 that season. But after a rough Year 1, the Dream went on to make the playoffs in each of the next six seasons that included three trips to the WNBA Finals.
With expansion teams coming to Toronto and Portland after this season, the Valkyries will be watched closely by those teams to see how they handle building a franchise in Year 1.
“I want to be competitive and connected. I’m going to preach that over and over again,” head coach Natalie Nakase said. “I want Chase Center and all our fans to feel that. I want (the players) to feed off of that, and vice versa.”
This year’s group includes a mix of young players and seasoned veterans. Seven of the team’s 18 players have at least three years of WNBA experience. The Valkyries have built their identity as an international team with nine players representing countries outside of the U.S.
The Valkyries want to make a good first impression this season, not only to build the fanbase, but to make Golden State an attractive destination for free agents and potential draft picks next season. To do that, Golden State has made a conscious effort to make the player experience top notch.
“From the top down, they’ve really just taken care of everything,” said seven-year forward Monique Billings, who played for the Phoenix Mercury last season. “They are making sure we feel like pros. It’s one of the best organizations I’ve been in and it’s only been a couple weeks.
“I’m not having to worry about food after practice or recovery or resources. Everything is here. All I need to do is be the best version of me. So that makes my job easier.”
Billings’ sentiment was echoed by rookie Kaitlyn Chen, whose college season ended.when she UConn won the national championship?
“The best part is how much everyone cares,” Chen said. “They’ve poured so much time, attention and care into this organization. I think just having that support from everyone around is really special.”
For Nakase, who spent the last eight years as an assistant with the Los Angeles Clipper and the Las Vegas Aces, building the team’s culture on the court will start on the defensive end. Through the expansion draft and by adding Chen and former Maryland star Shyanne Sellers in the draft, the Valkyries have created a team with a solid defensive foundation.
The first few days of training camp have been focused almost exclusively on that side of the floor.
“We know what we want our identity to be and its killers,” Martin said. “We want to be gritty. We want to be relentless. We want to be the ones diving for those balls. We want to be getting stops on defense.”
The goal for Year 1 will be to continue to build a foundation that could be used for years to come.
“Our model in terms of expectations is process over results,” Nakase said. “Every day … we have gotten better. It’s all about process over results right now and that’s all we’re focusing on.”
