The Muse’s favorite WNBA underdogs are the Golden State (GS) Valkyries. They are a first year expansion team comprised of formerly non-protected players, journeywomen, draftees, walk-ons, and castoffs. They are absent first round lottery picks and all league selections. The Valkyries current record is a surprising 18-16, two games above .500, and in 7th place for a 13 team league. To the league and fan base, the Valkyries have already surpassed all expectations. They may make the playoffs too.
Kendra Andrews, ESPN captured the essence of the GS Valkyries with her excellent article “How the WNBA’s Expansion Valkyries Have Exceeded Expectations,” July 23, 2025.
To the Muse, the Valkyries are a collection of hungry role players, all WNBA underdogs. None were the biggest deal on their respective college teams. Most played alongside other brighter stars with supporting or secondary roles. In July 2025, the starters each averaged playing for 4.2 other WNBA teams already, during their brief careers. The players have been many places, cut and resigned elsewhere, and often cut again. The Valkyries players are the consummate WNBA underdogs.
The Valkyries are not assembled like fantasy teams with statistics or analytics steering roster decisions. They are all physically tough, natural defenders. No one player has “my game.” They all exude energy, effort, and enthusiasm. Individually, they are all underdogs. They all have heart and a willingness to work. Interestingly, the assembled team has strong international leanings with players from Canada, Australia, France, Italy, England, and Slovenia. Even lesser known basketball schools are represented with players from the University of Texas El-Paso, Northwestern, Princeton, and the University of South Florida.
As of mid-August, first time All Star, Kayla Thornton is hurt and out for the season with a knee injury. Yet, somehow, the Valkyries keep winning games with their bench and a next player up mentality.
Coach, Natalie Nakase best exemplifies the Valkyries, “We are committed to building a winning culture of grit, hard work, and competitiveness. We will strive to improve and compete.” Nakase herself was a walk-on player at UCLA from 1998 to 2003. At 5’2″ she improved in all statistical categories every year, while a Bruin. She played in Germany one season, where she suffered a career-ending knee injury.
With respect to assembling their roster, Coach Nakase told ESPN’s Kendra Andrews, “We need to pick players with that team before self mindset, with that chip on their shoulder, that would become our standard. It wasn’t about a face or an elite player. If your not connected, this isn’t going to work.” This strategy has held true, so far. In early Spring, the front office told Andrews that “success this season would be measured by the players’ level of buy in.” So far, this is true too. According to Valkyries All Star, Kayla Thornton, “We play with joy, we play selflessly. It makes the game much easier. Every member of the Valkyries has been waiting for her opportunity to shine.” Center, Temi Fagbenle says they are a team made up of sixth women.
Coach Nakase feels as though she has all 12 players in the league that dive on the floor, take a charge, and defend at a high level. She feels that we can beat anyone with that competitive mindset.
Guard, Tiffany Hayes is the only Valkyries, who was ever a starter somewhere else. Veronica Burton is a defensive-minded point guard from Northwestern, who donned three different uniforms last year.
The Valkyries passed on free agent signings, as well as players, who requested in season or pre-season trades including All Stars, DeWanna Bonner, Marina Mabrey, and Natasha Cloud. Instead the Valkyries are collecting future draft picks, who meet their defensive-minded and underdog criteria.
General Manager, Ohemaa Nyanin is a Ghanaian-American basketball executive. Nyanin told all roster players, “We hand-picked each and every one of you to set this up. You wouldn’t be here if we didn’t think that you were up for the job.” Coach Nakase’s style relies heavily on defense and the opposition would feel them on every single possession. It relies on a high level of intensity. This approach has generally held true. Except for the 36-point loss to the Connecticut Sun, the Valkyries are competitive even in their losses.
As an example of the Valkyries’ toughness, they beat the Indiana Fever in Indianapolis with a noon start. Traveling from Atlanta, they played a camp game and beat the Fever at home in Gainbridge Fieldhouse by 19 points. It was one of the few games that Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark played in this season, scoring only 10 points.
Though few GS games get aired in the East, the Muse has noticed that the Valkyries players do not jaw at and bark at the referees. They don’t showboat. And, they do not trash talk at their opponent.
Other WNBA players, who aren’t on the Valkyries, but do meet the team’s philosophy and WNBA underdog criteria include Nika Muhl SEA; Sami Whitcomb PHX; Naz Hillmon ATL; Saniya Rivers CT; Odyssey Sims IN; Dana Evans LV; Aliyah Edwards CT; Aziaha James DAL; Leila Lacan CT; Emily Engstler WAS; Natasha Mack PHX; Aaliyah Nye LV; Dominque Malonga SEA (Dominque was the second pick in the draft, but is 18 years old, from France, and comes off the bench and rebounds and defends); Makayla Timpson IN, Kennedy Burke NY; and Gabby Williams SEA (Gabby may be too big a star for this team. Her acclaim is more recent, but well deserved, and the result of playing with speed, hustle, defending, rebounding, and improving her outside shot).
There are likely many unknown foreign players who could meet the Valkyries criteria too. Nakase and Nyanin, plus the GS scouts track them all.
More remarkable, is that the WNBA underdog Valkyries have the highest net worth in the league as they are valued at $500 MM in 2025. They have brand new facilities complete with all of the amenities. Moreover, the Valkyries lead the WNBA in attendance selling out all of their home games (over 18,000 fans per game). These are unlikely characteristics of a first year WNBA expansion team.
Head coach, Natalie Nakase is a front runner for the WNBA Coach of the Year, and Ohemaa Nyanin is a front runner for WNBA Executive of the Year. Both have done tremendous jobs with the success of the first year Golden State Valkyries, consummate WNBA underdogs.
Photo from Athlon Sports. No copyright infringement is intended.