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Golden State Valkyries guard Kate Martin (20) drives the ball away from defender Seattle Storm's Lexie Brown (8) in the first quarter during a preseason game at Chase Center in San Francisco on Saturday, April 25, 2026. The Valkyries are entering their second WNBA season. (Yalonda M. James/S.F. Chronicle)
SEATTLE – The Golden State Valkyries' initial 12-player roster came with a handful of surprises ahead of their season-opening tipoff against the Seattle Storm on Friday night.
Guard Kate Martin, injured with a Grade 2 quad strain for a majority of training camp, was waived. Additionally, center Iliana Rupert is pregnant, which means the Valkyries filed for a replacement contract to fill Rupert's spot.
Rupert has full trade protection and is guaranteed the entirety of her contract, with the Valkyries getting salary cap flexibility for that roster spot in return. The request is awaiting league approval.
The pregnancy announcement leaves 10-year veteran Kiah Stokes as the only center on the roster. The Valkyries could add another center once the league approves the replacement contract, or bring back Martin, who played 42 games for Golden State last year. Teams have 48 hours to add Martin to their roster.
The moves also paved the way for Kaitlyn Chen, in her second year with Golden State, to crack the roster as a backup point guard to starter Veronica Burton.
Big free-agent addition Gabby Williams along with veteran Tiffany Hayes, 2025 first-rounder Justė Jocytė and Kaila Charles round out the backcourt portion of the roster. Guard Miela Sowah remains in one of the two developmental roster spots, so one of those is still open.
In the front court are returning All-Star Kayla Thornton, Janelle Salaün, Cecilia Zandalasini, Laeticia Amihere and Stokes at center. Amihere could slide in as a backup center.
Valkyries 2026 roster
Player Pos. Ht Exp DOB School Country
Gabby Williams F 5-11 7 9/9/1996 Connecticut France/U.S.
Laeticia Amihere F 6-3 3 7/10/2001 South Carolina Canada
Veronica Burton G 5-9 4 7/12/2000 Northwestern U.S.
Kaila Charles G/F 6-1 5 3/23/1998 Maryland U.S.
Kaitlyn Chen G 5-9 1 2/22/2002 Connecticut U.S.
Tiffany Hayes G 5-10 13 9/20/1989 Connecticut U.S.
Justė Jocytė G/F 6-0 R 11/19/2005 -- Lithuania/U.S.
Iliana Rupert C 6-4 3 7/12/2001 Tango (France) France
Janelle Salaün F 6-2 1 9/5/2001 -- France
Miela Sowah* G 5-10 R 6/4/2000 Duke Australia
Kiah Stokes C 6-3 10 3/30/1993 Connecticut U.S.
Kayla Thornton F 6-1 10 10/20/1992 UTEP U.S.
Cecilia Zandalasini F 6-2 4 3/16/1996 PF Schio (Italy) Italy
*: Development player
Nakase to coach USA: Team USA announced that Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase will serve as an assistant coach to Kara Lawson, Duke's head coach, for the 2026 FIBA Women's World Cup set for September in Berlin. Alongside Nakase are fellow WNBA coaches Nate Tibbetts (Phoenix Mercury) and Stephanie White (Indiana Fever).
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There’s more to San Francisco with the Chronicle. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at Valkyries waive Kate Martin, search for replacement for Iliana Rupert.
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