The Golden State Valkyries have arrived—and they’re not just another expansion team. In less than a full season, the Valkyries have become the blueprint for what a modern WNBA franchise should look like. While their record might not scream “dynasty” just yet, their approach, philosophy, and roster construction have exposed the flaws of the league’s old guard, particularly the Indiana Fever, and sent a clear message to every front office in the league: adapt or get left behind.

The Blueprint for Modern Basketball

When you watch the Valkyries play, it’s obvious they’re not interested in following the tired formulas that have dominated women’s basketball for decades. Instead, they’re building something new—fast, versatile, and built around archetypes that fit the modern game.

What makes the Valkyries the “gold standard” isn’t just their win-loss record or the reputation of head coach Natalie Cass. In fact, while Cass deserves credit for her leadership and may well be in the running for Coach of the Year, the real story is about the organization’s willingness to break away from tradition.

The Valkyries have constructed a roster full of players who can defend, run, and shoot the three—three pillars of contemporary basketball. They’ve prioritized floor-spacing bigs, athletic wings, and guards who can handle, shoot, and facilitate. Instead of relying on outdated models, they’ve built a team that’s flexible, unpredictable, and dangerous from anywhere on the court.

Indiana Fever: Stuck in the Past

The contrast with the Indiana Fever couldn’t be more stark. Despite a complete front office overhaul, the Fever have doubled down on WNBA experience, hiring familiar names and making safe, traditional choices. Their roster is packed with players who excel at one thing—defense, hustle, or paint scoring—but lack the versatility needed to compete in today’s game.

Take Natasha Howard, for example. She’s a solid veteran, a former champion, and a hard-nosed defender, but she’s a classic “five in the body of a three”—a non-shooting, non-floor-spacing power forward. The Fever’s other moves, like signing Brie Turner for defense and Sophie Cunningham for three-point shooting, feel like patchwork attempts to modernize without fully committing.

Sid Coulson, brought in for energy, has been forced into a rotation role, playing career-high minutes despite being best suited as a third-string spark plug. The result? A roster that’s mismatched, one-dimensional, and behind the curve.

Even the Fever’s big-name signings like DeWanna Bonner, who looked promising on paper, have failed to fit with the team’s style from day one. The front office keeps making decisions rooted in nostalgia, valuing experience over innovation, and the results show: the Fever are stuck in a cycle of mediocrity.

Valkyries’ Roster: Built to Run, Defend, and Shoot

The Valkyries’ approach to team building is refreshingly modern. Instead of chasing established names, they’ve scooped up undervalued talent, international prospects, and versatile role players who fit their system.

Players like Janelle Salon and Iliana Rupert are stretch bigs who can defend and shoot the three. Tam (Tamera) is a rim-running center with surprising range. Guards like Carla, Caitlyn Chen, and Veronica Burton bring speed, ball-handling, and shooting. Wings like Kayla Thornton and Kayla Charles are “jack of all trades” defenders who can hit shots and run the floor.

Kate Martin and Chisini add more shooting and defensive versatility. Mon’nique Billings brings energy and mid-range scoring. The entire roster is built around archetypes—players who fit the modern game and can contribute in multiple ways.

This isn’t just a collection of talent. It’s a carefully constructed team that prioritizes defense, pace, and shooting. The Valkyries have succeeded in finding players that other teams overlooked, often because those teams were stuck evaluating talent through an outdated lens.

The Expansion Draft: A Masterclass in Team Building

The Valkyries’ success started in the expansion draft. Instead of protecting traditional bigs or role players, other teams left modern archetypes exposed. The Valkyries pounced, grabbing young talent from overseas, versatile wings, and shooters who had been undervalued.

Dallas protected bigs like Teaira McCowan and Kalani Brown, leaving a 20-year-old French point guard starting for the best EuroCup team unprotected. New York left Kayla Thornton—a proven vet—available. Atlanta failed to protect an elite three-point shooting center. Indiana protected Dantas over Tam. The Valkyries saw opportunity where others saw risk.

This approach wasn’t just about filling holes. It was about building a roster that fit the modern game—stretch fours, rim-running centers, versatile guards, and wings who could defend and shoot. The result is a team that, even with injuries, can compete with anyone, and has laid the foundation for future success.

The Old WNBA: Exposed

The Valkyries’ philosophy is exposing the flaws of the old WNBA. Teams that prioritize paint scoring and traditional bigs are struggling. High paint-scoring teams like Dallas, Connecticut, and Chicago are all near the bottom of the league, while teams that shoot the three—like the Valkyries—are thriving.

The Fever, in particular, have been exposed. Their reliance on paint scoring, slow pace, and defensive specialists is reminiscent of the NBA in 2014, when critics said jump-shooting teams couldn’t win championships. The Valkyries, like the Warriors a decade ago, are proving that “three is greater than two.”

Even with half their roster injured, the Valkyries are competitive. Their talent pool might not be the deepest, but their commitment to modern basketball—spacing, shooting, pace, and versatility—gives them an edge. As the rest of the league catches up, the Valkyries are positioned to become a destination for top free agents and a perennial contender.

What’s Next for the Valkyries?

Looking ahead, the Valkyries have the flexibility and cap space to make major moves in free agency. If they keep their core—Burton, Zanderini, Kate Martin, Salon, Rupair, Tam, Kayla Charles, Kayla Thornton, Carla, and Mihair—and add three max-contract stars, they could become the league’s premier destination for talent.

Players like Jackie Young, who hasn’t shot well this year but has shown flashes of brilliance, could thrive in the Valkyries’ system. Add a few more modern guards or wings, and the Valkyries will be in the playoffs, perhaps as a low seed at first, but with the potential to build a championship contender within three years.

The team is already attracting attention, with prospects like Juice Dee—a 6’1” combo guard who can create her own shot—joining the ranks. The Valkyries’ commitment to innovation, flexibility, and modern basketball is making them the most exciting franchise in the WNBA.

Conclusion: Adapt or Get Left Behind

The Golden State Valkyries are more than just a new team—they’re a wake-up call for the entire WNBA. Their blueprint for success is exposing the limitations of old-school thinking and forcing every franchise to reconsider how they build, coach, and play.

Teams like the Indiana Fever, stuck in the past, risk falling further behind as the league evolves. The Valkyries, meanwhile, are setting the standard for the future—fast, versatile, and built to win in the modern era.

If the rest of the WNBA doesn’t adapt, the Valkyries won’t just be the blueprint—they’ll be the dynasty everyone else is chasing.