Valkyries’ 2026 WNBA trade deadline options put them in position to make splash

The Golden State Valkyries are faced with an interesting sliding-door moment as Sunday’s WNBA trade deadline quickly approaches.

Stand pat or make a splash.

Because on one hand, they are ahead of schedule. Nobody other than themselves believed the Valkyries could be this good this quickly. That is a testament to the culture and roster instilled by head coach Natalie Nakase and general manager Ohemaa Nyanin, who built this entire team from the ground up.

So it would be very easy and understandable to stick with the league-best defense and league-best bench they’ve built this season, with this roster. See what they can do in the playoffs with the squad that’s got them this far, and reevaluate in the offseason.

But on the other hand, Golden State has needs.

Their offense is prone to going cold, and their center depth is lacking behind and around Kiah Stokes. Windows open and close at the snap of the finger, and right now, the Valkyries have jarred and clawed their window open. Seizing this opportunity and sacrificing their depth and future assets in the process must be considered.

Thus, through one door, it’s trust in the infrastructure, the chemistry, and the depth that has gotten them this far. And through the other, it’s going big fish hunting for an X-factor that can take them over the top.

Here’s an overview of what’s on the table for Valkyries heading into the August 2 trade deadline.

Tradeable assets

The Valkyries have a few restraints on what they could do at the deadline.

Unlike the NBA, which operates under a soft cap system, the WNBA teams have a hard salary cap. And with the Valkyries only having $128,145 in cap space, they have basically no wiggle room to take in extra salary, meaning they have to come very close to matching salaries in any trade they make.

Regardless, they have several sizable contracts they could piece together if they want to pursue a high-level player.

Forward Kayla Thornton ($750,000), guard Tiffany Hayes ($600,000), and forward Cecilia Zandalasini ($600,000) are all on expiring contracts, which could be enticing to teams that want to clear up their cap situations. Kaila Charles is owed $600,000 for this year and next year, which makes her contract less appealing to other teams in potential trades.

And the Valkyries also have intriguing young talent on cost-controlled contracts they can pair with those larger expiring salaries. The only issue is that the Valkyries might not have the appetite to cut bait on them, given the financial flexibility they provide.

Take Kaitlyn Chen, for example. The 24-year-old point guard, who has emerged as one of the Valkyries’ most dependable scoring options off the bench, has real value on her $277,500 contract and is set to be an exclusive restricted free agent next season. Still, that value goes both ways. Golden State covets Chen as Veronica Burton’s backup, and given her growth this season, it is hard to see the Valkyries sending her out at the deadline.

The same goes for rookie Justė Jocytė, who, while she’s not currently in Nakase’s rotation, still has value. At 21 years old, on a cost-controlled rookie-scale contract for the next three years, Jocytė is an intriguing talent who would fit well on a rebuilding team with more opportunity. The question with her for Golden State would be: do they want to remain invested in her potential to help them in the future, or are they willing to part with her for a win-now piece?

With all that said, the Valkyries will probably have to aggregate salaries and send out multiple players if they want to make a trade, likely a young asset paired with one of their veteran expiring contracts, plus future draft assets.

And while any trade for any team risks undermining the depth and chemistry, it goes doubly for a Valkyries team that proudly touts those features as a part of their identity this season.

Kelsey Plum and other potential targets

The big name on the block right now is Los Angeles Sparks star Kelsey Plum, who is “likely” to be moved by the deadline, according to WNBA insider Marisa Ingemi, and she is a player who makes sense for the Valkyries for a lot of reasons.

Given the Valkyries’ league-worst field goal percentage (41.9%) and habit of falling into offensive droughts, Plum would instantly provide a reliable scoring option, given that she’s second in the league in points per game (23.9). And even though the Valkyries have to sacrifice their depth to obtain her, they have the defensive infrastructure and point-of-attack talent to protect her weaknesses on that end of the court. And there’s also the obvious winning history of Nakase and Plum’s time together on the Las Vegas Aces.

Still, it wouldn’t be without risks. Thornton or Hayes would have to be one of the pieces in the trade, and those two vets mean a lot to the organization, the fans, and the locker room. And the Sparks would probably want Jocytė included – whose salary plus Thornton’s would match Plum’s – and a first-round pick as they prepare for a rebuild.

Not to mention that Plum is on an expiring deal, meaning Golden State would have to know they can re-sign her in the offseason. And even if they have that guarantee, the Valkyries would be committing a lot of money to a player who, while extremely talented offensively, is only elite on one side of the ball, which could hamstring their flexibility in future free agency pursuits.

Beyond Plum, other teams have been mentioned as potential trade partners here and there. The Phoenix Mercury look like they are on the verge of blowing it up. The Connecticut Sun could look to be sellers with their roster heading nowhere. Given Golden State’s needs at center, pursuing a big like the Mystics’ Shakira Austin could be in play, especially given Washington’s depth in the frontcourt.

What the Valkyries’ trade dilemma boils down to

Ultimately, Golden State’s dilemma comes down to the philosophy they’ve cultivated.

The Valkyries love to use the words “connectivity, unselfishness, and depth.” Making a midseason trade for a big fish like Plum runs counter to those core tenets, given what it would take to obtain her. It runs counter to their identity, not just on the hardwood but also at an organizational level.

And Golden State understands why those things are important. Last year, it was what made them the first expansion franchise to ever make the playoffs. And this year, it’s what has put them in the WNBA title race and even created this window of opportunity in the first place.

But that’s what will be on the Valkyries’ decision-makers’ minds as they discuss whether or not to push their chips in. Either way, we will have a clear idea of what they do and do not value once the deadline passes.

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