The Golden State Valkyries had a pretty solid strategy when they entered the WNBA as an expansion team last year: draft smart, build internationally, and create a competitive roster from day one. And honestly, it worked. They snagged All-Star Kayla Thornton, point guard Veronica Burton, and sharpshooter Cecilia Zandalasini through the expansion draft, which helped them make the playoffs in their debut season.

But here’s the thing about being successful in the WNBA, other teams want your players. When Portland and Toronto joined the league as new franchises, they got their own expansion draft, which meant Golden State had to say goodbye to some of the talent they’d carefully cultivated.

The Valkyries lost two players: point guard Carla Leite and wing María Conde. Leite’s departure stings a bit more because she actually played and contributed. The French point guard was drafted ninth overall by Dallas in 2024 but chose to keep developing overseas before joining Golden State. That patience paid off. Last season, she averaged 7.2 points and 2.0 assists across 37 games, stepping up whenever Tiffany Hayes dealt with injuries. She backed up Burton and showed real potential as a developing lead handler.

What makes losing Leite notable is that she already cleared a major hurdle that catches a lot of international players off guard: adapting to the WNBA’s physicality and becoming a meaningful contributor right away. She’s not a star yet, but Portland’s getting a cost-controlled, upward-trending point guard who’s already proven she can hang at this level. The Fire basically inherited a player with real trajectory.

Conde’s situation is different. The 29-year-old Spanish forward never actually suited up for Golden State. The Valkyries grabbed her rights from Chicago in last year’s expansion draft, but an Achilles injury sidelined her before she could join the team. She’s been rehabbing overseas and is now back in action with an Italian club, averaging 11.1 points and 5.9 assists. For Golden State, losing someone who never played is less of a gut punch, though it does represent a missed opportunity to add another experienced international wing.

The bigger picture here is about roster turnover. Golden State protected five players in the expansion draft, likely Burton, Zandalasini, Janelle Salaun, and draft pick Justė Jocytė, but that means several unrestricted free agents are hitting the market. Kayla Thornton, Temi Fagbenle, Monique Billings, Tiffany Hayes, and Kaila Charles can all shop around starting April 9.

Free agency runs through April 19, with the WNBA Draft happening April 13 in New York. The Valkyries hold picks at Nos. 8, 23, and 38. The 2026 rebuild is officially underway, and it’ll be interesting to see if Golden State can maintain that international identity and winning formula without some key pieces.