Valkyries GM Nyanin anticipates ‘first test of what we're building' in preseason opener
Exactly one year after being named the Golden State Valkyries' first general manager, Ohemaa Nyanin will watch the team she built take the Chase Center floor for its inaugural preseason game on Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Sparks.
Nyanin said she's had little time to reflect on the yearlong sprint considering the rapid decision-making required. One such decision came Saturday in the team's first major cut, when second-round pick Shyanne Sellers was waived just five days into training camp.
Nyanin echoed head coach Natalie Nakase's past sentiment of creating a roster of the best 12 players who fit their system. Neither has given a clear answer as to why Sellers did not fit in their system.
'We have to make decisions that are right for us at the right time,' Nyanin told the Chronicle on Tuesday. 'The canvas is still being worked on and every day during training camp is another day to add. I would say the timeline of the evaluation isn't something that we focus on. We're really focusing on who these athletes are, are they doing the things that we need them to do on a consistent basis that will then help us to win basketball games.'
Nakase said after practice on Monday that she wouldn't elaborate further on that decision, but that she felt there was 'a lot of time' to evaluate players.
Sellers was claimed off waivers by Atlanta on Monday.
Nyanin noted before training camp that she would also be paying attention to the waiver wire, even with fierce competition for the final roster spots. Forward Cecilia Zandalasini (right foot) is out on Tuesday, which is an example of an area where the Valkyries might need more depth later on.
With ample salary cap space, the Valkyries have flexibility to pursue any waived player who fits their system.
'We did a lot of research on all the athletes that were coming through to every team,' Nyanin said. 'And so we have our list of athletes that, should they be waived, we would congregate and have a really good conversation to see if that's somebody that we'd like to bring into camp.'
With 17 players left in camp, the Valkyries must cut the roster to 12 by the season opener on May 16 when they host the Sparks.
One player expected to make the team, French center Janelle Salaün, has yet to report after finishing her season in Europe, but Nyanin said the Valkyries expect her to join the team before the regular season, resolving a key roster question.
If Salaün doesn't report, the Valkyries would have to suspend her for the season. A stretch big, she might crowd out other forwards to make the final roster after an abridged camp.
Iliana Rupert, selected from Atlanta in December's expansion draft, told a French news outlet last week she plans to join the WNBA 'later in the summer' after competing in EuroBasket. The European tournament will also pull several other Valkyries away from the team for two weeks in June.
Nyanin wouldn't confirm whether she expects the 23-year-old Rupert to be a part of this year's team. The Valkyries lack size off the bench, and the 6-foot-4 center played for Nakase when they were with the Las Vegas Aces.
'I'm not able to speak about anybody else's plans,' Nyanin said. 'We haven't had a lot of conversations recently, but we have her rights and we're just steadily evaluating all of our athletes.'
First-round pick Juste Jocyte is also unlikely to join the team this season as she prepares to represent Lithuania in EuroBasket. The 19-year-old guard remains unsigned by the Valkyries, but they own her rights and she will likely compete to make next year's roster.
Much remains unsettled before May 16, but every day in camp brings the Valkyries closer to answering the question of who makes the final cut.
Tuesday 'is our first test of what we are building,' Nyanin said. 'It's a preseason game at home with 10,000-plus season ticket holders coming to see what we put together in a very short amount of time. We understand the moment and I just hope that (the players) just continue to believe in themselves.'
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