3 players Golden State Valkyries should target to get dream WNBA debut ft. Paige Bueckers

The Golden State Valkyries are set to become the 13th WNBA team next season. The Valkyries will be playing at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California, but will have their headquarters in Oakland. The new unit has hired a team president and general manager, but is still missing a coaching staff and roster.

According to Forbes, the Valkyries began building the franchise by hiring former Angel City FC executive Jess Smith as president back in January. They then signed Ohemaa Nyanin in May to become the team's general manager and he will help build a roster through the expansion draft in December.

Nyanin will also be in charge just in time for the 2025 WNBA Draft, wherein fans are hoping they could land the first overall pick. The consensus No. 1 player in next year's draft is Paige Bueckers of the UConn Huskies. She was eligible to get drafted this year and could have picked as high as second overall.

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3 players Golden State Valkyries should target in the 2025 WNBA Draft

The Golden State Valkyries will start its inaugural season with an expansion draft later this year in December. The Valkyries can pick players left unprotected by the 12 other franchises to help build its roster. The team is also expected to get picks in the 2025 WNBA Draft.

However, it's unclear what pick number will the Valkyries get since the league doesn't award the first overall pick to expansion teams.

Krysyan Edler of Deseret News reported that the last two expansion teams, the Chicago Sky (2006) and Atlanta Dream (2008), were awarded the sixth and fourth overall selections, respectively.

Here are the three prospects the Golden State Valkyries should keep an eye on in next year's draft:

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#1 Paige Bueckers | Guard | UConn

Paige Bueckers | Guard | UConn (Photo: IMAGN)

If the Golden State Valkyries get the No. 1 pick, there's no question that they should take Paige Bueckers. The 22-year-old star is one of the most dynamic guards in the nation and could have easily been a Top 2 pick this year if she decided not to return to UConn.

Bueckers is looking to take the Huskies back to the Final Four in her final year of eligibility. She stayed healthy in her first year back from ACL injury, averaging 22.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.2 steals last season. She also teased a potential link-up with the Valkyries on X, formerly known as Twitter.

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#2 - Kiki Iriafen | Forward | USC

Kiki Iriafen | Forward | USC (Photo: GETTY)

The likely scenario for the Golden State Valkyries is entering the lottery and getting a top-three pick. The Valkyries should look at former Stanford forward Kiki Iriafen who had a standout junior year, putting up 19.4 points and 11.0 rebounds alongside Cameron Brink.

However, Iriafen entered the transfer portal and joined USC this offseason. She is expected to improve under her new team and get great numbers for the Trojans. The Valkyries are surely open to getting a California native as their first-ever draft pick.

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#3 - Hailey Van Lith | Guard | TCU

Hailey Van Lith | Guard | TCU (Photo: IMAGN)

Another likely scenario for the Golden State Valkyries is the WNBA assigning them a draft pick outside the Top 3. The Valkyries will have a lot of options if they go past the top three talents in the 2025 draft class. They can go for star power and pick Hailey Van Lith, a NIL athlete with Adidas ties already.

Van Lith had a down year following her transfer to LSU and just looked lost under Kim Mulkey's offense. She moved again this offseason, joining the TCU Horned Frogs for her final season. HVL is already a brand ready to jump to the WNBA and what a way to have her represent the Valkyries' first few years.