It’s finally here! WNBA training camp is actually happening after a chaotic, at times quiet but then suddenly everything at once, offseason. What should Valkyries fans be watching for? Here’s some thoughts on every player in camp, in no specific order.

Veronica Burton: Can Burton be the kind of leader she was last year with expectations now? The league’s Most Improved Player a year ago, Burton isn’t going to catch anyone off guard this time around.

Burton' picked up career-highs in every offensive stat last year, her first as a starting point guard. She’s not going into camp competing for a role this time around, but with a mission on how to elevate the Valkyries’ offense.

“I think everyone can see how much fun we had last year and how much we enjoyed each other,” Burton said. “So to come back with some familiar faces, it’s exciting for us again. We’re also welcoming in some new people. And so I think that balance of familiarity, that chemistry, that will carry over.”

Kayla Thornton: Thornton’s biggest question mark is her health after she missed the entire second half of last season with a torn meniscus. On day one of training camp, she insisted she was ready to go and practicing in full. Nakase was a tad more hesitant, just saying “we’ll see” if she’s ready for opening day.

Thornton was the Valkyries’ All-Star last season, but her role for this season is a little more up in the air. Golden State has a deeper frontcourt with Gabby Williams and Juste Jocyte, so Thornton might fall back into a similar role as a sixth player she had with the New York Liberty in their 2024 championship run.

“We’ll see. Obviously, we’re taking it day by day,” Nakase said. “I love that type of fire and sense of urgency that we have because that’s how we play. But health is always going to be a priority.”

Kate Martin: Martin said on Sunday she wants to “be a more locked-in defender” in her second year with the Valkyries. The third-year player had an up-and-down campaign last year after injuring her thumb in training camp, with a mix of huge moments off the bench and some poor shooting games, too.

Martin will be at the end of the roster this year, but she fills an important role as an energizing guard who can come in games late and hit shots. Without Carla Leite, they might ask her to handle the ball a bit more, too.

Marta Suarez: There might be more pressure on Suarez than anyone on the team even if it’s not too fair. The Valkyries traded Flau’jae Johnson for her as a part of the controversial draft-day trade, but now Suarez has to make the team and find her way into a crowded frontcourt.

A five-year college player, Suarez broke out with TCU last season as the Horned Frogs went to the Elite Eight. But the WNBA is a step up and the spotlight will be on her.

Ashlon Jackson: It might be tough for Jackson to crack this roster, but the 2026 second-rounder has a chance as a developmental player. She led Duke in three-point shots and makes last season and could fit well into the “let it fly” mentality the Valkyries established last season.

Gabby Williams: Williams is the big offseason addition and arguably the best player the Valkyries have ever had. With Seattle last year, she scored a career-high 11.6 points per game while adding 4.2 assists.

“She's probably one of the best two-way players, I think, in the league that is still continuing to grow,” Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase said. “And I think that was one of the biggest things that we talked about, is that she wanted to continue to grow. We're a growth mindset type of environment. We love to teach, we love to improve our players. And so we kind of really connected on those conversations and the fact that she's selfless, she plays the right way. She puts family first, she puts the team first. I thought it was the perfect fit.”

A defensive star, Williams fits in perfectly with the kind of system Nakase likes to play. She might not be their big-time scorer, but she is the kind of player they will build their scheme around overall.

Kaila Charles: Charles earned a full-time spot last season after signing multiple hardship deals and even got into the starting lineup a few times. A strong defensive player, Charles is another versatile wing who can plug into many spots in the lineup.

Janelle Salaun: Salaun started right off the bat as a rookie and made the WNBA’s all-rookie team last season. This season the Valkyries might need her to be a bit more efficient.

Salaun shot 40.6% from the field but her shot selection really improved in the second half. Her 5.3 shots per game only trailed Thornton last season, but Salaun isn’t going to be their first offensive option this season.

Iliana Rupert: Rupert is going to slot into the starting center spot after she came in as a stretch five in the second half last year. She led the Valkyries with a 44.2% three-point percentage, the only center to lead their team in that category in the WNBA.

But without Temi Fagbenle, the Valkyries need Rupert to be a presence in the post just as much, especially defensively. Her 3.9 rebounds per game were eighth on the team, and they need more than that from a starting center.

Tiffany Hayes: Hayes could take a step back this season with a more front-loaded roster. The 36-year-old is back on a one-year deal after she was banged up for much of last season between a broken nose and a knee injury.

Hayes is a scorer. Her 11.7 points per game were third on the team, but she might come off the bench if Jocyte ends up playing as a big starting shooting guard. Hayes’ exact fit as a veteran guard is going to be a storyline to watch all training camp.

Cecilia Zandalasini: While Zandalasini showed flashes last season, especially in the second half, they might need more from her this year. A versatile wing who stars when she gets room to shoot three-point shots, the Valkyries brought her back as a restricted free agent and protected her in the expansion draft. That’s a commitment to her, and now they want to see what a full season looks like.

“It’s just about touching points and keeping them engaged, whether that’s film or how we do our learning styles for our players to come in,” Nakase said of players joining camp late, such as Zandalasini. “They’re taking care of their leagues and where they are right now. I want them to be where their feet are. Play really, really well there, and when they get here, just adjust. We have a long season.”

Laeticia Amihere: Amihere is competing for one of the last roster spots and while there isn’t a ton of size on the team, it’s going to be tough to get in there. There is realistically one or two roster spots available, plus the two developmental spots, and Amihere might not be content with the 12-game limit. She could likely go play full-time somewhere if she doesn’t make this roster.

Kaitlyn Chen: Chen is likely looking at a chance to be on the developmental roster. She had her moments last year after sticking with the team from June on, but the roster is probably too deep this time around.

They do lack some point guard depth, so Chen could challenge for some time as a developmental player.

Juste Jocyte: The 2025 first-round pick is versatile, and her impact could determine what kind of lineups the Valkyries experiment with.

A big guard or a small forward, Jocyte is going to get playing time in her rookie year. She posted 11.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists in Spain and has been playing against WNBA-level players since she was 13 years old.

“I want Juste to come in here, just like how everyone else has come in here, be yourself, play to your strengths,” Nakase said. “Like I said, we were intentional about building this roster. So how this is going to fit once we all get here and then actually have some time to be together and then give it grace before we play our first game.”

Kiah Stokes: A veteran center, Stokes is a tremendous defender who isn’t going to produce a ton on offense. She averaged 1.1 points per game last season with the Aces.

She might get the chance to shoot a bit more with the Valkyries, but she fits in as a compliment to Rupert’s offensive-minded play in the post.

Bailey Maupin: Maupin was a scorer with Texas Tech who went undrafted this year but has the ability to show some shooting ability and get a look somewhere on a developmental roster.

Caroline Ducharme: Ducharme won two national titles with UConn and has played in difficult environments. She might not make this team, but she will help the competition get stronger.

Cate Reese: Reese has had a nice run in Poland to get a chance at a WNBA camp. The 26-year-old hasn’t gotten many WNBA looks since she left Arizona, but 18.2 points per game in Europe are good enough to give anyone consideration.

Miela Sowah: Sowah likely deserves to stick with some WNBA squad in this now 15-team league. She can shoot from distance and is a decent defender.

Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda: Mwenentanda is one of the more interesting training camp invites. She was a tremendously efficient shooter with Vanderbilt this season on one of the better offensive teams in the nation.

Mariella Fasoula: Fasoula might compete for the second developmental spot if the Valkyries determine they need more size, and she looked good in the first day of camp.