The Golden State Valkyries, WNBA’s newest addition, are preparing to shake up the league, and the expansion draft is just around the corner. Naturally, speculation is running wild as analysts and fans try to guess who will become the face of the league’s shiny new franchise. Enter ESPN’s Kevin Pelton, who has boldly predicted that two-time MVP Elena Delle Donne will be the Valkyries’ crown jewel.
On the Dec. 3 edition of ESPN Daily, host David Dennis handed Pelton the mic for a juicy prediction:
“All right, Kevin, I’m putting you on the spot. Who is going to be the first member of the Golden State Valkyries?”
Without missing a beat, Pelton dropped the kind of hot take that keeps Twitter buzzing:
“I’m gonna go ahead and predict it. Elena Delle Donne. Washington maybe doesn’t have a protector, and she might retire if she just stays there. So, you know, they leave her out there, and Golden State goes ahead and takes her and tries to convince her to play.”
Convince her to play? Bold strategy, Kev. If only it were as easy as sliding into her DMs with a “Hey, wanna be our MVP again?”
Injuries, Retirement, and… Golden State?
Let’s face it: the last few seasons have been unkind to Delle Donne. The former MVP has been battling injuries like they’re her personal nemesis, even sitting out the entire 2024 season. Rumors of her contemplating retirement have been swirling for a while now. But if the Valkyries can snag her in the draft, they might just have the perfect pitch: a fresh start, a glitzy market, and a chance to make history as the face of a brand-new team.
Fans, however, are split. On one hand, the prospect of Delle Donne’s leadership and undeniable skills anchoring the Valkyries is the kind of fairy-tale story sports dreams are made of. On the other, there’s the reality that Golden State might be taking a gamble on a player who hasn’t seen consistent court time in years.
A Season of High Stakes
The 2025 season is shaping up to be an exciting one for the WNBA. The Valkyries kick off their inaugural campaign with back-to-back home games against the Los Angeles Sparks and the Washington Mystics on May 16 and 21. That’s right—if Pelton’s prediction comes true, Delle Donne could face her former team in just her second game. Drama, anyone?
For fans eager to see how the expansion shakes out, the wait is almost over. The draft is set for Dec. 6, and whether Pelton’s prediction holds water or not, one thing is certain: the Valkyries are here to make noise.
Will Elena Delle Donne rise like a phoenix in Golden State, or will this prediction be nothing more than wishful thinking? Grab your popcorn and your Valkyries merch—it’s about to get interesting.
