Valkyries select Maria Conde in expansion draft

The Valkyries expansion draft on Friday night — the first since 2008 — came with high emotions.

Excitement was the feeling Valkyries general manager Ohemaa Nyanin repeatedly used to describe the energy in San Francisco as a slew of Bay Area stars selected 11 players in the draft. In Chicago, the feeling was almost certainly relief that the Sky wouldn't see one of their significant contributors to their 2024 roster drafted. Instead, it was small forward Maria Conde whom the Valkyries selected from the Sky's list of unprotected players.

The reality of the situation is the Sky lost a great player. However, Conde's potential in the WNBA comes with stipulations.

She was drafted by the Sky out of Florida State in the third round of the 2019 draft but has yet to play a minute in the WNBA. Since being drafted, Conde has opted not to play in the WNBA, which has essentially maintained her rookie status. This means the Valkyries now have her draft rights, which does not guarantee she will play in the 2025 season.

"We don't know if she'll be coming over for the 2025 season," Nyanin said. "We just love her tenacity. She's playing really great basketball right now. She's continued to elevate her game. Eurobasket is in June, so there's a question mark for all international athletes that we've selected. We wanted the opportunity to talk to her to give her the opportunity to come over if she wanted to."

Conde is currently playing in Euroleague for USK Praha, a professional women's basketball club in Prague. She's averaging 14.8 points, 6.7 assists and 5.5 rebounds per game. She's also a member of Spain's national team. She averaged 9.5 points, 1.5 assists, and 1.5 rebounds in two games during the Paris Olympics. Spain lost to Belgium in the quarterfinals, 79-66.

The Valkyries selected seven international players: Temi Fagbenle (United Kingdom), Carla Leite (France), Iliana Rupert (France), Stephanie Talbot (Australia), Julie Vanloo (Belgium), Cecilia Zandalasini (Italy) and Conde.

In the past, Conde has been transparent that representing Spain has always taken precedence over the WNBA. Spanish journalist Luis Vallejo reported Friday night that Conde's short-term priority is playing in Eurobasket, but the Valkyries' interest in her remains high.

Eurobasket occurs from June 18-29, a month into the WNBA season. The immediate question the Valkyries will have to answer is what players will actually play in the WNBA in 2025. Some may opt to forgo WNBA season altogether, while others will simply be away from the team for the duration of Eurobasket.

"It's an experience in being empathetic," Nyanin said of convincing a player like Conde to play in the WNBA in 2025. "I want to make sure they understand who I am, what we're trying to build, who coach Natalie Nakase is and then explain to them the Bay."

In total, the Valkyries selected 11 players from the 12 WNBA franchises. Nyanin passed on selecting from the Storm's roster. Of their draft picks only three are currently under contract for the 2025 season: guard Kate Martin, forward Stephanie Talbot and forward Kayla Thornton. Their total salaries of $305,595 give the Valkyries $1,201,505 in cap space, according to HerHoopStats.

The Sky had four non-negotiable protected players: Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso, Elizabeth Williams, and Michaela Onyenwere. Their final two protections were unclear, although it's assumed they protected Chennedy Carter and either Dana Evans or Rachel Banham.

The Sky will enter free agency in six weeks with six players under contract and $923,625 in cap space. Diamond DeShields, Isabelle Harrison and Brianna Turner will all be unrestricted free agents. Chennedy Carter, Dana Evans, and Michaela Onyenwere will be restricted, giving the Sky right of first refusal following a qualifying offer.

Considering Onyenwere was one of the Sky's six protected players, it's assumed she will return in 2025. Evans and Carter have a less certain future in Chicago.

Valkyries picks: 

Atlanta Dream: Iliana Rupert, C

Chicago Sky: Maria Conde, F

Connecticut Sun: Veronica Burton, G

Dallas Wings: Carla Leite, PG

Indiana Fever: Temi Fagbenle, C

Las Vegas Aces: Kate Martin, G

Sparks: Stephanie Talbot, F

Minnesota Lynx: Cecilia Zandalasini, F

New York Liberty: Kayla Thornton, F

Phoenix Mercury: Monique Billings, F

Washington Mystics: Julie Vanloo, G

Seattle Storm: No selection