The Valkyries signed 2025 third-round draft choose Kaitlyn Chen and ahead Chloe Bibby to their roster on Sunday as beginning heart Temi Fágbénlé is predicted to go away to take part in EuroBasket for her native Nice Britain.
Fágbénlé, the Valkyries’ 6-foot-4 beginning heart, is the final participant anticipated to go away for the EuroBasket match and follows fellow European teammates Janelle Salaün, Julie Vanloo and Cecilia Zandalasini as gamers whose contracts might be quickly suspended whereas they’re fulfilling nationwide group duties.
Fágbénlé is averaging a career-high 10.3 factors and 6.3 rebounds for Golden State (5-5). She scored a season-high 16 factors and grabbed seven rebounds within the Valkyries’ 76-70 win over the Seattle Storm on Saturday.
Bibby and Chen each performed for the Valkyries within the preseason. Bibby, 26, was the Polish league MVP final season however has largely performed professionally in her native Australia after her school days at Mississippi State and Maryland. She averaged 5.0 factors and 1.5 rebounds in two preseason video games for the Valkyries.
Chen, the thirtieth general select of Connecticut, additionally performed for the Valkyries within the preseason. She had two factors, three rebounds and an help in 13 minutes over the 2 video games. The 23-year-old capturing guard began for the 2025 NCAA champion Huskies after three seasons at Princeton.
Dropping Fágbénlé might be important for the Valkyries as they already lack measurement and might be with out their tallest participant for the following few weeks. However Fágbénlé mentioned she is assured the Valkyries will proceed to play effectively in her absence.
“We all know what it takes to be nice teammates and we all know what it takes to step up and do what we have to do for the group to succeed,” Fágbénlé mentioned after Saturday’s win. “So whoever leaves, it’s gonna be effective. Somebody’s gonna step up and we’re gonna do it collectively. That’s actually the energy of our group.”
In keeping with the WNBA’s collective bargaining settlement, any participant taking a depart to play in EuroBasket has 48 hours to return after their nationwide group has accomplished play.
Ought to Nice Britain make the EuroBasket finals, Fágbénlé might be slated to overlook the Valkyries’ subsequent six video games.
Backup heart Monique Billings figures to begin for the following few weeks. Coach Natalie Nakase mentioned on Thursday that newly signed ahead Laeticia Amihere will play spot minutes on the 5.
“When she leaves, it’s going to be a giant piece lacking,” Valkyries ahead Kayla Thornton mentioned of Fágbénlé. “I’m positive we’re going to must have (Monique Billings) step up… We’re going to overlook her, however we’re going to have to carry it down whereas she’s gone and till she will get again.”
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