For Natalie Nakase and the Golden State Valkyries, the offseason hasn’t been easy, but even in the face of it, they didn’t forget to set a standard. From trading off Flau’jae Johnson on the draft night to waiving off Kate Martin, the Valkyries have consistently made headlines. But their latest one involves a message from head coach Nakase to one of the team’s star players about job security, who is set to miss the entire 2026 season.
The player in question is Golden State Valkyries center Iliana Rupert, who will miss the season due to her pregnancy. In an interview, the Valkyries’ head coach stated that her first conversation with Rupert after learning of her pregnancy was to ensure that the latter would always have a spot on the roster.
“The first thing I wanted to let her know was– nothing changes here for you,” the Valkyries’ head coach said. “We love you, we care about you, and you will always be a Golden State Valkyrie; you’re always welcome here. So to let her know, with the pregnancy, that she’s safe [on the roster]. That was the biggest thing.”
Now, according to the new Collective Bargaining Agreement provisions (under the Dearica Hamby rule), the Valkyries can’t trade Rupert from the roster for her pregnancy. The only way the franchise could have done it is with Rupert’s consent, but as Nakase’s assessment states, the franchise seems not to be moving in that direction at all, as they are happy to have Rupert in the roster.
As a result, Rupert will be able to travel with the team, although she isn’t forced to do so, but can stay with the team. Subsequently, Rupert will also receive her entire salary without hitting Valkyries’ salary cap. Nakase and Valkyries’ approach towards Rupert reflects the team’s amicable bonding. It also sends a clear message about the Valkyries as a franchise: they aren’t hesitant to prioritize Rupert in this critical moment of her life, rather than just adding pressure on her.
In her conversation, the Golden State head coach also spoke about the moment they first learned of Rupert’s pregnancy, remarking on how happy they were in the gym. “Hearing that news that she’s pregnant, we were unbelievably happy for her,” Nakase said.
Rupert showcased some notable glimpses of her talent last season for the Valkyries. In the 21 games she played, the 24-year-old center averaged over 9 points per game, shot north of 44% from beyond the arc, and contributed equally on the boards with 3.9 rebounds per game. And as a result, the Valkyries were also projecting her as their starting center this season.
But with Iliana Rupert’s pregnancy, Natalie Nakase will have to reset her plans for a bit. They do have a veteran center in Kiah Stokes, along with forward Laeticia Amihere. But neither of them brings a scoring burst like Rupert’s, which already diminishes the team’s offensive dynamics early in the season.
Furthermore, with limited backing behind Stokes and Amihere, the Valkyries’ depth in that aspect is looking quite slim. According to reports, they have asked the league for a replacement contract, possibly to sign a big post player and add depth to their roster.
The team also has a developmental spot open on the roster, which Nakase and the Valkyries’ front office can use to give themselves a bit of a breather after Iliana Rupert’s pregnancy. But GM Ohemaa Nyanin has clearly stated in a recent conversation that the franchise wants to fill that developmental spot after careful consideration, keeping the team’s long-term ceiling in mind.
“We want to definitely make sure that we aren’t signing athletes, waiving them, signing them and releasing them,” Nyanin had said. “That’s not the type of organization that we are. So we want to be very thoughtful and intentional as to how we use these spots.”
But for now, Natalie Nakase’s team has survived their first scare without Iliana Rupert on Friday.
Natalie Nakase’s Valkyries shine in season opener without Iliana Rupert
Coming into the game against the Seattle Storm, Natalie Nakase and the Golden State Valkyries were in a frenzy about how the team would turn up without their projected starting center, Iliana Rupert. As reality set in, the team fared pretty well, clinching an impressive 9-point victory over the Seattle Storm.
In Rupert’s absence, as expected, Kiah Stokes took the duty at the five. The veteran center had a substantial performance on the night, recording 6 points with 3 of 5 from the field while also chalking up 4 blocks and 3 assists. It’s a brief win for the Valkyries in this phase of the season, where they’re navigating to fill the shoes of Rupert somehow.
“There were points where I’m like, ‘Kiah, keep playing, I’m not taking you out,’” Nakase said about Stokes’ performance. “I just love her steadiness, her presence, and communication. Defensively, I thought she did a hell of a job on their bigs. Pick-and-roll coverage: She was solid. Rebounding-wise, she was great, and you can tell that when she’s in the back-line, the guards can really press up into their players.”
Amihere, on the other hand, played 16 minutes in the game. She contributed with 3 points and 4 rebounds. The Valkyries’ offense looked hot on the night as well, with Veronica Burton, Kaitlyn Chen, Kayla Thornton, and Janelle Salaun producing double figures to pull off a 91-80 win at the Climate Pledge Arena.
Overall, Natalie Nakase’s team looked quite decent, but the question remains regarding their center on the court. Will they trust Stokes with that position and seal the deal with her for the entire season and make her the starting center? What’s your opinion?
