OAKLAND, Calif. — Ahead of their inaugural season, the Golden State Valkyries hoped their state-of-the-art practice facilities would be a selling point to free agents.
The 31,800-square-foot facility unveiled Wednesday features two full-sized courts, 17 basketball hoops, a weight room, a locker room and a recovery center.
However, the team has yet to attract any major free agents.
“We have unlimited resources to make this the best place in the world, but I think it is challenging,” Valkyries owner Joe Lacob said Wednesday. “We are a startup. We have no players that we are starting with, so I think that in itself, not to mention we’re the first expansion team since 2008, it is challenging.”
Sources told ESPN that Golden State made a push for free agents such as Kelsey Plum, Brionna Jones and Courtney Vandersloot but were unable to lure them.
Because the Valkyries are starting from ground zero, they don’t have many assets to make moves for big signings, especially when it comes to trades for core-designated players. Having the fifth pick in the WNBA draft ties their hands further.
“We have put our best foot forward to talk to athletes and tell our story about where we are and where we’re going,” general manager Ohemaa Nyanin said. “We are building from the…
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