What the Valkyries gain — and the Sparks lose — from Stephanie Talbot expansion draft pick

Talbot joined the Sparks officially in February 2023, and only three weeks later, tore her ACL in a WNBL game. After sitting out the entire 2023 season, she made her long-awaited debut for the Sparks on June 2, 2024. Talbot ultimately started 10 games for the Sparks, playing 16.2 minutes per game, and scoring 3.5 points, while pulling down 2.7 rebounds and dishing out 2.1 assists — with one of the best assist-to-turnover ratios on the turnover-prone young Los Angeles team. She received a one-year contract extension from the Sparks in August. 

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Former Sparks head coach Curt Miller praised Talbot over the course of the season for her calm demeanor and versatility: a 6’2 forward who can make the difficult pass, guard a number of positions on the floor, and rebound on both sides of the floor. 

“Steph brought experience, toughness and playmaking ability to our team, and we thank her for everything she brought to the Sparks,” Sparks general manager Raegan Pebley said in a press conference. “Golden State is getting a strong leader, and we wish her the best in the Bay.”

So, why would the Sparks give up rights to Talbot? With each team able to protect six roster spots, it’s likely that the Sparks, who finished last in the WNBA in 2024, had to place more of a focus on offensive production. While Talbot has the experience many of her Los Angeles teammates lack (she’s played 199 WNBA games and is a bronze Olympic medalist), her offensive impact in 2024 doesn’t show up in the stats sheet. 

Talbot’s 3.5 points per game came on 39.5% shooting from two, the second worst percentage of her career, and 26% from three, bar below her previous low. With the introduction of Lynn Roberts as head coach, fans are looking forward to an offensive rating that doesn’t place their team at last in the league, a dismal experience they had in 2024. 

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Talbot’s 2025 contract was at $125,000, putting her behind only Dearica Hamby and Azura Stevens on the Sparks, and but placing her deal well above Los Angeles’ guard options like Lexie Brown. With Talbot’s contract coming off of the Sparks’ books, the Sparks’ cap room balloons to $470,930, giving them room for two max contracts. 

Talbot’s addition to the Golden State Valkyries brings a level of experience to the squad, as well as the defensive energy that head coach Natalie Nakase values in a team. She joins fellow international players Iliana Rupert, Maria Conde, Carla Leite, Cecelia Zandalasini and Julie Vanloo in the Bay Area, making up more than half of the Valkyries’ expansion draft selections. 

“We are excited to have officially started the journey of building the Golden State Valkyries 2025 team,” said Valkyries general manager Ohemaa Nyanin in a press release. “Our goal was to construct a roster that embodies both versatility and depth, bringing in a strong mix of leadership, defense, and scoring ability.”  

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