The Golden State Valkyries are about to have their roster spread across the globe! No less than five players and their head coach are heading to the 2026 FIBA World Cup, with the team officially suspending contracts for four key players so they can go represent their countries. This isn’t just a few players, it’s a significant chunk of their talent hitting the international stage, and it means some wild matchups are coming.
The International Takeover: Who’s Going Where
Get ready to cheer for a whole bunch of Valkyries players in different jerseys! Gabby Williams and Janelle Salaün are set to team up for France, looking to lead their squad to a tournament victory. Meanwhile, Cecilia Zandalasini will be the sole Valkyries representative for Italy, and Miela Sowah gets the same honor for Australia. And don’t forget Kokoro Tanaka, the 38th overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, whose rights the Valkyries still hold. She’s repping Japan, adding even more Valkyries flavor to the competition. It’s a massive international contingent, showing off the diverse talent on this squad.
Group Stage Drama and Olympic Dreams
The World Cup group stages are already setting up some incredible storylines. Japan is in Group A, France is rocking Group B, Australia is battling it out in Group C, and Italy is holding down Group D. These different groups mean we won’t see Valkyries players squaring off against each other too early, which is cool for team loyalty, but the real drama hits in Group D. Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase is serving as an assistant with Team USA, and guess what? Team USA is also in Group D! That means Nakase is guaranteed to coach against Cecilia Zandalasini and Team Italy in the group stage. Talk about an immediate test of loyalties! For teams like Italy and Japan, this tournament is huge. They both failed to qualify for the 2024 Olympics, so a strong World Cup performance is their ticket to punching a spot for 2028. And then there’s France. With Williams and Salaün on board, France has sky-high expectations, especially after losing to Team USA by a single point in the Gold Medal Game at the 2024 Summer Olympics. You know they’re out for redemption.
This 2026 FIBA World Cup is going to be absolutely electric. With so many Valkyries players and their coach involved, every game will have an extra layer of excitement. Keep an eye on those group stage matchups, especially Coach Nakase versus Zandalasini. Let’s see who shines brightest on the world stage!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Golden State of Mind.
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