#GoldenStateValkyries #WNBA #KaylaThornton #WNBAExpansionDraft #Podhalla #CarlaLeite #CeciliaZandalasini #WNBATwitter #ValkyriesWNBA #wnbapodcast

The Golden State Valkyries face their first true roster crisis heading into the 2026 WNBA Expansion Draft. With the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo looking to raid existing rosters, the Podhalla crew dives deep into the most polarizing question of the offseason: Should the Valkyries protect Kayla Thornton?

Kayla Thornton was a cornerstone of the Valkyries' inaugural 2025 season, earning an All-Star nod and leading the team in scoring with 14.0 PPG before a tragic season-ending knee injury. In this clip, we break down the high stakes of the protection list:

The Case for Protecting Kayla Thornton:

Veteran Leadership: A proven winner and a locker room "glue" player for a young franchise.

Elite Production: When healthy, she is a go-to scorer and a tenacious rebounder.

The "Core" Factor: Losing your first-ever All-Star to an expansion rival would be a massive blow to the team's identity.

The Case for Exposing Her:

Injury & Age: Recovering from major knee surgery at age 33 creates significant long-term risk.

The Youth Movement: Protecting Thornton might mean losing high-ceiling prospects like Carla Leite or established international stars like Cecilia Zandalasini.

We weigh the "win-now" veteran presence of Thornton against the future potential of Leite and the versatility of Zandalasini. Who would you keep on the protected list? Watch as we debate the future of the Valkyries' roster!

What do YOU think? Should the Valkyries prioritize loyalty to their first star, or is it time to bet on the youth? Let us know your protected six in the comments!

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