When the Golden State Valkyries made their WNBA regular-season debut with an 84-67 loss to Los Angeles in front of 18,000 people at Chase Center, it looked like a typical franchise extension debut—especially one arriving for the first time since 2008. But once the team tipped off, the reason for the massive attraction became crystal clear in their performance, which led them to a 4-5 record with a two-game win streak. While the GS Valkyries are currently ranked No. 8, there is no doubt the team can soon overtake those standing above them. But before the roster can make it happen, it has already ended up in deep waters!It’s because the third player on the Valkyries’ inaugural roster, Janelle Salaün, is reporting to the French national team for EuroBasket, a biennial women’s basketball tournament, and will be out for the next few weeks. Her departure is a tough blow for the Valkyries. The 23-year-old rookie had been averaging 11.8 points per game while shooting 39.1% from the field and 40% from the three-point line.While she’s had her own ups and downs through her first nine games, Salaün has been the GSV’s most consistent shot-taker. She recorded a career-high 21 points while grabbing eight rebounds in the Valkyries’ 89-81 win over the LA Sparks. As expected, Valkyries’ Janelle Salaün will step away from the team to compete for France in EuroBasket.Golden State’s officially has three players away for EuroBasket. They’ve signed Aerial Powers but that still leaves them a roster opening.— Kenzo Fukuda (@kenzofuku) June 11, 2025But, Salaün’s not the only one packing her bags. She’ll be joining Belgium’s Julie Vanloo and Italy’s Cecilia Zandalasini, who already left earlier this week. And it doesn’t stop there. Even Temi Fagbenle is expected to head out soon to represent Great Britain, though she hasn’t made it official yet.For all four of them competing in the 16-team EuroBasket tournament, a major deal in European women’s basketball and a qualifying path to the 2026 FIBA Women’s World Cup is a dream. As Zandalasini put it, “It means so much to represent your country. We prepare so much for it. It’s something I would never miss.” Of course, who would want to miss a shot at qualifying for the 2028 Summer Olympics?But chasing that dream comes with a cost as all these players will miss at least seven WNBA games, and even when the tournament wraps up on June 29, they’ll have just 48 hours to return to the Valkyries lineup. That’s a huge chunk of the season to be without four core contributors, but it’s not lost on anyone how tough this is for the team. “It’s not an easy decision to make,” said Vanloo. “You have to think about a lot of things, and it is tough to go back and forth. It’s not easy for (the Valkyries) that we leave for EuroBasket, but I think they understand and we’re on the same page.”While Valkyries do understand, losing 26.2 points per game, plus Fagbenle’s 9.7, is not ideal for a team trying to climb the standings with a 4-5 record. But here’s the thing: this wasn’t a surprise as the front office saw it coming when they built this roster.GS Valkyries are already one step ahead as EuroBasket exodus begins!Despite being slammed with player departures due to EuroBasket, the GSV aren’t scrambling—they’re strategizing already. With four of their key rotation players temporarily leaving, head coach Natalie Nakase has been calmly plotting their next steps long before this storm ever rolled in. “We have a plan,” she shared. “It’s the same as the expansion draft; we have to be ready. We watch film, we’ve already had conversations about when we need people and things like that. We want them to go with their heart. We want them to choose whatever, and we’re supporting them.”Jun 7, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Las Vegas Aces guard Dana Evans (11) dribbles against Golden State Valkyries forward Cecilia Zandalasini (left) during the fourth quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn ImagesWith the absence of all these four players, the Valkyries’ rotation will be very different as other players will see their roles grow. First, it would be young guard Carla Leite, who’s been averaging 13.4 minutes off the bench. Well, the extent of her contribution may hinge on how quickly Tiffany Hayes recovers from her nose injury. For those unaware, Hayes has played just three games so far but posted a solid 10.0 points and 4.0 rebounds in just under 20 minutes per outing.Then, it would be Monique Billings and Stephanie Talbot anchoring the frontcourt. Billings has been efficient in her limited minutes, putting up 7.9 points and 5.6 rebounds on 45.7% shooting. Talbot, who has mostly come off the bench, is most likely to fill in for Salaün’s minutes alongside newly signed Laeticia Amihere.And it’s not the end yet. The team isn’t just relying on internal depth. With plenty of salary cap space still available—over $350,000, they’ve started reshaping the roster by adding veteran presence Aerial Powers while parting ways with Kyara Linskens. So while the road ahead isn’t easy, the Valkyries are clearly far from floundering.The post GS Valkyries in Deep Waters as International Duties Forces 3rd Roster Exit after LA Sparks Victory appeared first on EssentiallySports.