The Golden State Valkyries, set to tip off their inaugural WNBA season, have drawn the ire of many fans following the decision to waive forward Laeticia Amihere. Despite showcasing flashes during the preseason, the former first-round pick was not included on the final roster, a move that was met with disappointment from the WNBA community.
Amihere, who was drafted 8th overall in the 2023 WNBA Draft by the Atlanta Dream, played two seasons with the Dream before her rights were traded. Her arrival at the expansion Valkyries offered a fresh start, and she appeared to seize the opportunity in the preseason.
Fans React Strongly to the Valkyries Waiving Amihere
Amihere dropped 20 points in a preseason contest against the Los Angeles Sparks, demonstrating her scoring ability and potential impact. Across the preseason, she averaged 12.5 points, shooting an efficient 60% from the field and 50% from three-point range.
This strong showing, however, was not enough to secure a spot on the Valkyries’ roster.
Laeticia Amihere had been WAIVED by the Valkyries after scoring 20 points in 19 minutes against the Sparks 😳 pic.twitter.com/cbuKPWCzVp
— Women’s Hoops Network (@WomensHoops_USA)
The decision has sparked a backlash online, with fans expressing their frustration. “This is really disappointing. She earned a spot on the team,” one fan lamented on X.
Another observer added, “She was honestly the most effective player on that entire team. I didn’t know much about her, but her play was impressive and her hustle was top tier. I really wanted to like this franchise….yikes. Are they gonna go 0-fer?”
The move has even led some to speculate about the team’s future intentions, with one fan tweeting, “They must be dead set on getting JuJu in the future,” referencing future top prospect and USC guard JuJu Watkins, who will be draft-eligible in two years.
“Idk how this is even possible,” another user added.
“How? I for sure thought she was locked in 😭😭😭,” a fan remarked.
How? I for sure thought she was locked in 😭😭😭
— PKiLLa 🦋✨ (@KilLa_Tweets12)
“She was becoming my favorite player on the team smh,” a user confessed.
She was becoming my favorite player on the team smh
— Juan Nicolas (@juan_nicolas4)
During her four-year collegiate career at the University of South Carolina, Amihere was a key contributor to a dominant program. In her senior season (2022-2023), she averaged 7.1 points and 3.4 rebounds per game, helping lead the Gamecocks to an undefeated regular season.
Her brief stint in Atlanta did not showcase much, as she only averaged 2.0 points and 1.3 rebounds over 37 games. She also gained international experience, representing Canada in various tournaments.
As the Valkyries prepare for their historic first season, the decision to cut Amihere leaves a lingering question mark for many who believed her preseason performance warranted a roster spot.
The team will now look to their finalized roster to build chemistry and find success in their inaugural campaign, but for a segment of the fan base, the excitement of a new team is undoubtedly tempered by this unexpected and, to them, disappointing roster move.
Same feeling Toure! The win they had was all due to Anihere, Leite and Toure