Golden State awaits: Steph Talbot's next chapter unfolds as a Valkyrie

The Opals star is headed to join the WNBA's newest franchise in Golden State. Here's what she expects as she prepares for life as a Valkyrie.

Photo credit: Kelly Defina / Getty Images

First things first: what exactly is a Valkyrie?

For those unfamiliar with Norse mythology (or the Thor movies in the Marvel cinematic universe), a Valkyrie is a peerless female warrior, traditionally depicted on horseback, plated in armour, and armed with a spear. Valkyries are not outlaws, nor renegades, but part of a vast host, working in service of the Norse God Odin. In said mythology, they’re tasked with guiding the souls of heroic warriors to Valhalla, Odin’s great hall, where slain heroes wait for Ragnarok, an apocalyptic event in which they’ll fight their final battle.

With all that said, it seems only fitting the first ever iteration of the WNBA’s Valkyries includes Steph Talbot, with the lionhearted Opal snapped up by Golden State in the December’s expansion draft.

“I found out the night before it was highly likely, so when my name was called I’d wrapped my head around it. It was a weird feeling, because I obviously re-signed at L.A., but also super excited to be heading to the new franchise. They seem to be putting together a heavily international roster, so it’ll be kinda different, and kinda fun hopefully.”

It’s a team that currently includes players from Australia, Great Britain, France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Lithuania, Azerbaijan, Canada, and of course, the United States. It’s also a team that has no history, no records, and no real idea of what comes next. There’s no hierarchies, no. It’s essentially a clean slate, and an opportunity to build something from the ground up. So what exactly does that look like?