Before the 2026 WNBA season kicked off, very few experts predicted that the Golden State Valkyries would clinch the championship. ESPN’s preseason analytics ranked the Indiana Fever, Las Vegas Aces, Minnesota Lynx, New York Liberty, and Atlanta Dream as the top contenders for the title, leaving the Valkyries off the list. However, during the Valkyries’ championship parade on Wednesday, Kiah Stokes playfully wore a shirt featuring ESPN’s original analytics chart, poking fun at their earlier predictions.
In response, ESPN humorously created an updated analytics graphic showing the Valkyries with a 100% chance of winning the WNBA championship. They also noted that by August 10, their calculations had actually placed Golden State as the frontrunner for the title.
Stokes played a pivotal role in the Valkyries’ success despite joining the team as a relatively under-the-radar free-agent signing last offseason. Throughout the regular season, she participated in 43 of 44 games, averaging just over 22 minutes per game with 3.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.7 blocks per contest, shooting 43.4% from the field and 29% from beyond the arc.
Her impact was even more pronounced in the playoffs, where she posted averages of 4.2 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 2.4 blocks per game, improving her shooting percentages to 51.1% from the field and 75% from the free-throw line. A former standout at UConn, Stokes earned a spot on the All-Defensive Second Team for her contributions to the league’s top defensive squad. She is now locked in with the Valkyries on a two-year guaranteed contract, securing their defensive presence in the paint for the foreseeable future.
Fan Take: Kiah Stokes’ rise from underrated free agent to championship cornerstone highlights the depth and unpredictability that make the WNBA so compelling. Her story demonstrates how smart team building and tough defense can reshape a season, setting an inspiring example for aspiring players and fans alike.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
