Valkyries pull off surprise signing, get France's Carla Leite inked to play point guard
Carla Leite is officially heading to the Golden State Valkyries this spring.
The 20-year-old point guard signed her rookie contract on Friday, and a league source told the Chronicle that she will play with the Valkyries this season. Leite, the ninth overall pick by Dallas in the 2024 WNBA draft, has yet to play in the league.
Despite that, the Valkyries took Leite from the Wings when she was left unprotected in December’s expansion draft. As a rookie, Leite’s deal is expected to carry a $72,455 cap hit in her first season. She signed a standard rookie contract for three years.
Leite’s addition instantly changes the Valkyries’ upside after an up-and-down offseason. She is projected to be a starting point guard in the WNBA after starting for her professional team in France and barely missed the cut for the French Olympic team that made it to the gold-medal game in Paris last summer.
In the 2023 FIBA U20 Women’s European Championship, Leite averaged 18.4 points and 4.3 assists per game, leading France to the title while earning tournament MVP honors.
https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/article/valkyries-pull-surprise-signing-ink-france-s-20180597.php