The Golden State Valkyries continued to make roster moves as more players are set to leave for the EuroBasket tournament that starts next week.
The Valkyries signed veteran guard Aerial Powers, the team announced on Tuesday afternoon. Powers’ addition comes after the Valkyries announced that Julie Vanloo will be away from the team to participate in EuroBasket.
Powers, 31, was drafted fifth overall in 2016 and last played for the Atlanta Dream in 2024. She’s a career 10.5 points per game scorer and won a WNBA championship in 2019 with the Washington Mystics. She also played for the Dallas Wings and the Minnesota Lynx.
Since winning a championship in 2019, Powers has been plagued with injuries.
In 2020, she suffered a hamstring injury that limited her to just six games. The year after, she tore her UCL in her right thumb, and in 2023 dealt with a nagging ankle sprain that kept her to 20 games played. Last year, a calf injury kept Powers on the bench for the second half of the season.
Powers profiles as a bigger guard who can add rebounding and consistent shooting off the bench. She has shot 33.6% from beyond the arc for her career and has the athleticism to be a factor on the boards.
Powers is the second player the Valkyries signed this week as they prepare for more players to leave for EuroBasket. The Valkyries signed forward Laeticia Amihere, who was on the Valkyries preseason roster, on Sunday after releasing center Kyara Linskens.
Temi Fágbénlé and Janelle Salaün are expected to be the next two players to report to their respective EuroBasket teams.