The Golden State Valkyries secured a victory in their opening match against the Seattle Storm on Friday evening, but the win came at a cost for Italian guard Cecilia Zandalasini, who was forced to leave the court after suffering a jaw injury following a hard fall in the second quarter. The 30th season of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), North America's premier professional women's basketball league, tipped off on May 8 with three games, expanding to a full weekend slate that concluded today with five matches.
Zandalasini, playing her fifth WNBA season and second consecutive year with the Valkyries, contributed 8 points off the bench in just 7 minutes before the injury ended her night. Medical staff evaluated her jaw injury, and she was placed under observation for the remainder of the opening weekend. She missed Sunday's game against the Phoenix Mercury and will be evaluated daily, with no firm timeline for her return. For Italian basketball fans, Zandalasini represents the country's most accomplished current WNBA player, having won a championship with the Minnesota Lynx in 2017.
Historic Italian Presence in the League
Italy's footprint in the WNBA reached a new milestone this season with Costanza Verona joining Zandalasini on WNBA rosters, marking the first time two Italian women have competed simultaneously in the league. Verona signed a Developmental Player Contract with the Dallas Wings on May 8, just 24 hours after being cut from the team's initial training camp roster. The contract structure allows her to participate in up to 12 regular-season games, earning $750 weekly when inactive and $6,000 per game when she appears on the active roster—substantially lower than standard WNBA contracts, which typically range from $150,000 to over $250,000 annually for regular roster players.
Verona becomes the latest Italian player to represent her country in professional American basketball at the highest level.
Marquee Matchup Features Four Top Draft Picks
Saturday's schedule delivered a historic collision when the Indiana Fever faced the Dallas Wings in a game featuring the last four consecutive first overall draft selections: Aliyah Boston (2023), Caitlin Clark (2024), Paige Bueckers (2025), and Azzi Fudd (2026). The Wings prevailed 107-104 in a high-scoring affair, with both Clark and Bueckers posting 20 points apiece.
The matchup carried added intrigue because Bueckers and Fudd, who played together at the University of Connecticut and are publicly known as partners in life, reunited at the professional level. Their college careers helped transform women's college basketball into a mainstream phenomenon, with Clark in particular drawing unprecedented television audiences and arena crowds during her time at the University of Iowa.
What This Means for Italian Basketball Followers
For fans tracking Italian athletes abroad, Zandalasini's jaw injury introduces uncertainty into her season. Recovery timelines for jaw injuries vary depending on severity and medical clearance. The Valkyries, in their second season of existence after joining as an expansion franchise, rely on Zandalasini's veteran presence and international experience.
Verona's Developmental Player status offers a different dynamic. Unlike standard WNBA contracts, this arrangement provides teams roster flexibility while giving players a chance to prove themselves in limited opportunities. Verona was not active for Dallas's opening game against Indiana, and her debut timeline remains unclear.
Opening Weekend Results and Title Defense
The Las Vegas Aces, who enter the season as reigning champions, stumbled in their opener against the Phoenix Mercury. Meanwhile, the New York Liberty, who claimed titles in 2023 and 2024, dominated the Connecticut Sun in a statement victory. The Liberty's continued excellence signals their intent to remain atop the league hierarchy.
Another historic development saw the Toronto Tempo make their WNBA debut as the league's first Canadian franchise. They fell narrowly to the Washington Mystics in their inaugural game, but their mere existence represents a geographic expansion that league officials hope will tap into Canada's growing basketball market.
League Expansion and Format
The 2025 season marks the 30th anniversary of the WNBA, which launched in 1996 with eight teams. The addition of Golden State (2025) and Toronto (2026) brings the league to 14 franchises, with commissioner Cathy Engelbert publicly targeting 16 teams by 2028. Television viewership and attendance have surged in recent years, driven partly by the star power of players like Clark, Bueckers, and established veterans such as Breanna Stewart and A'ja Wilson.
The regular season runs through mid-September, followed by playoffs that culminate in the WNBA Finals in October. Each team plays a 44-game schedule, expanded from 40 games in previous seasons to accommodate the new franchises and maximize revenue from increased fan interest.
Injury Concerns and Player Safety
Zandalasini's injury highlights ongoing concerns about player safety in a league where athletes compete year-round, often playing overseas during the WNBA offseason. Many European clubs, including top Italian Serie A1 teams, pay significantly higher salaries than WNBA franchises, leading most American and international players to maintain dual careers across continents. The compressed WNBA schedule—44 games in roughly four months—creates intense physical demands, and player health has become a focal point for league medical protocols in recent seasons.
The Valkyries have not announced whether they will sign a replacement player while Zandalasini remains sidelined, though league rules permit temporary roster additions for players on extended medical leave.
As the season progresses, Italian fans will watch closely to see when Zandalasini can return to action and whether Verona earns her first active roster spot. Both represent Italy's growing presence in a league that increasingly draws global talent and attention.
