Sometimes you just have to wait and continue to fight until the time is right. WNBA Draft night in 2023 was a devastating blow for forward Cate Reese. The first female McDonald’s All-American to sign with Arizona, AP All-American honorable mention, Pac-12 All-Freshman, four-time All-Pac-12, and Katrina McClain Award finalist didn’t hear her name called.
Reese battled, going to Australia, Belgium, and Poland to hone her game. Now, her time has come.
The Golden State Valkyries are giving her the shot
she didn’t get after her fifth season with Arizona women’s basketball. The San Francisco Bay Area franchise, which is in its second season, has signed her to a training camp contract.
Reese played for MB Zaglebie Sosnowiec in the Orlen Basket Liga Kobiet (OBLK) last season. The team plays in the top tier of Polish women’s basketball but the second level of European women’s basketball (EuroCup).
She averaged 18.2 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.6 assists against 1.6 turnovers, 1.0 steals, and 0.3 blocks in 28.2 minutes per game in OBLK play. She appeared in 26 games.
Reese appeared in nine EuroCup games for Sonowiec. She averaged 15.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists against 1.9 turnovers, 1.4 steals, and 0.3 blocks in 29.2 minutes per game.
The team went 14-8 in OBLK competition, finishing fifth. They were knocked out in the quarterfinals of the playoffs. They finished second in their group in EuroCup with a 4-2 record. They exited that tournament based on point differential.
The WNBA recently approved a new CBA that pays players much higher salaries with the top players reaching seven digits per year. It also allows teams to keep two developmental players beyond the 12-player roster cap and 12 players are mandated. The salary cap increased from $1.5 million in 2025 to $7 million in 2026 to accommodate a full roster. Teams often used to carry fewer so they could give more money to the players they kept. The developmental players do not count against the salary cap. They earn a stipend and can appear in up to 12 games or be permanently activated at a pro-rated minimum salary. The minimum salary has increased to $270,000 per year.
