Grace Vanslooten: Valkyries Waive Ashten Prechtel After Hardship Deal

grace vanslooten sits at the center of another Golden State roster move after the Valkyries waived forward Ashten Prechtel on Wednesday. Prechtel had signed a hardship contract, but she never appeared in a game before her release.

Golden State Valkyries

The move gives Golden State a path to a healthier rotation, with Cecilia Zandalasini out with a concussion and Tiffany Hayes sidelined by a left pinky injury. One injured player returning would force the Valkyries to tighten a roster that had briefly opened for Prechtel.

That is the sharp part of the transaction. Prechtel’s deal was her first official WNBA service time, and it ended without a regular-season appearance.

Ashten Prechtel at Stanford

Prechtel’s profile with the Valkyries traces back to Stanford, where she played from 2019 to 2023. She was a key bench contributor during the Cardinal’s championship run in 2021.

Her professional path has been crowded with short stops. The Connecticut Sun picked her in the third round of the 2023 WNBA Draft, then waived her before her rookie campaign. She later signed training camp contracts with the Washington Mystics in 2025 and the Phoenix Mercury in 2026, but did not make either final roster.

Zandalasini And Hayes

Golden State’s decision points back to the injury picture around the roster. Zandalasini and Hayes were both already out, and the waiver suggests at least one of those rotation spots is close to opening again.

For Prechtel, the immediate result is simple: another NBA-level opportunity ended before she could log a minute, while the Valkyries kept flexibility as they wait for health to sort out the front end of their rotation.