Bree Hall is back. On June 18, 2025, the Golden State Valkyries announced they had signed guard Bree Hall to a rest-of-season contract. Her arrival marks a welcome return to the WNBA for the 6-foot-1 wing, who earned a reputation in college as one of the fiercest two-way players in the nation sbnation.com+15sbnation.com+15si.com+15.
Hall rose to prominence over four years at the University of South Carolina, a program defined by toughness and championship pedigree under the guidance of Hall of Fame coach Dawn Staley. Hall started every game during the Gamecocks’ undefeated 38–0 run in 2023–24, averaging 9.2 points per contest, and emerged as one of the SEC’s most disruptive perimeter defenders. Her elite three-point accuracy—an impressive 38.5% in her junior season and 38.3% as a senior—added a lethal dimension to her game .
This two-way versatility made Hall a natural WNBA prospect. In April, the Indiana Fever selected her with the 20th overall pick in the second round of the 2025 WNBA Draft. Indiana coach Stephanie White emphasized their desire to deepen defensive versatility, drawing strong appreciation from Hall’s former coach Staley. Just days later, Hall signed a rookie contract and joined the Fever’s 15-player preseason roster sbnation.com.
Hall had an impactful preseason debut on May 4, against a Brazilian national team exhibition. In just 16 minutes, she tallied nine points and four rebounds—a confident showing that hinted at her readiness for professional play facebook.com+4abccolumbia.com+4si.com+4. Nonetheless, the Fever faced tough roster decisions and with only 12 regular-season spots available, Hall was waived on May 5 as part of first-round roster cuts sbnation.com+5sbnation.com+5on3.com+5.
Her exit reflected the harsh reality for many second-round picks, described by SBNation as a steep climb in a WNBA with just 156 total roster spots across 13 teams sbnation.com+1sbnation.com+1. Yet Hall’s journey was far from over. During the interim, she briefly joined a 3×3 tourney with the 3XBA league, maintaining her competitive edge on3.com.
The Valkyries, as a brand-new expansion franchise, entered the league with unique roster dynamics. With numerous international standouts drafted via expansion and the draft itself, they boast a roster featuring talents like Julie Vanloo, Janelle Salaün, Temi Fágbénlé, Cecilia Zandalasini, Chloe Bibby, and former UConn stars Kaitlyn Chen and Shyanne Sellers en.wikipedia.org+7en.wikipedia.org+7sbnation.com+7. Yet international players often depart midseason to represent their national teams. This year, Belgian guard Vanloo, French forward Salaün, Italian Cecilia, and Great Britain’s Fágbénlé left for EuroBasket commitments. Those absences created gaps in both backcourt and frontcourt, creating temporary openings .
That’s where Bree Hall came in. Signed to a “rest-of-season” deal on June 18, she will wear No. 21 and is eligible to make her debut the very next night, June 19, in a showdown against the Indiana Fever—her former team sbnation.com+9abccolumbia.com+9sbnation.com+9. For Hall, the matchup could be especially meaningful; she’ll take the court not only against the team that drafted her but also alongside former Gamecock teammate Aliyah Boston, who remains a central figure for the Fever wach.com+4si.com+4sbnation.com+4.
This isn’t Hall’s first stint with the Valkyries. The expansion team already had another Gamecock on its roster: forward Laeticia Amihere, who rejoined in early June following a similar temporary release from the Dream en.wikipedia.org+3on3.com+3en.wikipedia.org+3. With Hall added, Golden State now has a strong contingent of former South Carolina players—reflecting how Staley’s program remains a feeder for the league, particularly during moments of rapid roster churn sbnation.com+3on3.com+3sbnation.com+3.
Bree Hall’s signing underscores a compelling truth: second-rounders and other fringe players are often better defined by resilience than by draft order. Hall is demonstrably one of the better defensive guards to emerge from South Carolina under Staley—a sentiment repeated often. Staley herself hailed her as “one of the most impactful defenders I’ve ever coached” facebook.com+3sbnation.com+3sbnation.com+3. In a league where defensive versatility and high-effort two-way play matter deeply, Hall brings precisely that—helping keep the Valkyries competitive while their international talent is away.
Her track record supports the gamble. Over 147 career games at South Carolina, she maintained steady scoring (5.8 PPG career average), rebounding, and elite shooting, while uplifting a program that reached two NCAA Final Fours and earned two national championships sbnation.comabccolumbia.com. Those traits aren’t easy to find in available free agents, especially those still on WNBA radars.
The Valkyries are also being prudent. Their core roster, constructed via the expansion draft and free agency, includes players they believed would contribute long-term—Veronica Burton, Tiffany Hayes, Julie Vanloo, and others en.wikipedia.org+3en.wikipedia.org+3sfchronicle.com+3. But they also planned for absences and flexibility. Manager Ohemaa Nyanin pointed out their willingness to add and subtract players without losing long-term identity. Hall, and previously Amihere, fit this mold: short-term reinforcements with upside, capable of helping bridge roster gaps without risky, long-term financial commitment sfchronicle.com.
Still, no contract is guaranteed in the WNBA, especially for temporary signings. Once EuroBasket concludes and the Valkyries’ international cadre returns, Hall will face renewed competition to retain her spot. Chances remain that she’ll be released and forced to chase another opportunity overseas or via 3×3 circuits sbnation.com. But this initial chance—joining a team in need and stepping into a meaningful role—could be a catalyst, helping her carve out a more sustained WNBA path.
As Hall integrates, she’ll need to adapt quickly. The WNBA’s pace is faster, its physicality steeper, and its talent more consistent than any college crop. Golden State’s system under coach Natalie Nakase values effort defense, multi-positional flexibility, and off-ball movement. Hall’s ability to guard 1–3 and hit open threes positions her to fit the rotation from day one. Moreover, the opportunity to face Indiana and reunite with former South Carolina teammate Aliyah Boston adds extra narrative spice on June 19.
Beyond the present, Hall’s arrival suggests broader WNBA trends: the shifting league landscape, rise of expansion teams, and ever-more global rosters. With only 156 spots league-wide, the WNBA remains hyper-competitive—making roster churn a yearly reality. Yet expansion franchises and midseason hardship deals have opened more windows to the league. Players once viewed as on the fringes during training camp are again being given midseason chances, and Hall is one of the high-profile beneficiaries.
For college fans, it’s also a reminder that South Carolina’s pipeline isn’t drying up. Alongside Hall, Gamecock alum Te‑Hina Paopao (Atlanta Dream) and Sania Feagin (Los Angeles Sparks) maintain roster spots, while broader alumni engagement in the WNBA has never been richer si.comswishappeal.com+4sbnation.com+4sbnation.com+4. As Staley continues to build elite teams, her graduates continue to find pro homes—a testament to the system she’s created.
So as Bree Hall prepares for her debut in Valkyries red and gold, it’s not just another game. It’s a moment of vindication for a player who was drafted on pedigree, cut on numbers, and now brought back on purpose. For the Valkyries, she represents short‑term depth with long‑term value; for Hall, it’s another shot to prove she belongs. And as she steps onto a WNBA court again, it’s hard not to root for what comes next.
In signing Bree Hall, the Golden State Valkyries made a smart, strategic move: adding a proven two-way guard with championship DNA to bridge roster needs. For Hall, the story still has chapters to be added. But tonight, she gets to take the court and wear the Valkyries jersey—a testament to her talent, resilience, and relentless drive to stay in the league she earned.
