Talbot’s 2025 numbers dipped after Liberty move

• ‍Report Card: Rookie Bibby fights through rollercoaster season‍
• Report Card: Bec Allen celebrates 1500 career points milestone‍
• Report Card: Career-best year for Melbourne in WNBA 2025‍
• Latest News: Read more about Aussies in the WNBA

Australian Opals veteran Steph Talbot's numbers went down across the board after she was waived by the Golden State Valkyries and signed with Sandy Brondello's New York Liberty midway through the 2025 WNBA season.

The 31-year-old Katherine-born forward played 16 games for the expansion Valkyries on July 13, 2025 after being picked up in the 2024 Expansion Draft via the Los Angeles Sparks.

A week later, Talbot joined Australian national coach Brondello in the Big Apple as Brondello battled injuries in her front court. Both Liberty stars Breanna Stewart and 2024 Finals MVP Jonquel Jones missed 13 games each in the middle part of the season.

Talbot was right around her career numbers for the Valkyries, averaging 4.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists but her box score took a hit in the 22 games for the Liberty, averaging 2.0 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists.

Talbot is returning to the Adelaide Lightning for the 2025-26 WNBL season.

Steph Talbot Performance — 2025 Season

• ‍Team(s): Golden State Valkyries / New York Liberty‍
• League: WNBA‍
• Season (Year): 5th WNBA Season (2025)‍
• Position / Jersey #: Forward / #6‍
• Height / Weight: 6’2” / 192 lbs (188 cm / 87 kg)‍
• Age / DOB: 31 (June 15, 1994)‍
• Nationality: Australian (Katherine, NT)‍
• Accolades: 2025 Expansion Draft Selection, 8-year WNBA veteran

Season Snapshot

Talbot began the 2025 season with the Golden State Valkyries before being traded to the New York Liberty midseason. With GS she logged consistent minutes and provided steady contributions in scoring and rebounding, while in NY her role was reduced to a rotation/bench stabiliser.

Regular Season Stats (Per Game Averages)

Golden State Valkyries (16 games):
GMS: 16 I PTS: 4.1 I REB: 3.3 I AST: 2.0 I STL: 0.6 I BLK: 0.2 I FG%: ~40.0 I 3P%: ~32.0 I FT%: ~65.0 I Turnovers: 1.2

New York Liberty (22 games):
GMS: 22 I PTS: 2.0 I REB: 2.3 I AST: 1.5 I STL: 0.4 I BLK: 0.2 I FG%: ~35.0 I 3P%: ~26.0 I FT%: ~64.0 I Turnovers: 1.0

2025 Combined (38 games):
GMS: 38 I PTS: 2.9 I REB: 2.7 I AST: 1.7 I STL: 0.5 I BLK: 0.2 I FG%: 37.5 I 3P%: 28.6 I FT%: 64.3 I Turnovers: 1.1

Career Stats (Per Game Averages)

GMS: 237 I PTS: 4.3 I REB: 2.6 I AST: 1.6 I STL: — I BLK: — I FG%: 42.3 I 3P%: 35.1 I FT%: 71.7 I Turnovers: —

Team Performance (2025)

• Golden State Valkyries: Finished 23–21, 8th seed (made playoffs in expansion year).
• New York Liberty: Finished 27–17, 5th seed, eliminated in first round of playoffs.

Steph Talbot's Team Contribution

• With Golden State, Talbot contributed as a versatile wing, spacing the floor and offering secondary playmaking off the bench.
• With New York, she shifted into a reduced bench role, often deployed as a situational defender and passer.
• Across both stints, Talbot showed just how professional she is with her impact valuable in stabilising rotations.

Highlights

• Scored 13 points vs Connecticut (GS) in one of her best outings of the season.
• Registered 11 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists vs Washington (NY) showcasing her all-around skill set.

Performance Trends

• Talbot was more effective in Golden State’s faster-paced offense, where and when she logged heavier minutes and higher usage.
• With New York, production dropped because of a more crowded rotation but she provided veteran depth in a playoff-bound team.

Impact & Role

Talbot’s 2025 season reflected the challenges of adjusting roles midseason. While she was a steady contributor for Golden State, her usage and output diminished with New York. Nonetheless, she remained a reliable role player capable of spacing, defending, and facilitating.

Without doubt, her impact for the Lightning in WNBL26 will be greater than her 2025 WNBA season.