Juste Jocyte needed only five seconds to make WNBA history. During her May 25 debut against the Connecticut  Sun, the Golden State Valkyries rookie scored so fast that head coach Natalie Nakase jokingly questioned if she even knew the playbook

Nakase subbed Juste Jocyte into the game with 4:48 remaining in the 4th quarter, replacing Kaila Charles. On her very first possession, Jocyte ran off a screen and, without any hesitation, made her first official WNBA basket. Per a video clip of the press conference on X on May 26 by sports reporter Nathan Canilao, the HC was surprised.

“She scored, I think, in five seconds. Cause I was like, ‘Does she know the plays?’ And the coaches were like ‘She knows them.’”

The Valkyries earned a 97-70 victory over the Sun, with a major headline of the night being the Golden State bench, which scored a season-high 53 points. 

The head coach credited her assistant coaches for running "stay-ready games" to keep players sharp. Nakase also noted how the active players on the court were helping the rookie. 

Jocyte recently arrived from her overseas season and joined full team activities for her first practice around May 24.

The 20-year-old finished her debut with 5 points and 2 assists. When asked about her mindset while waiting to check in, Jocyte answered confidently.

“I think I was ready.”

Teammate Gabby Williams spoke highly of the rookie after the game, telling reporters that this performance was just a glimpse of what she is capable of doing in the future. The journey to this debut required considerable patience from both the player and the franchise.

Why Juste Jocyte’s Debut Carries Larger Narrative for the Valkyries

On April 14, 2025, the Golden State Valkyries selected Jocyte with the number five overall pick. This pick was a major milestone, as she became the first-ever draft selection in the history of the new franchise. 

Additionally, it is also the highest draft position for a Lithuanian women's basketball player in history. However, she decided to stay in Europe to finish her commitments in the EuroBasket tournament, which delayed her official WNBA arrival.

In her last overseas 2024-25 season, she averaged 11.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists while shooting 35.7% from three-point range. She has also been a centerpiece for the Lithuanian national team since she was just 13 years old. 

It is incredibly rare for a 20-year-old rookie to step into a WNBA game and look completely comfortable within seconds. Jocyte proved to her coach, her teammates, and the rest of the league that she belongs on this stage.

Do you think that Jocyte will get more play time in the coming games? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Utsav Sinha

Edited by

Surjo Ray