Of their very first 12 months, the Golden State Valkyries have redefined what’s doable for an enlargement franchise. The crew set the all-time WNBA information for each whole attendance and common crowd dimension through the 2025 common season, drawing 397,408 followers at Chase Heart — a median of 18,064 per sport — and promoting out each house date.
The numbers shattered long-standing league marks, surpassing the Indiana Fever’s whole of 349,313 earlier this 12 months and the Washington Mystics’ 2002 common of 16,202. For the WNBA, it signaled a brand new normal of demand. For the Valkyries, it made their house court docket — affectionately dubbed “Ballhalla” by followers — the league’s loudest new stage.
“We’ve the perfect crowd, and I believe we’ve got the perfect followers within the league, arms down,” Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase mentioned.
A Season of Firsts
The record-setting assist has been felt throughout the league. Sellouts at Chase Heart have grow to be a staple of nationwide broadcasts, with the noise and power creating one of the vital tough street environments within the WNBA. Opposing groups have spoken about struggling to speak within the constructing, whereas league officers and gamers alike have pointed to Golden State’s crowds as an indication of how far the league’s recognition has grown.
“While you see it on TV, you see sold-out video games, you see simply the power within the constructing. Each crew needs that,” New York Liberty ahead Breanna Stewart instructed SFGATE. “Away groups come right here, it’s powerful. It’s powerful to listen to, it’s powerful to be on the identical web page as your teammates. And that’s actually like a sixth girl.”
That environment fueled Golden State earlier within the week, when the Valkyries rallied from a double-digit second-half deficit to defeat the Dallas Wings 84-80. The win clinched the primary playoff berth ever for a WNBA enlargement crew in its inaugural season and gave Golden State its twenty third victory — a brand new document for a first-year membership.
“The power in Ballhalla tonight was completely wild, and this second belongs to each single considered one of you who’ve been a part of this unimaginable journey,” Valkyries president Jess Smith mentioned. “From that first house sport in Could to tonight’s historic victory, you’ve been the driving power behind one thing actually particular.”
Lynx Spoil Finale
The celebration was tempered Saturday evening, when the Valkyries fell, 78-72, to the league-leading Minnesota Lynx of their house finale. Golden State led 36-31 at halftime, however Natisha Hiedeman sparked a decisive third-quarter surge. She scored 9 of her season-high 24 factors within the body, a part of a 16-0 Minnesota run that swung the sport.
Veronica Burton lower the deficit to 2 with a three-point play within the closing minute, however Napheesa Collier responded with a baseline jumper and Kayla McBride sealed the win on the line. Collier completed with 20 factors, whereas Jessica Shepard stepped into the lineup for a resting Alanna Smith and contributed 12 factors and 13 rebounds.
Golden State had 4 starters in double figures. Janelle Salaün, Iliana Rupert and Kaila Charles every scored 15 factors, with Salaün and Charles additionally grabbing eight rebounds. Burton added 14 factors and 6 assists, pulling down her 99th profession 3-pointer. The Valkyries outscored Minnesota in three of the 4 quarters, however couldn’t get better from the third-period swing.
The loss left Golden State in sixth place within the standings, two video games behind New York for the fifth seed and one sport forward of Indiana for seventh with two street video games remaining.
Playoff Video games Transferring to San Jose
The WNBA playoffs tip off Sept. 14, however the Valkyries’ first postseason house sport won’t be at Chase Heart. The sector is scheduled to host the Laver Cup males’s tennis event Sept. 19–21, a reserving secured earlier than the Valkyries existed as a franchise.
Because of this, Golden State will host its playoff opener at SAP Heart in San Jose, house of the NHL’s Sharks.
“This has been a season of defying expectations, and our followers have been the driving power behind each milestone we’ve achieved,” Smith mentioned. “Whereas we’d have liked to host our first playoff sport at Chase Heart and sought each alternative to attempt to make that occur, Ballhalla has by no means been about only one constructing — it’s in regards to the unimaginable group our followers have created. We’re assured that very same power will translate to San Jose.”
A Historic Basis
Enlargement groups have historically struggled to determine traction. Till now, none had reached the postseason of their debut marketing campaign. The Valkyries not solely broke by way of however did so whereas setting attendance information that eclipsed each different franchise in league historical past.
With a playoff berth secured, 23 wins within the books, and practically 400,000 followers already behind them, Golden State has constructed a basis that extends past the standings. Their first season is already one of the vital impactful in league historical past — and it isn’t completed but.
