Golden State’s Golden Start: How the Valkyries Took the WNBA by Storm
By Randall Tom
The Golden State Valkyries are just four wins away from lifting the WNBA Finals trophy against the Atlanta Dream in a best-of-seven series.
With the Bay Area grounded in basketball, the Valkyries did not have to convince San Francisco of their relevance. For the rest of the league, the Valkyries started as an unknown with a collection of unprotected, unwanted, and unestablished players. Those players would turn into All-Stars, most improved players, and defensive dynamos.
The sports science behind an expansion team consists of sacrificing winning in the foundational years because of a lack of star players, with a collection of players who were not kept by their previous team. In the foundation years, even when the team is playing poorly, the brand and nuance of the team keep fans engaged. Founded in 2023 as the first WNBA team in the Bay Area, the Valkyries exceeded expectations. Immediately, fans got behind the carefree, relentless group of women who had landed from across the league in “Ballhalla.” With their catchy chants, complementary jerseys, and roaring fan base, the Valkyries amassed a record $100 million in annual revenue, becoming the world’s most valuable women’s sports franchise. Golden State achieved all of that and more in just two seasons.
On the court, the Valkyries made the playoffs in their first season, losing to the Minnesota Lynx in the first round. But for the Valkyries, it started an identity. At the helm of the team is head coach Natalie Nakase, a former UCLA basketball player, NBA assistant coach, and current assistant for Team USA women’s basketball.
From the foundation of the 2025 team, built through the expansion and WNBA drafts, the Valkyries had 2025’s most improved player, Veronica Burton, and veterans such as WNBA All-Star Kayla Thornton..
Recognized by opposing players and coaches, Ballhalla at Chase Center is one of the loudest, most hostile environments. Radiating from the court to the upper levels, the Valkyries’ defensive identity feeds off the crowd. In their first season, the Valkyries ranked in the top three in defensive rating, holding proven WNBA stars such as MVP, A’ja Wilson, Caitlin Clark, and Napheesa Collier to low-efficiency, high-turnover games.
Before the 2026 season, the Valkyries signed Gabby Williams in free agency, which would go down as one of the best signings not only in franchise history, but in WNBA history.
Williams, an All-Star and defensive dynamo, has become the defensive anchor for the Valkyries. In 2026, Williams once again made the All-Defensive first team and led the Valkyries to the best team defense in the league.
Teammates Burton and Kiah Stokes were named to the All-Defensive second team. With their contributions, for the second straight year, Golden State allowed the fewest points, 75 per game, with opponents shooting less than 45%.
Like their NBA counterparts, the Valkyries value “strength in numbers” on both sides of the court. An example of this is Valkyries forward Janelle Salaün, who was unanimously selected as the WNBA Sixth Player of the Year. Each night, seemingly a new player steps up.
Throughout the 2026 WNBA playoffs, the Valkyries defeated the Dallas Wings in three games and swept the reigning champion Las Vegas Aces. They now await the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA Finals in a best-of-seven series.
During this postseason, Williams has been a two-way star, averaging more than 22 points per game, up 8 points from her regular-season average. She has also maintained a top-five defensive rating in these playoffs.
In the season series between the Valkyries and the Dream, Golden State won all three matchups. The Dream also had a top-five defense, anchored by WNBA defensive player of the year, Angel Reese.
In the last decade, women’s sports and WNBA engagement have skyrocketed with new fan engagement, revenue, and popularity. The Valkyries are an example of the beauty of sports.
A once-small, random group of players grew into a dominant defensive force that passes the eye test and is backed by the stats, all supported by a die-hard fan base. Now they sit just four wins away from lifting the championship trophy.
If the Golden State Valkyries win four games against the Atlanta Dream to capture the 2026 WNBA Finals, they could become the fastest expansion franchise in the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA or NHL to win a league championship.
The Las Vegas Golden Knights, who reached the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural 2018 season, didn’t win their first championship until their sixth season.
