As the WNBA team approaches the playoffs, sold-out crowds at Balhalla have turned even sports skeptics into fans.
Mónica (right) and her mother Lydia Ortega cheer during the Golden State Valkyries’ home opener against the Phoenix Mercury at Chase Center in San Francisco on May 10, 2026. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)
It’s a Friday night in May and I’m frantically setting up screens around my apartment while my roommate makes sure we have enough ice cubes in the freezer. We are attempting to evoke a “sports bar feel” in a place that doesn’t even have a television — just a projector we stow away when not in use — or enough seats in the living room for our guests.
DJ Shellheart plays a set for the Golden State Valkyries during a game at Chase Center in San Francisco on Aug. 19, 2025. (Tâm Vũ/KQED)
Over the course of the team’s inaugural season, Ballhalla became known for having the toughest home crowd to play against, drawing parallels to the Warriors’ “Roaracle” era at the Oakland Arena. When the Valkyries beat the odds to reach playoffs, but could not play at Chase Center due to a scheduling conflict, fans declared “Ballhalla is a mentality” and brought their intensity to San José’s SAP Center. This season, the Valkyries will finally get to play some postseason games in Ballhalla, painting San Francisco all shades of violet.
I describe the Valkyries fandom to my friends as “a sea of purple boarding the Muni bus.” Even during the offseason, you’ll notice people wearing Valkyries gear around the Bay Area — fans from all walks of life have embraced the team. Of course, it helps that women’s basketball isn’t completely new to the Bay Area. Some fans patiently waited for a new WNBA franchise after the team they once cheered for, the Sacramento Monarchs, disbanded in 2009.
Perhaps that’s why, at a time when multiple major league men’s sports teams have abandoned their Bay Area fans in favor of swankier new stadiums in Las Vegas, the WNBA is doubling down on the Valkyries’ popularity in the Bay Area by hosting the 2027 WNBA All-Star Game in San Francisco. Sure, there was an official bid that Valkyries owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber placed to bring the event to the Bay Area; it’s not like the league came up with the idea. But the Valkyries (and the fans who sold out Ballhalla for every single game) are the reason why this is the moment to host the first WNBA All-Star Game in California — where the Los Angeles Sparks have been hooping for 30 years.
Golden State Valkyries mascot Violet the Raven rallies the crowd during Game 2 of the Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx WNBA playoff game at the SAP Center in San Jose on Sept. 17, 2025. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)
Rooting for the Valkyries is easy, even if you aren’t the biggest sports fan. They were built by bringing together underutilized players from other teams in the league, with a philosophy of unselfish ball that lets everyone shine. It helps that they are doing exceptionally well this season, currently ranking second in the league, one spot above the reigning champions.
There’s a relatability to their underdog narrative — we all feel like we’re being overlooked sometimes, like we could thrive if only someone knew our worth. In the Valkyries players’ case, it was the General Manager Ohemaa Nyanin and the coaching staff, led by Natalie Nakase, that understood what the players could bring to the team with the right push.
Golden State Valkyries’ Head Coach Natalie Nakase speaks with the press during training camp held at the Sephora Performance Center in Oakland on May 1, 2025. (Beth LaBerge/KQED)
I would be remiss not to mention the bad-faith political discourse that has clouded the league this season. Coach Nakase and Gabby Williams have both made powerful statements in support of inclusivity and acceptance in the league, with Williams saying, “I would welcome a trans athlete on my team or against my team, anytime. I don’t think it’s a problem in the world. It’s just another way to kind of attack trans people.” Indeed, trans people make up less than 10 of 500,000 U.S. college athletes, and even fewer Olympians, making the right-wing fearmongering look asinine at best.
In just over a year, the Valkyries have become a symbol of the Bay Area’s diversity and love of sports, a celebration of women, and a reason for another international event to arrive in San Francisco. As for me, I’ve become the point person for all-things Valkyries for my friends (and coworkers). I even spent my birthday this year in Philadelphia attending Unrivaled — a women’s basketball league co-founded by two WNBA stars to allow WNBA players to play domestically and earn income during the offseason. I’ve made and strengthened friendships over a shared love of women’s sports.
And, like any sports fanatic, I cannot wait for the day the Valkyries bring home the championship.