The Valkyries made history by winning a WNBA championship just two years into their existence, and they did it with “their typical grit and determination,” completing the title run with a Game 7 victory Saturday against the Dream, 68-63. “None of them wanted to create the next Warriors. They were obsessed with being the first Valkyries,” write COSTABILE and HAMILTON of THE ATHLETIC. The franchise had a “single-minded purpose before it had a name. Everyone goes back to the guarantee.” So what if Valkyries owner Joe Lacob was wrong when he predicted a championship within five years? “Nobody was going bankrupt if an obscenely rich man’s clock ran out and there still wasn’t a trophy in the case. What’s the downside of throwing $50 million into the well and making a wish?” But after “fulfilling his guarantee early, even Lacob was struck by the wonder of it.” Lacob: “It’s just a lot of good decisions, a lot of good execution, a great coach. I really want to give the credit to those three women (Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase, GM Ohemaa Nyanin and President Jess Smith).” (THE ATHLETIC, 11/1).
Expansion teams to win championship in fewest years, by league:
WNBA: Valkyries, 2026, second season, 15 teamsMLB: D-backs, 2001, fourth season, 30 teamsMLS: Fire, 1998, first season, 12 teamsNBA: Bucks, 1971, third season, 17 teamsNFL: Ravens*, 2000 season, fifth season, 32 teams (*Ravens considered expansion team after move from Cleveland; Dolphins won after 1972 season in seventh season as traditional expansion team.)NHL: Golden Knights, 2023, sixth season, 32 teams (SBJ)
The Valkyries’ championship parade will be held at noon PT Wednesday, along the Embarcadero, the team said. The parade will start “at the Ferry Building near Mission Street and ending at King and 2nd Street” (X.com, 11/1).
The get-in price for Game 7 was $407, according to TicketData.com, the most expensive ticket price for any sporting event this weekend. Browns-Steelers was listed at $258 and Chiefs-Broncos was listed at $257 on Sunday morning.