Jess Smith, president of the Golden State Valkyries, announced the arena change to season ticket holders after the team won the Sept. 4 game that secured their spot in the playoffs. Smith said that Chase Center was booked for a tennis tournament years in advance, before the Bay was given a WNBA team.

“We’re already working to ensure our playoff scheduling is protected going forward to prevent scheduling conflicts for future playoff runs in Ballhalla,” the letter reads.

The news left some fans frustrated, considering that being pushed out of their home arena has happened to WNBA teams in the past. As Breanna Stewart, a player and vice president for the Women’s National Basketball Players Association, said to SFGate, “You don’t see it happening with the NBA.”

Coach Natalie Nakase, for her part, said in a press conference that the Valkyries are still playing in their territory.

“Even if we’re in San José, that’s still considered the Bay. We know that they’re going to travel, our fans are going to come,” she said. “For us, we’re still at home.”

How to get to SAP Center

If you have never been to SAP Center, you’re in luck: downtown San José is very well connected by several public transit agencies.

If you’re coming from the city’s Eastside, you can take the light rail VTA from Alum Rock station straight to San José-Diridon, which is only one block away from SAP Center.

The SAP Center sports arena in San José, California, on July 1, 2025. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

Caltrain — which runs from San Francisco through San Mateo County to the South Bay — also stops at San José-Diridon. According to a Caltrain news release, the #416 southbound will feature a Valkyries-themed car, giving passengers the chance to win free merch.

Coming in from the East Bay? You can take BART and get off at Berryessa/North San José station and then get on a VTA bus — specifically the Rapid 500 line — which will quickly take you straight to SAP Center.

Keep in mind that public transportation in San José does not run the whole night. So if you are getting home through transit, be sure of when the last train or bus runs so you don’t get stranded. You can also use trip planners to help mark your route.

Watch the game at a bar

If you are unable to make it to a game, there are bars and restaurants in the Bay that show women’s sports.

There will likely be more parties announced as we get closer to the Valkyries’ first game.

This story originally published on Sept. 12, and contains reporting from KQED’s Carlos Cabrera-Lomelí.