US EditionThe Valkyries Bring WNBA Basketball to the Bay Area in Their Franchise Debut
- The Golden State Valkyries, marking the WNBA’s first new franchise introduced in over a decade, played their inaugural game on May 16, 2025, by hosting the Los Angeles Sparks at the Bay Area’s Chase Center.
- The team was awarded more than 18 months ago to bring professional women’s basketball to the Bay Area after years of local anticipation and fan interest.
- The Valkyries set a 12-player roster favoring experienced players over rookies, notably waiving all 2025 draft picks and some veterans despite impressive preseason performances.
- Kayla Thornton scored the first franchise basket, igniting chants of “G-S-V!” before a packed arena with over 10,000 season-ticket holders and a halftime show featuring rapper E-40.
- The debut signals strong local support and an ambitious future as the team’s staff expressed pride in early chemistry and openness to recalling waived players during the season.
33 Articles
33 Articles
Bay Area vs. L.A.: Valkyries, Sparks to ignite California rivalry on WNBA’s opening night
SAN FRANCISCO — When the Golden State Valkyries and Los Angeles Sparks take the floor on Friday night, the seeds of an in-state rivalry will be planted. Friday’s season opener will mark the first time two WNBA teams from the same state will coexist since the 2017 season when the San Antonio Stars and the Dallas Wings called Texas home before the Stars relocated to Las Vegas a year later. Both teams are looking forward to the watershed moment. …
Winnipeg Free Press
The Valkyries bring WNBA basketball to the Bay Area in their franchise debut
Breaking News, Sports, Manitoba, Canada
Golden State Valkyries Debut at Chase Center Tonight, Boast the Most Expensive Game of the WNBA Season
The expansion WNBA team the Golden State Valkyries are already setting sales records despite not even having played a game yet, but they play their first real season game tonight at the Chase Center. The wait is over for Bay Area women’s basketball fans. It was way back in October 2023 when we learned that San Francisco was getting a WNBA team. Since then, it was announced that they would be called the Golden State Valkyries, and their inaugural…
Golden State Valkyries set for historic home opener at Chase Center in inaugural season
The buzz over the Bay Area's newest professional sports team is set to hit a fever pitch Friday night at Chase Center, when the Golden State Valkyries open their first-ever WNBA regular season game.
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