‘Normalize Being Confused’: How Newer Valkyries Fans Can Follow the 2026 Playoffs
Get ready to read the word “second” a bunch of times: because for the second year in a row — during its second year as a team — the Valkyries have made it to the WNBA playoffs.
It’s been a strong sophomore season for the Valkyries, who are, as of publication, ranked — you guessed it — second in the WNBA out of fifteen teams.
The success has become a major point of pride for the region. In fact, to mark the occasion, San Francisco, Oakland and San José city halls will have flag-raising ceremonies to celebrate the Valkyries. Local businesses across the region will also be marking “Violet Day” Friday with giveaways.
With the playoffs officially starting on Sunday, read on to find out where you can follow the game in the coming weeks, whether on TV, at bars or at San Francisco’s Chase Center — also known as “Ballhalla.”
And if you are new to the whole basketball thing, don’t worry: We got you. KQED has a guide to joining the WNBA fandom in the Bay and what to know about the Valkyries’ inaugural year.
You can also watch KQED host Brian Watt speak to journalist Erin Lim about the passionate Bay Area fandom on an episode of The B-Segment.
What makes the Valkyries’ Ballhalla magical? | The B-Segment with Brian Watt
First off: What are playoffs in the WNBA?
After a regular season of basketball, the top eight WNBA teams then compete in a tournament. The team standings are:
- Minnesota Lynx
- Golden State Valkyries
- Las Vegas Aces
- Atlanta Dream
- Washington Mystics
- Indiana Fever
- Dallas Wings
- New York Liberty
Dates and times are subject to change — or even canceled altogether — depending on how the games go, but the tentative schedule can be found on the WNBA’s website.
Why is the schedule so up in the air? It’s because in the first round, the highest-seeded teams face the lowest-seeded teams in a best-of-three series.
That means on Sunday (Sept. 27) the Valkyries are slated to play the Dallas Wings at 6 p.m. in Chase Center. The next game is on Sept. 30, in Texas — but if the Valkyries win their first two matchups their third game (which would have been at Chase Center again) won’t happen on Oct. 2.
In the second round, the four remaining teams play a best-of-five series. In the finals, the last two teams compete in a best-of-five series for the championship.
You may see a “2-2-1-1-1” structure referred to in sports coverage, which designates where the games are played.
The first “2” means the first two games are played on the stronger team’s home court. The next “2” means the following two games are played on the weaker team’s home court — and so on.
As ‘Valkyries Say Less’ fan podcast co-host Raina Mast told KQED in 2025, the Valkyries “have really attracted people [who] have never even watched basketball.”
And so there’s a learning curve,” Mast said. “Normalize being confused. The structure is confusing.”
Where can I watch the WNBA playoff games?
Watch the games at home
The WNBA website has a list of ways to watch each playoffs game, since it can change for specific matches. Networks include: ABC, Prime, USA, NBC/Peacock, ESPN and ESPN2.
You can also get access to the channels through platforms like YouTube TV, Fubo and the WNBA League Pass.
Watch the games in person
Single-game tickets and playoff packs are available on the Valkyries’ website — although keep in mind, some of these future games might not even happen if the Valkyries don’t do well in the first two games
You should expect some high price tags — for the guaranteed Sunday, Sept. 27 game, the tickets range from $124 to over $800. However, there are some standing–room tickets (meaning you don’t get a chair) around the $65 to $80 range.
Along with getting to enjoy the electrifying vibes of Ballhalla, there’ll also be a halftime performance by Bay Area rapper Too $hort and free violet t-shirts.
It’ll be the first time that playoffs will be held at Chase Center. Last year, the team had to move to San Jose’s SAP Center due to a conflict with a tennis event.
KQED has a thorough guide on how to attend a Valkyries game at Chase Center, including transportation, parking and bag policy.
Watch the game at a bar
Unable to secure a ticket? You’re in luck: There are a lot of bars and watch parties in the Bay that have historically shown Valkyries games, as detailed in KQED’s guide about the WNBA season — which also includes a map from sports journalist Maya Goldberg-Safir of key places to meet other fans.
Some spots include:
- Events hosted by ValQueeries
- Events hosted by The People’s Watch Party
- Events hosted by Hysteria
- Rikki’s in San Francisco
- Mother in San Francisco
- Standard Deviant Brewing in San Francisco
- George & Walt’s in Oakland
- Xingones Cantina in Oakland
- Oakland Athletic Club in Oakland
- Rookie’s Sports Lodge in San Jose
- Thrive City — the outdoor venue outside Chase Center — will be showing the away game on Sept. 30
- A watch party at Dirty Habit in San Francisco
The team’s own website also has a list of bars in the Bay to go to for Valkyries games.