Valkyries Host Game 1 of WNBA Finals
After a semifinals sweep of the league’s defending champions, the Golden State Valkyries begin Game 1 in the best-of-seven WNBA Finals series Saturday afternoon.
The team is hosting the Atlanta Dream at Chase Center in San Francisco, a venue lovingly referred to as Ballhalla for its high fan energy that players feed off.
The Valkyries are only in their second season and already in the Finals, and, despite being the No. 2 seed in the playoffs, were counted out by some in the semifinals against the Las Vegas Aces.
But they’re no underdogs in this match.
Whether it’s thanks to Ballhalla’s magic or the undeniable strength of the team’s roster this year, ESPN gives the Valkyries a 62.4% chance of taking home the franchise’s first championship.
The Dream, which swept the New York Liberty in its own semifinals series, is standing in the way. The team hasn’t been to the finals since 2013, when they were swept. But they had three players represent them at the WNBA All-Star Game this year and are leading ESPN’s playoff rankings.
Either team would net their franchise’s first win in the WNBA Finals if they take home the victory.
Speaking to reporters before the game, Valkyries Coach Natalie Nakase said the team needs to stay connected during the match.
“We understand Ballhalla is gonna be rocking, so it’s a great thing for us when we hear those roars but at the same time we just have to be on the same page with the noise around,” Nakase said.
The Valkyries would be adding to their list of historic firsts. The team is just in its second year of play since its inaugural 2025 season and it’s been making history the entire time to meet owner Joe Lacob’s high expectations.
In the Valkyries’ first season, they clinched an expansion team’s first appearance in the playoffs after achieving the league’s second-best first-year winning percentage ever. They were swept in the first round, but clearly didn’t give up.
The franchise is the first professional women’s sports team to generate at least $100 million in annual revenue — in the second year in a row the Valks have posted the highest value of any WNBA team.
Much of that is thanks to fans who have been dedicated since the franchise’s first game.
Fans regularly show up at Chase Center and throughout the Bay to root for the team, and, when necessary, travel to other arenas.
Dream Head Coach Karl Smesko said the Bay Area has supported the Valkyries “unbelievably well.”
“We know how loud it’s going to be out there today,” Smesko told reporters before the game.
Tip off is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. at Chase Center.