Valkyries Look to Clinch WNBA Championship in Game 6 Against Atlanta Dream
The Golden State Valkyries are only one finals win away from making franchise — and WNBA — history.
With a victory in Game 6 against the Atlanta Dream at the State Farm Arena on Thursday morning, the Valkyries would become the quickest WNBA expansion franchise to win the finals and notch the team’s first championship in their second season.
It’s a must-win for the Dream if they want to force a Game 7 back in Ballhalla on Halloween. Atlanta dominated Game 2 and 3, but fell short against the Valkyries in more recent competitions. Atlanta’s star forward Angel Reese was a deciding factor in the Dream’s back-to-back wins, yet Reese and the team have failed to adequately answer the Valkyries’ lineup changes.
The WNBA faced backlash from fans and pundits over the 9:30 a.m. Pacific starting time of the game, decided at the 11th hour to accommodate a scheduling conflict with the Atlanta Hawks at the arena. The Valkyries’ devoted fanbase, however, could not be deterred from following them to Georgia and from showing up to watch parties around the Bay in the middle of the morning.
“I’m rooting for them to get this done today,” said Pamela Marcelino from San Francisco, who gathered at a fan meetup at the CTR food hall ahead of the game. She flew out at 5 a.m. to see the Valkyries play in person. “We don’t need torture, we want it now.”
State Farm Arena, which holds 16,888 people, is sold out. Valkyries fans, decked out in all types of violet clothing, were chanting “GSV” nearby even before the game had started.
Oakland fan Stephisha Ycoy-Walton also flew to Atlanta to root for the team, and said it was no question whether she would be there.
“For me, it was non-negotiable,” Ycoy-Walton said. “Being somebody who genuinely loves basketball, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Thousands of miles away, fans packed a watch party at Thrive City, outside of the Chase Center in San Francisco. Bars and other spaces throughout the Bay also opened early to show the game.
The Valkyries have set high expectations for themselves and stunned fans since their inaugural season in 2025. Golden State reached the playoffs in their first season, and have built a large, dedicated following that’s helped them become the most valuable WNBA franchise, valued at around $850 million by Sportico.