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"slug": "golden-state-valkyries-wnba-schedule-fandom-chase-center-san-francisco-ballhalla",
"title": "Golden State Valkyries: Level Up Your Bay Area WNBA Fandom With Our Primer",
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"content": "\u003cp>The Golden State Valkyries — the WNBA’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12039501/wnbas-newest-team-golden-state-valkyries-kick-off-first-season\">first new team\u003c/a> in nearly 20 years — are halfway through their inaugural season, and the Bay Area’s hunger for the team has been apparent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So far, 11 home games at Chase Center have been \u003ca href=\"https://frontofficesports.com/valkyries-have-stunned-the-wnba-nothing-has-held-us-back/#:~:text=The%20team%20sold%20out%20its,rebrand%20of%20the%20Chase%20Center.\">sold out\u003c/a>, with thousands of fans repping the team in its now-signature royal violet. On \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/warriors/comments/1lfu3np/why_is_the_valkyries_crowd_so_much_better_than/\">social\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://www.threads.com/@beltzner/post/DLG5Ur_RgiP/holy-moly-the-chase-center-sounds-as-loud-for-the-valkyries-at-least-on-the-broa\">media\u003c/a>, you can see opposing players and their fans alike have remarked on the intense excitement in the arena.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Valkyries play their next game on Friday at Chase Center. \u003ca href=\"https://www.wnba.com/standings\">The Dallas Wings are currently the 12th best team\u003c/a> in the WNBA, while the Valkyries are the ninth best with a 10–12 record.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For many people, a WNBA team in the Bay Area has been a long time coming. Third-generation San Franciscan Megan Doherty-Baker said her family has been following local sports history for years. Her grandfather was even a sports photographer for the \u003cem>San Francisco Examiner. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We just all grew up in my family knowing that to show love for this place was to be really connected to the teams that we loved too,” she said. “So it extends now to the Valkyries.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12047879\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12047879\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00275_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00275_TV_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00275_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00275_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Megan Doherty-Baker, a ValQueeries organizer, chats with fellow fans at a Valkyries watch party at White Horse Bar in Oakland on July 12, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>For others, like this reporter, basketball knowledge goes as far as \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_QRHJoXXYw&list=RDA_QRHJoXXYw&start_radio=1&pp=ygUZZ2V0IHlvdXIgaGVhZCBpbiB0aGUgZ2FtZaAHAQ%3D%3D\">Troy Bolton’s angst in \u003cem>High School Musical\u003c/em>\u003c/a>. But the Valkyries’ arrival in the Bay makes this season the perfect opportunity to get into the rapidly growing world of the WNBA.[pullquote size='medium' align='right']🏀 \u003cstrong>GLOSSARY: Valkyries \u003c/strong>are female \u003ca href=\"https://www.pbs.org/video/valkyries-the-real-story-behind-these-warriors-of-legend-ibrnw7/\">warriors who guide the souls of the dead in Norse mythology\u003c/a>. (If you are less of a mythology fan, it’s what \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNvUjCNYUrk\">Tessa Thompson’s character is in \u003cem>Thor\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>.)\u003c/em>[/pullquote]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m not a sports person. I didn’t grow up playing sports,” San Francisco resident Robin Yang said. “Then a couple of years ago, when we found out that we were getting our team here, I was like, ‘Oh, I would love to be like, on the ground floor of something like that.’”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yang’s basketball “hyperfixation” developed quickly. She has been to six of the home games so far.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“People love to find reasons to hate on the Bay Area,” Yang said. Supporting the Valkyries has been a way for her to take a stand and say, ‘No, there are really cool things happening here.’”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Are you itching to join the Valkyries hype but not sure where to start? KQED has you covered with a comprehensive primer explaining the world of the WNBA for very, \u003cem>very \u003c/em>new fans.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040692\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040692\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1243\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1-800x497.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1-1020x634.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1-160x99.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1-1536x955.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1-1920x1193.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Golden State Valkyries at their home opener at Chase Center on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>This is a long guide, so if you prefer you can \u003cstrong>jump straight to key questions like\u003c/strong>:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#valkyries-schedule\">What is the Golden State Valkyries’ schedule, and how do I get tickets?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#chase-center-san-francisco-parking\">What should I know about my first time at Chase Center?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#storylines\">What are the storylines this season?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#wnba-fandom\">How do I get involved with the WNBA fandom?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"roster\">\u003c/a>What does the roster for the Valkyries look like? \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The team is made up of 12 players and coached by Natalie Nakase. You can learn more about the team and their game highlights by \u003ca href=\"https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/24130218/\">clicking through the panels\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://flo.uri.sh/visualisation/24130218/embed\" title=\"Interactive or visual content\" class=\"flourish-embed-iframe\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" style=\"width:100%;height:600px;\" sandbox=\"allow-same-origin allow-forms allow-scripts allow-downloads allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation\" width=\"100%\" height=\"500\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv style=\"width: 100%!;margin-top: 4px!important;text-align: right!important\">\n\u003cp>\u003ca class=\"flourish-credit\" style=\"text-decoration: none!important\" href=\"https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/24130218/?utm_source=embed&utm_campaign=visualisation/24130218\" target=\"_top\">\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 105px!important;height: 16px!important;border: none!important;margin: 0!important\" src=\"https://public.flourish.studio/resources/made_with_flourish.svg\" alt=\"Made with Flourish\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>As the Valkyries’ veteran player, Tiffany “Tip” Hayes is a crucial presence, explained Portland-based designer Alexandria Haigh, who is also one of the founders of women’s basketball publication \u003ca href=\"https://www.flagrantmag.com/pages/about-us\">Flagrant Magazine\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“For both the team and the fans, having that vet presence is really important to sort of draw the connection between the old WNBA and a new team,” Haigh said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Other players to keep an eye on include fan favorites like Kayla Thornton, who became a \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/article/kayla-thornton-consistent-scorer-valkyries-20759239.php\">first-time All-Star\u003c/a> this season, Temi Fagbenle, Kate Martin and Kaitlyn Chen.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But all of the players have their own passionate stans. “These are like Renaissance women,” said San Francisco’s Vanessa Hutchinson-Szekely, co-host of the podcast \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/valkyriessayless/\">Valkyries Say Less.\u003c/a> “They’ve got their fashion lines, they’re authors … They’re coming with excellent stats from either their time in the WNBA or college or from overseas.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Why does the team keep changing? \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you have already been to a few Valkyries games, you may have noticed that the team is not the same from game to game.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For example, in the past few weeks, many Valkyries players went to play for their home country in the \u003ca href=\"https://www.thenexthoops.com/features/valkyries-have-to-defy-expectations-again-following-eurobasket-exodus/\">EuroBasket Tournament\u003c/a>, prompting the team to temporarily sign new players. However, not every player who left is guaranteed a spot when they return. In early July, Belgian basketball player Julie Vanloo, who was part of the winning team in the European tournament, had just landed in San Francisco when she found out that the Valkyries had waived her.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040681\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040681\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1304\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed-800x522.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed-1020x665.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed-1536x1001.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed-1920x1252.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Golden State Valkyries guard Julie Vanloo (35) advances toward the basket at the Valkyries’ home opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at Chase Center on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“After traveling 18 hours back to the Bay, I missed the fan ceremony and the chance to share that special medal moment with my family and friends,” Vanloo, who the Los Angeles Sparks snatched up, wrote on \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DLk_ORxhfxK/?img_index=1\">Instagram\u003c/a>. “Honestly, that stung. I understand it’s business, but nothing prepares you for the loneliness that comes with getting cut.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Golden State Valkyries have drummed up some decent amount of anger for some of their choices, including waiving another favorite, Shyanne Sellers, said Oakland and Chicago-based journalist Maya Goldberg-Safir, \u003ca href=\"https://wnbaroughnotes.substack.com/p/rough-notes-guide-to-being-a-golden\">who writes Rough Notes\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As women’s basketball gets more popular and players get more visibility, attachment to certain people grows — and so does disappointment and sadness when they get cut.[pullquote size='medium' align='right']🏀 \u003cstrong>GLOSSARY: Waived \u003c/strong>is when a player is \u003ca href=\"https://ftw.usatoday.com/story/sports/wnba/2025/05/06/what-does-it-mean-to-be-waived-wnba/83472043007/\">released before their contract ends\u003c/a>. There is a 48-hour period in which another team can take over that player’s contract and add them to \u003cem>their\u003c/em> team. If this doesn’t happen in 48 hours, the player becomes a free agent and can sign with a new team.[/pullquote]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The WNBA is still figuring a lot of things out,” Goldberg-Safir said. “One of the things that they’re still figuring out is how to waive players in this moment, when the league is so popular and people are so invested.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There are truly not enough spots for the number of really talented folks that are playing in the league or trying to play in the league.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>WNBA teams are allowed a maximum of 12 players, while NBA rosters typically carry 15.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Not only is there a lot more pressure for (players) to be physically able to play every single game, but it means that you can’t essentially train a bunch of additional people that can come in and be easily slotted into the team,” Yang said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12047881\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12047881\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00420_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00420_TV_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00420_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00420_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans cheer for the Valkyries at a watch party at White Horse Bar in Oakland on July 12, 2025. The fan group, ValQueeries, hosted a watch party. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12047878\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12047878\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00163_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00163_TV_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00163_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00163_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Meggie B. (center, no last name given) watches the Valkyries in anticipation at a watch party at White Horse Bar in Oakland. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>This year, members of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association are renegotiating their \u003ca href=\"https://www.wnbpa.com/thecba\">collective bargaining agreement\u003c/a> — and one of their demands is expanding team rosters, Goldberg-Safir said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The players are also bargaining for better pay, working off the long-time \u003ca href=\"https://www.kalw.org/bounce-the-valkyries-first-season-in-the-bay/2025-07-01/ep-4-valkyries-and-the-gender-pay-gap\">disparity between women’s and men’s sports stars\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The W is making more money than ever,” Yang said. WNBA teams increased in value by \u003ca href=\"https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/24/sport/wnba-franchise-increase-value-sportico-spt\">an average of 180% over the last year\u003c/a>, with the Valkyries valued the highest at $500 million.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Do I need to understand basketball stats? \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>When you go to a basketball game, you will see a flurry of numbers on large screens that can feel almost Wall Street-esque. Those are the player’s stats, and they can be quite overwhelming.[aside postID=news_12040665 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-63_qed-1020x700.jpg']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I would say you don’t have to know too much about basketball to be able to enjoy it in person,” Haigh said. “You can kind of tell when something goes right and when something goes wrong.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s a lot of details that can muddy those waters, but don’t obsess over stats and rules too much if you’re trying to just go watch and see if you enjoy it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Haigh said that the stats can help understand a player’s performance and their value in the WNBA, so to speak. The \u003ca href=\"https://www.hometeamsonline.com/teams/popups/Glossary.asp?s=basketball\">major stat categories\u003c/a> to know are:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>PPG \u003c/strong>is \u003cstrong>Points Per Game: \u003c/strong>The average number of a player’s points per game.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>RPG\u003c/strong> is \u003cstrong>Rebounds Per Game\u003c/strong>: The average number of a player’s rebounds. A rebound is when a player collects a missed shot on the offensive or defensive end of the court.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>APG \u003c/strong>is \u003cstrong>Assists Per Game: \u003c/strong>The average number of assists a player makes. An assist is the last pass to a teammate that directly leads to a field goal.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040680\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040680\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-47_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-47_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-47_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-47_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-47_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-47_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-47_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans cheer as the Golden State Valkyries score at their home opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at Chase Center on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Learn more about positions in basketball:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_4CymXARWQ\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"valkyries-schedule\">\u003c/a>When do the Valkyries play? \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>For the current season, each team will \u003ca href=\"https://www.wnba.com/faq\">play 44 games\u003c/a>. Here is \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/schedule\">what the schedule\u003c/a> for upcoming Valkyries games looks like.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Home games\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, July 25 at 7 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Dallas Wings\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, Aug. 6 at 7 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Las Vegas Aces\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, Aug. 9 at 5:30 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Los Angeles Sparks\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Monday, Aug. 11 at 7 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Connecticut Sun\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, Aug. 17 at 5:30 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs Atlanta Dream\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Tuesday, Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Phoenix Mercury\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, Aug. 30 at 5:30 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Washington Mystics\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, Aug. 31 at 5:30 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Indiana Fever\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Tuesday, Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. New York Liberty\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Thursday, Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Dallas Wings\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, Sept. 6 at 5:30 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040685\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040685\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A fan cheers after the Golden State Valkyries scored during their home opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at Chase Center on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Away games\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, July 27 at 10 a.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Connecticut Sun \u003cstrong>in Connecticut\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Tuesday, July 29 at 4:30 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Atlanta Dream \u003cstrong>in Georgia\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Thursday, July 31 at 4:30 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Washington Mystics \u003cstrong>in D.C.\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, Aug. 1 at 4:30 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs.Chicago Sky \u003cstrong>in Illinois\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, Aug. 3 at 3 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Las Vegas Aces \u003cstrong>in Nevada\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, Aug. 13 at 4:30 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Washington Mystics \u003cstrong>in D.C.\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, Aug. 15 at 4:30 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Chicago Sky \u003cstrong>in Illinois\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, Aug. 22 at 7 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Phoenix Mercury \u003cstrong>in Arizona\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, Aug. 24 at 1 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Dallas Wings \u003cstrong>in Texas\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Tuesday, Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Seattle Storm \u003cstrong>in Washington\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Thursday, Sept. 11 at 5 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx \u003cstrong>in Minnesota\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>How do I get tickets to home games? \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>You can get tickets for home games at \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/tickets\">the Valkyries’ official website\u003c/a>, where options include \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/tickets/mini-plans\">mini-plans for multiple games \u003c/a>or season tickets. Season ticket holders become part of the \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/founding-guard\">“Founding Guard,\u003c/a>” with access to perks like on-court appearances.[aside postID=arts_13977457 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/06/RIKKIS-0326-fave.jpg']The most economical option is \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/schedule?season=2025&month=all&location=home&opponent=all\">the single game tickets\u003c/a>, which are relatively more affordable than Warriors tickets. The upcoming Dallas Wings game is pricier than the last home game against the Phoenix Mercury, however. \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/golden-state-valkyries-vs-dallas-wings-san-francisco-california-07-25-2025/event/1C00618BB84925EB?brand=valkyries&artistid=3369949&wt.mc_id=WNBA_TEAM_GS_SCHED_PG_GM12&utm_source=WNBA.com&utm_medium=client&utm_campaign=WNBA_TEAM_GS&utm_content=SCHED_PG_GM12\">The cheapest ticket for the Friday game\u003c/a> against the Dallas Wings is around $125.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some fans who have season tickets may sell individual games to other people. You may be able to find these offers on social media sites like Facebook groups. Doherty-Baker said fan groups like the Valqueeries, which she helps run, may also have a quick connection to people who are looking to sell or just generously give out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(But be careful, and verify the person before sending any money since \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11956083/taylor-swift-levis-stadium-eras-santa-clara-tickets#taylorswifttickets\">ticket scams have been common in recent years\u003c/a>.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040686\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040686\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-36_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-36_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-36_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-36_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-36_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-36_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-36_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mychal Threets takes a photo with E-40 after the WNBA game between the Golden State Valkyries and Los Angeles Sparks at Chase Center on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Are there any watch parties in the Bay Area?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you are craving the vibe of cheering fans but tickets may be out of your reach, there may be a local group or venue that is hosting a (possibly free) watch party.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Thrive Center\u003c/strong> (the venue connected to Chase Center) often shows the game on a large screen outside the arena.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Fan groups like \u003cstrong>the Valqueeries\u003c/strong>, which is for queer WNBA fans, often host watch parties for away games at local bars like Mother in the Mission District. You can get updates for the next event on \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/valqueeries/\">the Valqueeries’ Instagram\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Rikki’s \u003c/strong>in San Francisco’s Castro District is the area’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13977457/rikkis-first-womens-sports-bar-bay-area-open-castro-sf-valkyries\">first bar dedicated to women’s sports\u003c/a> and aims to show every Valkyries game.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Line 51 Brewing in Oakland has two watch parties on \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/golden-state-valkyries-watch-party-line-51-tickets-1364587902149?aff=ebdssbdestsearch\">July 25 (home game)\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/golden-state-valkyries-watch-party-line-51-tickets-1364587902149?aff=ebdssbdestsearch\">July 31 (away game.) \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>George & Walt’s \u003c/strong>in Oakland is \u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/georgeandwaltsbar/?hl=en\">a woman-owned sports bar\u003c/a>\u003c/strong> with a watch party on July 27 at 10 a,m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Line 51 Brewing\u003c/strong> in Oakland has two watch parties on \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/golden-state-valkyries-watch-party-line-51-tickets-1364587902149?aff=ebdssbdestsearch\">July 25 (home game)\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/golden-state-valkyries-watch-party-line-51-tickets-1364587902149?aff=ebdssbdestsearch\">July 31\u003c/a> (away game).\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Xingones Cantina\u003c/strong> in Oakland is hosting watch parties on July 29 at 4:30 p.m., on August 3 at 3 p.m., on August 22 at 7 p.m. and on September 11 at 7 p.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12047880\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12047880\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00321_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00321_TV_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00321_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00321_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Miles Ott watches the game at a Valkyries watch party at White Horse Bar in Oakland on July 12, 2025. The fan group, ValQueeries, hosted a watch party. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Where can I watch the Valkyries online or on TV?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The TV broadcast schedule for the Valkyries can be found on \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/schedule/broadcast-schedule\">the official website\u003c/a>. But it’s straight up confusing, because it’s not consistent and rights to stream vary from game to game.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For example, some games can sometimes be watched on KPIX+ in the Bay Area or KMAX in Sacramento. Other games may be on ION, which is a TV network and you can find what channel it is on locally on its \u003ca href=\"https://www.ionwnba.com/\">website\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can stream some games on \u003ca href=\"https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/tournament/amzn1.dv.icid.9128d05b-2c57-491d-89da-c49d779c5db4\">Amazon Prime\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.fubo.tv/stream/wnba/?irad=1707172&irmp=5579095&sharedid=PtnrUS_TA_Editorial_HTW_Articles\">Fubo\u003c/a> or even buy a League Pass to get \u003ca href=\"https://www.wnba.com/leaguepass\">access to more platforms\u003c/a>. The Athletic has \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6353404/2025/05/16/wnba-how-to-watch/\">a guide on some platforms to check out\u003c/a> and how to navigate WNBA schedules.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"chase-center-san-francisco-parking\">\u003c/a>What should I know before going to Chase Center?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040691\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1873px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040691\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-53_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1873\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-53_qed.jpg 1873w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-53_qed-800x569.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-53_qed-1020x726.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-53_qed-160x114.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-53_qed-1536x1093.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1873px) 100vw, 1873px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans pose for a photo outside of Chase Center, following the WNBA game between the Golden State Valkyries and the Los Angeles Sparks on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Basketball games move fast. They are around two to two and a half hours long and split into quarters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There is usually a halftime show during the Chase Center games, featuring performances by local acts. E-40 performed at the inaugural game against the Los Angeles Sparks.[pullquote size='medium' align='right']🏀 \u003cstrong>GLOSSARY: Ballhalla \u003c/strong>is what the Valkyries have been calling Chase Center. It’s a reference to \u003ca href=\"https://www.history.com/articles/viking-valhalla-valkyrie-afterlife\">Valhalla\u003c/a>, a type of afterlife for warriors overlooked by the Norse god Odin.[/pullquote]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You may also spot icons in women’s sports like \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/NBSMediaLIVE/status/1939482658993824234\">soccer star Megan Rapinoe\u003c/a> and see support from the Valkyries’ NBA counterparts, including \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLgbcQyxEef/\">Warriors stars Stephen Curry\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/article/warriors-valkyries-brandin-podziemski-20421849.php\">Brandin Podziemski\u003c/a>, who has been a regular cheerleader of the new team.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>KQED has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12046841/lady-gaga-mayhem-ball-tour-san-francisco-chase-center-parking-bag-policy#chase-center-bag-policy\">a thorough guide\u003c/a> on what to expect when \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12046841/lady-gaga-mayhem-ball-tour-san-francisco-chase-center-parking-bag-policy#chase-center-bag-policy\">heading to a concert at Chase Center\u003c/a>. Here are some of the highlights.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Golden State Valkyries Merch\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you arrive at the home games early enough, you may also be able to snag some complimentary merch handed out at the gates or on your seat in the stadium. For example, the first 10,000 fans to tonight’s game can get \u003ca href=\"https://www.wnba.com/game/1022500138/PHX-vs-GSV\">a Valkyries wrist pouch\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are on the hunt for merch — \u003ca href=\"https://shop.valkyries.com/en/\">the Valkyries have plenty\u003c/a> in its \u003ca href=\"https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/olivia-rodrigo-prince-hole-purple-pop-music-history\">pop-girl purple\u003c/a> — check out the \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/\">stands\u003c/a> at Portals 10, 21, 41, 42, 47 and 59.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-12047938\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/cc-portals.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1000\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/cc-portals.jpg 1600w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/cc-portals-160x100.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/cc-portals-1536x960.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There is also the Golden State Shop right outside Chase Center, which \u003ca href=\"https://goldenstate.com/shop/\">stays open late after games\u003c/a>. Keep in mind: The line for the merch after a game will be \u003cem>long\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Merch can be found only online, like the very adorable Peanuts collab with the WNBA that features \u003ca href=\"https://www.homage.com/collections/wnba-x-peanuts/products/peanuts-peppermint-patty-x-golden-state-valkyries\">Peppermint Patty with the Valkyries’ logo\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12047882\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12047882\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00453_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00453_TV_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00453_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00453_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans watch the Valkyries in anticipation at a watch party at White Horse Bar in Oakland on July 12. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>The Chase Center bag policy\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Backpacks (except for single-compartment drawstring bags) of any kind are prohibited from entering the arena. Any other bag you bring, including diaper bags, must be smaller than 14 by 14 by 6 inches.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bags that do not meet the requirements can be checked at one of Chase’s two bag check locations for $10. Bag check is at the corner of 16th Street and Terry A. Francois Boulevard.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here are some more things \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/a-to-z-guide\">you cannot bring into Chase Center\u003c/a>:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Bottles and cans.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Refillable water bottles or cups.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Signs over 11 x 17 inches or attached to any pole or stick.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Masks that cover the whole face. (Face coverings to lower your risks of catching — or spreading — COVID-19, like N95 masks, are allowed. Limited face paint is accepted.)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Lights, tripods and professional recording equipment. Flash photography is not allowed.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Noise-making devices, such as air horns, whistles or cowbells.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Weapons and self-defense items of any kind, including mace, knives and tasers.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Selfie sticks.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>You \u003cem>can \u003c/em>bring:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Baby bags, plastic bottles and formula.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Strollers that can be checked in at Portals 13 or 52 during the event.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Umbrellas.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Parking at and near Chase Center\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chase Center has \u003ca href=\"https://chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/transportation/parking/\">a guide to its parking garage\u003c/a>. The venue’s website also refers fans to the \u003ca href=\"https://spothero.com/search?kind=destination&id=74629&%243p=a_hasoffers&%24affiliate_json=http%3A%2F%2Ftracking.spothero.com%2Faff_c%3Foffer_id%3D1%26aff_id%3D1753%26source%3Dchasecenter%26aff_sub2%3Dparkingpage%26aff_sub3%3Dlink%26format%3Djson&_branch_match_id=1355649275202063070&utm_source=Partnerships&utm_campaign=Tune_Platform&utm_medium=paid+advertising&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA32SwW7DIAyGnyYc20KaVp2EpmnVjrtUOyNCnMKaAAOyqZc%2B%2B0y6pe2mTcoB%2Fzbm8%2B%2FolHy8m8%2Bjd0lDcDPp%2Fawz9jBPkXr2%2FLYDer93smOckYItS8%2Bl0DK6toUQSVQaeuA6dyEHYxveQEzGymScJSfVGXUQpuF0weolpU1dyrJSdKNozRpWYQgLtiHRDUEBV9gYFNgEgQyhO7ctyoeCPeH3CxG1C2RRYk2VAYtye4VYsNV4QApMUAwnqhz%2FyzUWu5iEGkIAq45442W3neR32Q2A2iIrSO5sI8NR%2BKHuTERUTGEmailk25rOyARf0jgvnq8mRnn0GVVGvpE5JV4mzW9GJbdQHJHyaqY3xGt0djRv8i4FqXA9%2B9lkonI96nhHKLTuh0VZPgfrqvybN5fFoc7IXobc38s9XBIlJs6LWrUu9DJhnNmIRn7%2Ba5%2FkylW%2BIDj9ernCv%2BMUAOkCthd1cB8RAn%2FUwfXwCT%2FpNYK9AgAA&view=dl\">third-party parking website SpotHero\u003c/a>, where you can find cheaper parking options farther away. So if you’re driving to the arena but haven’t secured your parking yet, consider wearing comfier shoes for the walk.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040673\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1943px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040673\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-63_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1943\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-63_qed.jpg 1943w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-63_qed-800x549.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-63_qed-1020x700.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-63_qed-160x110.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-63_qed-1536x1054.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-63_qed-1920x1317.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1943px) 100vw, 1943px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Golden State Valkyries guard Tiffany Hayes (15) advances toward the basket during the Valkyries’ home opener at Chase Center on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rideshare services like Lyft and Uber at Chase Center\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Getting to the venue using a rideshare service will likely be pretty smooth. It’s getting out of the area \u003cem>after\u003c/em> a game that is almost certainly going to be a challenge. And due to surge pricing, it will also be far more expensive to get an Uber or Lyft as you exit the venue.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There are \u003ca href=\"https://images.ctfassets.net/0lzgl3qjkmm1/6k8OJ6yu4tTfjV4wHsmKTG/0b4cc696d2b3f2360ad34bbc16ffbffd/uber-map.png\">multiple designated pickup and drop-off zones\u003c/a> located within one block of Chase Center. Upon arrival, use one of the designated passenger loading zones (white curbs) along Terry A. Francois Boulevard for a safe curbside drop-off. As you leave the venue, rideshare apps will automatically display the best places to get picked up within a five-minute walk radius.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Public transit to Chase Center\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Public transit schedules can always be subject to change. Check the timings for your route on the day of the event and be sure of your very last service home. You can also read \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12046841/lady-gaga-mayhem-ball-tour-san-francisco-chase-center-parking-bag-policy#chase-center-parking\">KQED’s guide on transportation at Chase Center\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This map also gives a quick overview of the Muni, BART and Caltrain stops nearby:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-12047939\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/CC_BM_20231005_CC_Transportation_MapCC_BM_20231005_CC_Transportation_Map_1080x1080.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/CC_BM_20231005_CC_Transportation_MapCC_BM_20231005_CC_Transportation_Map_1080x1080.jpg 1080w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/CC_BM_20231005_CC_Transportation_MapCC_BM_20231005_CC_Transportation_Map_1080x1080-160x160.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Any Chase Center patron who shows their event ticket at Muni turnstiles and boarding platforms can \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/fares/your-chase-center-event-ticket-your-muni-fare\">ride Muni without charge\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Accessibility at Chase Center\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chase Center addresses questions about accessibility in \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/a-to-z-guide\">its online A-to-Z Guide\u003c/a>, which includes information about accessible parking, hearing assistance, ADA-compliant restrooms and service animals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The venue said guests can request complimentary wheelchair escorts by visiting the kiosks located at Portal 13 or by texting 833-CC4-FANS.[pullquote size='medium' align='right']🏀 \u003cstrong>GLOSSARY: The W\u003c/strong> refers to the WNBA. Another major women’s basketball league is \u003ca href=\"https://www.unrivaled.basketball/\">Unrivaled\u003c/a>.[/pullquote]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To schedule an American Sign Language interpreter, guests should contact guestexperiences@warriors.com ahead of time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Accessible parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis. You can email guestexperiences@warriors.com for more details.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Accessible drop-offs and pickups are along the curb of \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/visitor-info/\">16th Street and Terry A. Francois Boulevard\u003c/a>, with accessible entry and exit from the East Entrance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040682\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040682\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans cheer as the Golden State Valkyries score during their WNBA season opener. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"storylines\">\u003c/a>What are the storylines?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>New team, new coach, new dynamics\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since this is a brand-new team, the Valkyries have never \u003cem>played \u003c/em>together before, Doherty-Baker said. As a fan, it makes it all the more exciting to see how the team figures out its dynamics and relationships in real time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They learn so freaking quickly,” Doherty-Baker said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" style=\"max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px\" cite=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@breezyhall_/video/7520853622213643533\" data-video-id=\"7520853622213643533\">\n\u003csection>\u003ca title=\"@breezyhall_\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@breezyhall_?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@breezyhall_\u003c/a> why are we shaking each other hand so aggressively 😂😂😂 \u003ca title=\"fyp\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fyp?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#fyp\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"foryou\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/foryou?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#foryou\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"breezyhall\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/breezyhall?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#breezyhall\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"wnba\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/wnba?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#wnba\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"valkyries\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/valkyries?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#valkyries\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"♬ Illegal - PinkPantheress\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/music/Illegal-7502057134566525713?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">♬ Illegal – PinkPantheress\u003c/a>\u003c/section>\n\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>[tiktok]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The Valkyries really are kind of a headline in the 2025 WNBA season,” Goldberg-Safir said. For California basketball fans, people “expected the team to do well. I don’t think they expected the team to do \u003cem>so \u003c/em>well … the vibes are truly pretty incredible … (and) there’s a number of players that are really outperforming their previous seasons.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" style=\"max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px\" cite=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@laeticiaamihere/video/7520852847940963614\" data-video-id=\"7520852847940963614\">\n\u003csection>\u003ca title=\"@laeticiaamihere\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@laeticiaamihere?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@laeticiaamihere\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"valkyries\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/valkyries?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#valkyries\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"dubbs\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/dubbs?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#dubbs\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"♬ Bunna Summa - BunnaB\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/music/Bunna-Summa-7492171577455593473?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">♬ Bunna Summa – BunnaB\u003c/a>\u003c/section>\n\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>[tiktok]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Goldberg-Safir added that \u003ca href=\"https://wnbaroughnotes.substack.com/p/rough-notes-i-wrote-about-the-leagues\">Nakase\u003c/a> is “proving herself so far to be a really, really good coach.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I love seeing coaches who are former players, women and particularly women of color,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12038786\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12038786\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-38-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-38-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-38-BL-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-38-BL-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-38-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-38-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-38-BL-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Golden State Valkyries’ Head Coach Natalie Nakase speaks with the press during training camp held at the Sephora Performance Center in Oakland on May 1, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Who are the teams to beat?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The Minnesota Lynx, Seattle Storm and Indiana Fever are strong teams that are playing well this season, Goldberg-Safir said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many are hoping to beat the New York Liberty in particular, since last year the Liberty won their first-ever WNBA championship. But it was a controversial win due to a “highly contested foul call at the end of the game” against the Minnesota Lynx, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“As Bay Area fans, this is a good moment to shut them up,” she said with a laugh.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Honoring the history of women’s basketball in the Bay\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>For Goldberg-Safir, “the Golden State Valkyries coming to the Bay is like this lifelong dream-come-true in a lot of ways,” and she immediately dove into the history of women’s basketball in the Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She learned that the Valkyries are, in fact, \u003cem>not\u003c/em> the first professional women’s team to play in San Francisco. That would be the San Francisco Pioneers, which played in the Women’s Professional Basketball League from 1979 to 1981. In fact, last week’s game honored the Pioneers, where \u003ca href=\"https://www.thenexthoops.com/wbl/pioneers-wbl-valkyries-wnba/\">several of the players reunited\u003c/a>.[aside postID=news_12047979 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250711_WNBA-mom_013_BF_KQED.jpg']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Most of (the players) are still around,” said Goldberg-Safir, who has been \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bounce-honoring-the-san-francisco-pioneers-live-in-person-tickets-1420298634449?aff=ebdssbdestsearch\">dedicated to documenting the history of the Pioneers\u003c/a>. “They really wanna talk about their stories and share their experiences because they really helped pave the way for pro women’s basketball and the WNBA.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the larger Northern California area, there were also \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xngDgvMK28o\">the Sacramento Monarchs\u003c/a>, which played from the inaugural 1997 WNBA season to 2009. (They also had fans rocking purple.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s a lot of nostalgia for that and even sadness that they ever left that area,” said Doherty-Baker, who went to the games as a kid.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"wnba-fandom\">\u003c/a>What should I know about fan culture?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>“WNBA fans are very, very passionate,” Haigh said. “A lot of them have been (here) since the inception years ago. They love their teams.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Goldberg-Safir said that she sees a variety of reasons why people get into the WNBA. It can range from basketball stats, political history or even player fashion.\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" style=\"max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px\" cite=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@brwsports/video/7515963003137707295\" data-video-id=\"7515963003137707295\">\n\u003csection>\u003ca title=\"@brwsports\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@brwsports?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@brwsports\u003c/a> 🤩 (Via @Golden State Valkyries) \u003ca title=\"wnba\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/wnba?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#wnba\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"womensbasketball\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/womensbasketball?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#womensbasketball\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"fashion\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fashion?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#fashion\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"tunnelfits\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/tunnelfits?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#tunnelfits\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"♬ Under Pressure - bleacherreport\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/music/Under-Pressure-7398336470773189418?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">♬ Under Pressure – bleacherreport\u003c/a>\u003c/section>\n\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>“There are a lot of folks who are finding fandom in the WNBA that haven’t felt welcomed or included in sports spaces before,” Goldberg-Safir said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Fans do like to know who is dating who\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yang, the basketball fan from San Francisco, said there was a specific “inciting incident” that led to her piqued interest in the WNBA. It was a show where a comedian put together a PowerPoint of all of the ways the WNBA was better than the NBA, with the primary point being because all of the players are dating each other.[pullquote size='medium' align='right']🏀 \u003cstrong>GLOSSARY: MNBA\u003c/strong> — short for the Men’s National Basketball Association — is what some fans slyly call the NBA.[/pullquote]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s that kind of stuff that you’re like, ‘Oh, there’s \u003cem>stories \u003c/em>here,” Yang said. “It’s not just, like, who’s winning.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I had a lot of people be like, ‘The WNBA is my reality TV,” Doherty-Baker said. “I think it is a really great way for folks (for whom) sports hasn’t been their jam to come in with an interest in the players.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040679\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040679\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-80_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-80_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-80_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-80_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-80_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-80_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-80_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Golden State Valkyries center Temi Fágbénlé (14) makes a basket during the first quarter. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>It’s more than just the NBA …\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Haigh emphasized the importance of looking at the WNBA as “truly its own league” rather than an “extension of the NBA.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One common — and sexist — criticism of the WNBA is that it’s not as fun “because they don’t dunk.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“As a fan of both leagues, I don’t think that dunking makes the NBA miles and miles better than the W,” Haigh said. “There’s this idea that we should lower the rims in the W so they can dunk, and it’s just this weird obsession with dunking that I just frankly don’t understand.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>… and it’s more than just one player\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever has been a major star in the women’s basketball world, but you will likely get an eye roll from a long-time fan for crediting all of the WNBA’s success to just her.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“(Clark) has done a lot, but the talent has been there. The skills, the vibes, the fans — they have been there since before Caitlin,” Haigh said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There is also the coverage and commentary around Clark that is worth keeping in mind. \u003ca href=\"https://news.rice.edu/news/2025/study-suggests-racial-bias-angel-reese-caitlin-clark-debate-examines-how-social-media\">A March study by Rice University\u003c/a> analyzed thousands of tweets and found that comments about Clark, who is white, tend to be more positive when compared to comments about fellow WNBA star Angel Reese, who is Black.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There are people who are sort of using women’s basketball as a kind of proxy to express racist agendas,” Goldberg-Safir said. “And that can oftentimes look like this emphatic support of specific white players as sort of a white savior role.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Clark said \u003ca href=\"https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/40348389/caitlin-clark-speaks-racist-misogynistic-comments\">she denounced racist comments\u003c/a>, adding that “People should not be using my name to push those agendas. It’s disappointing. It’s not acceptable.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>WNBA fans value inclusivity\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Goldberg-Safir said WNBA fans have a vested interest in social justice — a cause players have championed within the league, especially around \u003ca href=\"https://www.wnba.com/news/wnba-announces-a-2020-season-dedicated-to-social-justice\">racial justice\u003c/a> and queer visibility.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Raina Mast, San Francisco resident and \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/valkyriessayless/\">Valkyries Say Less podcast\u003c/a> cohost, said she will see people at protests with Valkyries gear, and then hop on the Muni towards the Chase Center for the game the same day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It “is just so telling of what the Bay Area is about,” said Mast, whose father even played in the NBA.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The WNBA has evolved since its inception, said Goldberg-Safir: “More queer, more political, more proudly Black-led.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“A lot of our elders, queer elders, lesbians, former basketball players, people who have been in the community for a long time as coaches or family members, those are the folks that have been around and stuck around,” Goldberg-Safir said. “It’s really important to continue to include those people actively and to learn from them about their knowledge of the WNBA.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040690\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1899px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040690\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-48_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1899\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-48_qed.jpg 1899w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-48_qed-800x562.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-48_qed-1020x716.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-48_qed-160x112.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-48_qed-1536x1078.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1899px) 100vw, 1899px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jhunehl Fortaleza, left, dressed as a Valkyrie, dances outside of Chase Center, following the WNBA game between the Golden State Valkyries and the Los Angeles Sparks on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Representation of the players and coach Naskase has been big for young people too, said Hutchinson-Szekely, Mast’s co-host – who is also a teacher at a school with a large Asian American population.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It was really incredible to see the impact of that on the students, when we first had Kaitlyn Chen,” she said. “I had a student who came up to me and was elated about the fact that her dad bought season tickets, and she got a Kaitlyn Chen jersey … and how connected that made [the student] feel to the team and to her culture.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Queer fandom is a major part of WNBA culture, leading to fan groups like Doherty-Baker’s Valqueeries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The amount of times I’ve heard from other queer fans, like ‘I just wanna make queer friends,’” she said. “You would think in the Bay it would be easier, because there’s so many of us here, but I find that that’s not really the case.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I can be really shy. I would just encourage anyone who’s thinking about it to just say ‘hi.’”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In a moment of political, economic and strife, it “feels really good” to be a part of “something bigger than yourself,” Yang said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040684\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040684\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-29_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-29_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-29_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-29_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-29_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-29_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-29_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans cheer during the Golden State Valkyries’ WNBA season opener against the Los Angeles Sparks. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It’s really cool to be walking into Chase Center on a game day and seeing all these families, all these older queer groups of friends or couples, all these people of color,” Yang said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I was taking the 22 across the city into Chase Center, and I just remember watching people get on the bus and like the bus becoming more and more saturated with this color. It just felt really, really wonderful to be in that presence.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yang said a major part of that feeling can be attributed to the fans and the way the Valkyries were rolled out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It allows the fans to buy into that as well and be like, ‘Oh yeah, that’s who we are,’” Yang said. “‘We’re gonna support you, like you are the future champions that we hope you are.’”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published on July 14.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>The Golden State Valkyries — the WNBA’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12039501/wnbas-newest-team-golden-state-valkyries-kick-off-first-season\">first new team\u003c/a> in nearly 20 years — are halfway through their inaugural season, and the Bay Area’s hunger for the team has been apparent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So far, 11 home games at Chase Center have been \u003ca href=\"https://frontofficesports.com/valkyries-have-stunned-the-wnba-nothing-has-held-us-back/#:~:text=The%20team%20sold%20out%20its,rebrand%20of%20the%20Chase%20Center.\">sold out\u003c/a>, with thousands of fans repping the team in its now-signature royal violet. On \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/warriors/comments/1lfu3np/why_is_the_valkyries_crowd_so_much_better_than/\">social\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://www.threads.com/@beltzner/post/DLG5Ur_RgiP/holy-moly-the-chase-center-sounds-as-loud-for-the-valkyries-at-least-on-the-broa\">media\u003c/a>, you can see opposing players and their fans alike have remarked on the intense excitement in the arena.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Valkyries play their next game on Friday at Chase Center. \u003ca href=\"https://www.wnba.com/standings\">The Dallas Wings are currently the 12th best team\u003c/a> in the WNBA, while the Valkyries are the ninth best with a 10–12 record.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For many people, a WNBA team in the Bay Area has been a long time coming. Third-generation San Franciscan Megan Doherty-Baker said her family has been following local sports history for years. Her grandfather was even a sports photographer for the \u003cem>San Francisco Examiner. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We just all grew up in my family knowing that to show love for this place was to be really connected to the teams that we loved too,” she said. “So it extends now to the Valkyries.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12047879\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12047879\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00275_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00275_TV_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00275_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00275_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Megan Doherty-Baker, a ValQueeries organizer, chats with fellow fans at a Valkyries watch party at White Horse Bar in Oakland on July 12, 2025. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>For others, like this reporter, basketball knowledge goes as far as \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_QRHJoXXYw&list=RDA_QRHJoXXYw&start_radio=1&pp=ygUZZ2V0IHlvdXIgaGVhZCBpbiB0aGUgZ2FtZaAHAQ%3D%3D\">Troy Bolton’s angst in \u003cem>High School Musical\u003c/em>\u003c/a>. But the Valkyries’ arrival in the Bay makes this season the perfect opportunity to get into the rapidly growing world of the WNBA.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "🏀 \u003cstrong>GLOSSARY: Valkyries \u003c/strong>are female \u003ca href=\"https://www.pbs.org/video/valkyries-the-real-story-behind-these-warriors-of-legend-ibrnw7/\">warriors who guide the souls of the dead in Norse mythology\u003c/a>. (If you are less of a mythology fan, it’s what \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNvUjCNYUrk\">Tessa Thompson’s character is in \u003cem>Thor\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem>.)\u003c/em>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m not a sports person. I didn’t grow up playing sports,” San Francisco resident Robin Yang said. “Then a couple of years ago, when we found out that we were getting our team here, I was like, ‘Oh, I would love to be like, on the ground floor of something like that.’”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yang’s basketball “hyperfixation” developed quickly. She has been to six of the home games so far.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“People love to find reasons to hate on the Bay Area,” Yang said. Supporting the Valkyries has been a way for her to take a stand and say, ‘No, there are really cool things happening here.’”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Are you itching to join the Valkyries hype but not sure where to start? KQED has you covered with a comprehensive primer explaining the world of the WNBA for very, \u003cem>very \u003c/em>new fans.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040692\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040692\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1243\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1-800x497.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1-1020x634.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1-160x99.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1-1536x955.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1-1920x1193.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Golden State Valkyries at their home opener at Chase Center on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>This is a long guide, so if you prefer you can \u003cstrong>jump straight to key questions like\u003c/strong>:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#valkyries-schedule\">What is the Golden State Valkyries’ schedule, and how do I get tickets?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#chase-center-san-francisco-parking\">What should I know about my first time at Chase Center?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#storylines\">What are the storylines this season?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#wnba-fandom\">How do I get involved with the WNBA fandom?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"roster\">\u003c/a>What does the roster for the Valkyries look like? \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The team is made up of 12 players and coached by Natalie Nakase. You can learn more about the team and their game highlights by \u003ca href=\"https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/24130218/\">clicking through the panels\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://flo.uri.sh/visualisation/24130218/embed\" title=\"Interactive or visual content\" class=\"flourish-embed-iframe\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" style=\"width:100%;height:600px;\" sandbox=\"allow-same-origin allow-forms allow-scripts allow-downloads allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation\" width=\"100%\" height=\"500\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cdiv style=\"width: 100%!;margin-top: 4px!important;text-align: right!important\">\n\u003cp>\u003ca class=\"flourish-credit\" style=\"text-decoration: none!important\" href=\"https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/24130218/?utm_source=embed&utm_campaign=visualisation/24130218\" target=\"_top\">\u003cimg decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 105px!important;height: 16px!important;border: none!important;margin: 0!important\" src=\"https://public.flourish.studio/resources/made_with_flourish.svg\" alt=\"Made with Flourish\">\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\n\u003cp>As the Valkyries’ veteran player, Tiffany “Tip” Hayes is a crucial presence, explained Portland-based designer Alexandria Haigh, who is also one of the founders of women’s basketball publication \u003ca href=\"https://www.flagrantmag.com/pages/about-us\">Flagrant Magazine\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“For both the team and the fans, having that vet presence is really important to sort of draw the connection between the old WNBA and a new team,” Haigh said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Other players to keep an eye on include fan favorites like Kayla Thornton, who became a \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/article/kayla-thornton-consistent-scorer-valkyries-20759239.php\">first-time All-Star\u003c/a> this season, Temi Fagbenle, Kate Martin and Kaitlyn Chen.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But all of the players have their own passionate stans. “These are like Renaissance women,” said San Francisco’s Vanessa Hutchinson-Szekely, co-host of the podcast \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/valkyriessayless/\">Valkyries Say Less.\u003c/a> “They’ve got their fashion lines, they’re authors … They’re coming with excellent stats from either their time in the WNBA or college or from overseas.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Why does the team keep changing? \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you have already been to a few Valkyries games, you may have noticed that the team is not the same from game to game.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For example, in the past few weeks, many Valkyries players went to play for their home country in the \u003ca href=\"https://www.thenexthoops.com/features/valkyries-have-to-defy-expectations-again-following-eurobasket-exodus/\">EuroBasket Tournament\u003c/a>, prompting the team to temporarily sign new players. However, not every player who left is guaranteed a spot when they return. In early July, Belgian basketball player Julie Vanloo, who was part of the winning team in the European tournament, had just landed in San Francisco when she found out that the Valkyries had waived her.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040681\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040681\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1304\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed-800x522.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed-1020x665.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed-1536x1001.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed-1920x1252.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Golden State Valkyries guard Julie Vanloo (35) advances toward the basket at the Valkyries’ home opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at Chase Center on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“After traveling 18 hours back to the Bay, I missed the fan ceremony and the chance to share that special medal moment with my family and friends,” Vanloo, who the Los Angeles Sparks snatched up, wrote on \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DLk_ORxhfxK/?img_index=1\">Instagram\u003c/a>. “Honestly, that stung. I understand it’s business, but nothing prepares you for the loneliness that comes with getting cut.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Golden State Valkyries have drummed up some decent amount of anger for some of their choices, including waiving another favorite, Shyanne Sellers, said Oakland and Chicago-based journalist Maya Goldberg-Safir, \u003ca href=\"https://wnbaroughnotes.substack.com/p/rough-notes-guide-to-being-a-golden\">who writes Rough Notes\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As women’s basketball gets more popular and players get more visibility, attachment to certain people grows — and so does disappointment and sadness when they get cut.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "🏀 \u003cstrong>GLOSSARY: Waived \u003c/strong>is when a player is \u003ca href=\"https://ftw.usatoday.com/story/sports/wnba/2025/05/06/what-does-it-mean-to-be-waived-wnba/83472043007/\">released before their contract ends\u003c/a>. There is a 48-hour period in which another team can take over that player’s contract and add them to \u003cem>their\u003c/em> team. If this doesn’t happen in 48 hours, the player becomes a free agent and can sign with a new team.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The WNBA is still figuring a lot of things out,” Goldberg-Safir said. “One of the things that they’re still figuring out is how to waive players in this moment, when the league is so popular and people are so invested.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There are truly not enough spots for the number of really talented folks that are playing in the league or trying to play in the league.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>WNBA teams are allowed a maximum of 12 players, while NBA rosters typically carry 15.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Not only is there a lot more pressure for (players) to be physically able to play every single game, but it means that you can’t essentially train a bunch of additional people that can come in and be easily slotted into the team,” Yang said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12047881\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12047881\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00420_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00420_TV_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00420_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00420_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans cheer for the Valkyries at a watch party at White Horse Bar in Oakland on July 12, 2025. The fan group, ValQueeries, hosted a watch party. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12047878\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12047878\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00163_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00163_TV_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00163_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00163_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Meggie B. (center, no last name given) watches the Valkyries in anticipation at a watch party at White Horse Bar in Oakland. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>This year, members of the Women’s National Basketball Players Association are renegotiating their \u003ca href=\"https://www.wnbpa.com/thecba\">collective bargaining agreement\u003c/a> — and one of their demands is expanding team rosters, Goldberg-Safir said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The players are also bargaining for better pay, working off the long-time \u003ca href=\"https://www.kalw.org/bounce-the-valkyries-first-season-in-the-bay/2025-07-01/ep-4-valkyries-and-the-gender-pay-gap\">disparity between women’s and men’s sports stars\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The W is making more money than ever,” Yang said. WNBA teams increased in value by \u003ca href=\"https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/24/sport/wnba-franchise-increase-value-sportico-spt\">an average of 180% over the last year\u003c/a>, with the Valkyries valued the highest at $500 million.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Do I need to understand basketball stats? \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>When you go to a basketball game, you will see a flurry of numbers on large screens that can feel almost Wall Street-esque. Those are the player’s stats, and they can be quite overwhelming.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I would say you don’t have to know too much about basketball to be able to enjoy it in person,” Haigh said. “You can kind of tell when something goes right and when something goes wrong.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s a lot of details that can muddy those waters, but don’t obsess over stats and rules too much if you’re trying to just go watch and see if you enjoy it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Haigh said that the stats can help understand a player’s performance and their value in the WNBA, so to speak. The \u003ca href=\"https://www.hometeamsonline.com/teams/popups/Glossary.asp?s=basketball\">major stat categories\u003c/a> to know are:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>PPG \u003c/strong>is \u003cstrong>Points Per Game: \u003c/strong>The average number of a player’s points per game.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>RPG\u003c/strong> is \u003cstrong>Rebounds Per Game\u003c/strong>: The average number of a player’s rebounds. A rebound is when a player collects a missed shot on the offensive or defensive end of the court.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>APG \u003c/strong>is \u003cstrong>Assists Per Game: \u003c/strong>The average number of assists a player makes. An assist is the last pass to a teammate that directly leads to a field goal.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040680\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040680\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-47_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-47_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-47_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-47_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-47_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-47_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-47_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans cheer as the Golden State Valkyries score at their home opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at Chase Center on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Learn more about positions in basketball:\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutube'>\n \u003cspan class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__embedYoutubeInside'>\n \u003ciframe\n loading='lazy'\n class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__youtubeShortcode__youtubePlayer'\n type='text/html'\n src='//www.youtube.com/embed/4_4CymXARWQ'\n title='//www.youtube.com/embed/4_4CymXARWQ'\n allowfullscreen='true'\n style='border:0;'>\u003c/iframe>\n \u003c/span>\n \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"valkyries-schedule\">\u003c/a>When do the Valkyries play? \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>For the current season, each team will \u003ca href=\"https://www.wnba.com/faq\">play 44 games\u003c/a>. Here is \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/schedule\">what the schedule\u003c/a> for upcoming Valkyries games looks like.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Home games\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, July 25 at 7 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Dallas Wings\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, Aug. 6 at 7 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Las Vegas Aces\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, Aug. 9 at 5:30 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Los Angeles Sparks\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Monday, Aug. 11 at 7 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Connecticut Sun\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, Aug. 17 at 5:30 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs Atlanta Dream\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Tuesday, Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Phoenix Mercury\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, Aug. 30 at 5:30 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Washington Mystics\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, Aug. 31 at 5:30 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Indiana Fever\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Tuesday, Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. New York Liberty\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Thursday, Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Dallas Wings\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, Sept. 6 at 5:30 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040685\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040685\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A fan cheers after the Golden State Valkyries scored during their home opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at Chase Center on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Away games\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, July 27 at 10 a.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Connecticut Sun \u003cstrong>in Connecticut\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Tuesday, July 29 at 4:30 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Atlanta Dream \u003cstrong>in Georgia\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Thursday, July 31 at 4:30 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Washington Mystics \u003cstrong>in D.C.\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, Aug. 1 at 4:30 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs.Chicago Sky \u003cstrong>in Illinois\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, Aug. 3 at 3 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Las Vegas Aces \u003cstrong>in Nevada\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, Aug. 13 at 4:30 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Washington Mystics \u003cstrong>in D.C.\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, Aug. 15 at 4:30 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Chicago Sky \u003cstrong>in Illinois\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, Aug. 22 at 7 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Phoenix Mercury \u003cstrong>in Arizona\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, Aug. 24 at 1 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Dallas Wings \u003cstrong>in Texas\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Tuesday, Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Seattle Storm \u003cstrong>in Washington\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Thursday, Sept. 11 at 5 p.m. \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx \u003cstrong>in Minnesota\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>How do I get tickets to home games? \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>You can get tickets for home games at \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/tickets\">the Valkyries’ official website\u003c/a>, where options include \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/tickets/mini-plans\">mini-plans for multiple games \u003c/a>or season tickets. Season ticket holders become part of the \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/founding-guard\">“Founding Guard,\u003c/a>” with access to perks like on-court appearances.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The most economical option is \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/schedule?season=2025&month=all&location=home&opponent=all\">the single game tickets\u003c/a>, which are relatively more affordable than Warriors tickets. The upcoming Dallas Wings game is pricier than the last home game against the Phoenix Mercury, however. \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/golden-state-valkyries-vs-dallas-wings-san-francisco-california-07-25-2025/event/1C00618BB84925EB?brand=valkyries&artistid=3369949&wt.mc_id=WNBA_TEAM_GS_SCHED_PG_GM12&utm_source=WNBA.com&utm_medium=client&utm_campaign=WNBA_TEAM_GS&utm_content=SCHED_PG_GM12\">The cheapest ticket for the Friday game\u003c/a> against the Dallas Wings is around $125.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some fans who have season tickets may sell individual games to other people. You may be able to find these offers on social media sites like Facebook groups. Doherty-Baker said fan groups like the Valqueeries, which she helps run, may also have a quick connection to people who are looking to sell or just generously give out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(But be careful, and verify the person before sending any money since \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11956083/taylor-swift-levis-stadium-eras-santa-clara-tickets#taylorswifttickets\">ticket scams have been common in recent years\u003c/a>.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040686\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040686\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-36_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-36_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-36_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-36_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-36_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-36_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-36_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mychal Threets takes a photo with E-40 after the WNBA game between the Golden State Valkyries and Los Angeles Sparks at Chase Center on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Are there any watch parties in the Bay Area?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you are craving the vibe of cheering fans but tickets may be out of your reach, there may be a local group or venue that is hosting a (possibly free) watch party.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Thrive Center\u003c/strong> (the venue connected to Chase Center) often shows the game on a large screen outside the arena.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Fan groups like \u003cstrong>the Valqueeries\u003c/strong>, which is for queer WNBA fans, often host watch parties for away games at local bars like Mother in the Mission District. You can get updates for the next event on \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/valqueeries/\">the Valqueeries’ Instagram\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Rikki’s \u003c/strong>in San Francisco’s Castro District is the area’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13977457/rikkis-first-womens-sports-bar-bay-area-open-castro-sf-valkyries\">first bar dedicated to women’s sports\u003c/a> and aims to show every Valkyries game.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Line 51 Brewing in Oakland has two watch parties on \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/golden-state-valkyries-watch-party-line-51-tickets-1364587902149?aff=ebdssbdestsearch\">July 25 (home game)\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/golden-state-valkyries-watch-party-line-51-tickets-1364587902149?aff=ebdssbdestsearch\">July 31 (away game.) \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>George & Walt’s \u003c/strong>in Oakland is \u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/georgeandwaltsbar/?hl=en\">a woman-owned sports bar\u003c/a>\u003c/strong> with a watch party on July 27 at 10 a,m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Line 51 Brewing\u003c/strong> in Oakland has two watch parties on \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/golden-state-valkyries-watch-party-line-51-tickets-1364587902149?aff=ebdssbdestsearch\">July 25 (home game)\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/golden-state-valkyries-watch-party-line-51-tickets-1364587902149?aff=ebdssbdestsearch\">July 31\u003c/a> (away game).\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Xingones Cantina\u003c/strong> in Oakland is hosting watch parties on July 29 at 4:30 p.m., on August 3 at 3 p.m., on August 22 at 7 p.m. and on September 11 at 7 p.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12047880\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12047880\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00321_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00321_TV_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00321_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00321_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Miles Ott watches the game at a Valkyries watch party at White Horse Bar in Oakland on July 12, 2025. The fan group, ValQueeries, hosted a watch party. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Where can I watch the Valkyries online or on TV?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The TV broadcast schedule for the Valkyries can be found on \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/schedule/broadcast-schedule\">the official website\u003c/a>. But it’s straight up confusing, because it’s not consistent and rights to stream vary from game to game.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For example, some games can sometimes be watched on KPIX+ in the Bay Area or KMAX in Sacramento. Other games may be on ION, which is a TV network and you can find what channel it is on locally on its \u003ca href=\"https://www.ionwnba.com/\">website\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can stream some games on \u003ca href=\"https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/tournament/amzn1.dv.icid.9128d05b-2c57-491d-89da-c49d779c5db4\">Amazon Prime\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.fubo.tv/stream/wnba/?irad=1707172&irmp=5579095&sharedid=PtnrUS_TA_Editorial_HTW_Articles\">Fubo\u003c/a> or even buy a League Pass to get \u003ca href=\"https://www.wnba.com/leaguepass\">access to more platforms\u003c/a>. The Athletic has \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6353404/2025/05/16/wnba-how-to-watch/\">a guide on some platforms to check out\u003c/a> and how to navigate WNBA schedules.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"chase-center-san-francisco-parking\">\u003c/a>What should I know before going to Chase Center?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040691\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1873px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040691\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-53_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1873\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-53_qed.jpg 1873w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-53_qed-800x569.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-53_qed-1020x726.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-53_qed-160x114.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-53_qed-1536x1093.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1873px) 100vw, 1873px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans pose for a photo outside of Chase Center, following the WNBA game between the Golden State Valkyries and the Los Angeles Sparks on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Basketball games move fast. They are around two to two and a half hours long and split into quarters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There is usually a halftime show during the Chase Center games, featuring performances by local acts. E-40 performed at the inaugural game against the Los Angeles Sparks.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "🏀 \u003cstrong>GLOSSARY: Ballhalla \u003c/strong>is what the Valkyries have been calling Chase Center. It’s a reference to \u003ca href=\"https://www.history.com/articles/viking-valhalla-valkyrie-afterlife\">Valhalla\u003c/a>, a type of afterlife for warriors overlooked by the Norse god Odin.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You may also spot icons in women’s sports like \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/NBSMediaLIVE/status/1939482658993824234\">soccer star Megan Rapinoe\u003c/a> and see support from the Valkyries’ NBA counterparts, including \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLgbcQyxEef/\">Warriors stars Stephen Curry\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/article/warriors-valkyries-brandin-podziemski-20421849.php\">Brandin Podziemski\u003c/a>, who has been a regular cheerleader of the new team.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>KQED has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12046841/lady-gaga-mayhem-ball-tour-san-francisco-chase-center-parking-bag-policy#chase-center-bag-policy\">a thorough guide\u003c/a> on what to expect when \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12046841/lady-gaga-mayhem-ball-tour-san-francisco-chase-center-parking-bag-policy#chase-center-bag-policy\">heading to a concert at Chase Center\u003c/a>. Here are some of the highlights.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Golden State Valkyries Merch\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you arrive at the home games early enough, you may also be able to snag some complimentary merch handed out at the gates or on your seat in the stadium. For example, the first 10,000 fans to tonight’s game can get \u003ca href=\"https://www.wnba.com/game/1022500138/PHX-vs-GSV\">a Valkyries wrist pouch\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are on the hunt for merch — \u003ca href=\"https://shop.valkyries.com/en/\">the Valkyries have plenty\u003c/a> in its \u003ca href=\"https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/olivia-rodrigo-prince-hole-purple-pop-music-history\">pop-girl purple\u003c/a> — check out the \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/\">stands\u003c/a> at Portals 10, 21, 41, 42, 47 and 59.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-12047938\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/cc-portals.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1000\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/cc-portals.jpg 1600w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/cc-portals-160x100.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/cc-portals-1536x960.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There is also the Golden State Shop right outside Chase Center, which \u003ca href=\"https://goldenstate.com/shop/\">stays open late after games\u003c/a>. Keep in mind: The line for the merch after a game will be \u003cem>long\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Merch can be found only online, like the very adorable Peanuts collab with the WNBA that features \u003ca href=\"https://www.homage.com/collections/wnba-x-peanuts/products/peanuts-peppermint-patty-x-golden-state-valkyries\">Peppermint Patty with the Valkyries’ logo\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12047882\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12047882\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00453_TV_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00453_TV_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00453_TV_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00453_TV_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans watch the Valkyries in anticipation at a watch party at White Horse Bar in Oakland on July 12. \u003ccite>(Tâm Vũ/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>The Chase Center bag policy\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Backpacks (except for single-compartment drawstring bags) of any kind are prohibited from entering the arena. Any other bag you bring, including diaper bags, must be smaller than 14 by 14 by 6 inches.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bags that do not meet the requirements can be checked at one of Chase’s two bag check locations for $10. Bag check is at the corner of 16th Street and Terry A. Francois Boulevard.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here are some more things \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/a-to-z-guide\">you cannot bring into Chase Center\u003c/a>:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Bottles and cans.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Refillable water bottles or cups.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Signs over 11 x 17 inches or attached to any pole or stick.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Masks that cover the whole face. (Face coverings to lower your risks of catching — or spreading — COVID-19, like N95 masks, are allowed. Limited face paint is accepted.)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Lights, tripods and professional recording equipment. Flash photography is not allowed.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Noise-making devices, such as air horns, whistles or cowbells.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Weapons and self-defense items of any kind, including mace, knives and tasers.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Selfie sticks.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>You \u003cem>can \u003c/em>bring:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Baby bags, plastic bottles and formula.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Strollers that can be checked in at Portals 13 or 52 during the event.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Umbrellas.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Parking at and near Chase Center\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chase Center has \u003ca href=\"https://chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/transportation/parking/\">a guide to its parking garage\u003c/a>. The venue’s website also refers fans to the \u003ca href=\"https://spothero.com/search?kind=destination&id=74629&%243p=a_hasoffers&%24affiliate_json=http%3A%2F%2Ftracking.spothero.com%2Faff_c%3Foffer_id%3D1%26aff_id%3D1753%26source%3Dchasecenter%26aff_sub2%3Dparkingpage%26aff_sub3%3Dlink%26format%3Djson&_branch_match_id=1355649275202063070&utm_source=Partnerships&utm_campaign=Tune_Platform&utm_medium=paid+advertising&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA32SwW7DIAyGnyYc20KaVp2EpmnVjrtUOyNCnMKaAAOyqZc%2B%2B0y6pe2mTcoB%2Fzbm8%2B%2FolHy8m8%2Bjd0lDcDPp%2Fawz9jBPkXr2%2FLYDer93smOckYItS8%2Bl0DK6toUQSVQaeuA6dyEHYxveQEzGymScJSfVGXUQpuF0weolpU1dyrJSdKNozRpWYQgLtiHRDUEBV9gYFNgEgQyhO7ctyoeCPeH3CxG1C2RRYk2VAYtye4VYsNV4QApMUAwnqhz%2FyzUWu5iEGkIAq45442W3neR32Q2A2iIrSO5sI8NR%2BKHuTERUTGEmailk25rOyARf0jgvnq8mRnn0GVVGvpE5JV4mzW9GJbdQHJHyaqY3xGt0djRv8i4FqXA9%2B9lkonI96nhHKLTuh0VZPgfrqvybN5fFoc7IXobc38s9XBIlJs6LWrUu9DJhnNmIRn7%2Ba5%2FkylW%2BIDj9ernCv%2BMUAOkCthd1cB8RAn%2FUwfXwCT%2FpNYK9AgAA&view=dl\">third-party parking website SpotHero\u003c/a>, where you can find cheaper parking options farther away. So if you’re driving to the arena but haven’t secured your parking yet, consider wearing comfier shoes for the walk.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040673\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1943px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040673\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-63_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1943\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-63_qed.jpg 1943w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-63_qed-800x549.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-63_qed-1020x700.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-63_qed-160x110.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-63_qed-1536x1054.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-63_qed-1920x1317.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1943px) 100vw, 1943px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Golden State Valkyries guard Tiffany Hayes (15) advances toward the basket during the Valkyries’ home opener at Chase Center on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Rideshare services like Lyft and Uber at Chase Center\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Getting to the venue using a rideshare service will likely be pretty smooth. It’s getting out of the area \u003cem>after\u003c/em> a game that is almost certainly going to be a challenge. And due to surge pricing, it will also be far more expensive to get an Uber or Lyft as you exit the venue.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There are \u003ca href=\"https://images.ctfassets.net/0lzgl3qjkmm1/6k8OJ6yu4tTfjV4wHsmKTG/0b4cc696d2b3f2360ad34bbc16ffbffd/uber-map.png\">multiple designated pickup and drop-off zones\u003c/a> located within one block of Chase Center. Upon arrival, use one of the designated passenger loading zones (white curbs) along Terry A. Francois Boulevard for a safe curbside drop-off. As you leave the venue, rideshare apps will automatically display the best places to get picked up within a five-minute walk radius.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Public transit to Chase Center\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Public transit schedules can always be subject to change. Check the timings for your route on the day of the event and be sure of your very last service home. You can also read \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12046841/lady-gaga-mayhem-ball-tour-san-francisco-chase-center-parking-bag-policy#chase-center-parking\">KQED’s guide on transportation at Chase Center\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This map also gives a quick overview of the Muni, BART and Caltrain stops nearby:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-12047939\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/CC_BM_20231005_CC_Transportation_MapCC_BM_20231005_CC_Transportation_Map_1080x1080.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/CC_BM_20231005_CC_Transportation_MapCC_BM_20231005_CC_Transportation_Map_1080x1080.jpg 1080w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/CC_BM_20231005_CC_Transportation_MapCC_BM_20231005_CC_Transportation_Map_1080x1080-160x160.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Any Chase Center patron who shows their event ticket at Muni turnstiles and boarding platforms can \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/fares/your-chase-center-event-ticket-your-muni-fare\">ride Muni without charge\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Accessibility at Chase Center\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chase Center addresses questions about accessibility in \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/a-to-z-guide\">its online A-to-Z Guide\u003c/a>, which includes information about accessible parking, hearing assistance, ADA-compliant restrooms and service animals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The venue said guests can request complimentary wheelchair escorts by visiting the kiosks located at Portal 13 or by texting 833-CC4-FANS.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "🏀 \u003cstrong>GLOSSARY: The W\u003c/strong> refers to the WNBA. Another major women’s basketball league is \u003ca href=\"https://www.unrivaled.basketball/\">Unrivaled\u003c/a>.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To schedule an American Sign Language interpreter, guests should contact guestexperiences@warriors.com ahead of time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Accessible parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis. You can email guestexperiences@warriors.com for more details.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Accessible drop-offs and pickups are along the curb of \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/visitor-info/\">16th Street and Terry A. Francois Boulevard\u003c/a>, with accessible entry and exit from the East Entrance.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040682\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040682\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans cheer as the Golden State Valkyries score during their WNBA season opener. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"storylines\">\u003c/a>What are the storylines?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>New team, new coach, new dynamics\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since this is a brand-new team, the Valkyries have never \u003cem>played \u003c/em>together before, Doherty-Baker said. As a fan, it makes it all the more exciting to see how the team figures out its dynamics and relationships in real time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They learn so freaking quickly,” Doherty-Baker said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" style=\"max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px\" cite=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@breezyhall_/video/7520853622213643533\" data-video-id=\"7520853622213643533\">\n\u003csection>\u003ca title=\"@breezyhall_\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@breezyhall_?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@breezyhall_\u003c/a> why are we shaking each other hand so aggressively 😂😂😂 \u003ca title=\"fyp\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fyp?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#fyp\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"foryou\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/foryou?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#foryou\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"breezyhall\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/breezyhall?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#breezyhall\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"wnba\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/wnba?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#wnba\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"valkyries\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/valkyries?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#valkyries\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"♬ Illegal - PinkPantheress\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/music/Illegal-7502057134566525713?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">♬ Illegal – PinkPantheress\u003c/a>\u003c/section>\n\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The Valkyries really are kind of a headline in the 2025 WNBA season,” Goldberg-Safir said. For California basketball fans, people “expected the team to do well. I don’t think they expected the team to do \u003cem>so \u003c/em>well … the vibes are truly pretty incredible … (and) there’s a number of players that are really outperforming their previous seasons.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" style=\"max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px\" cite=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@laeticiaamihere/video/7520852847940963614\" data-video-id=\"7520852847940963614\">\n\u003csection>\u003ca title=\"@laeticiaamihere\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@laeticiaamihere?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@laeticiaamihere\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"valkyries\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/valkyries?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#valkyries\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"dubbs\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/dubbs?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#dubbs\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"♬ Bunna Summa - BunnaB\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/music/Bunna-Summa-7492171577455593473?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">♬ Bunna Summa – BunnaB\u003c/a>\u003c/section>\n\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Goldberg-Safir added that \u003ca href=\"https://wnbaroughnotes.substack.com/p/rough-notes-i-wrote-about-the-leagues\">Nakase\u003c/a> is “proving herself so far to be a really, really good coach.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I love seeing coaches who are former players, women and particularly women of color,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12038786\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12038786\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-38-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-38-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-38-BL-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-38-BL-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-38-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-38-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-38-BL-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Golden State Valkyries’ Head Coach Natalie Nakase speaks with the press during training camp held at the Sephora Performance Center in Oakland on May 1, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Who are the teams to beat?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The Minnesota Lynx, Seattle Storm and Indiana Fever are strong teams that are playing well this season, Goldberg-Safir said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Many are hoping to beat the New York Liberty in particular, since last year the Liberty won their first-ever WNBA championship. But it was a controversial win due to a “highly contested foul call at the end of the game” against the Minnesota Lynx, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“As Bay Area fans, this is a good moment to shut them up,” she said with a laugh.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Honoring the history of women’s basketball in the Bay\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>For Goldberg-Safir, “the Golden State Valkyries coming to the Bay is like this lifelong dream-come-true in a lot of ways,” and she immediately dove into the history of women’s basketball in the Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She learned that the Valkyries are, in fact, \u003cem>not\u003c/em> the first professional women’s team to play in San Francisco. That would be the San Francisco Pioneers, which played in the Women’s Professional Basketball League from 1979 to 1981. In fact, last week’s game honored the Pioneers, where \u003ca href=\"https://www.thenexthoops.com/wbl/pioneers-wbl-valkyries-wnba/\">several of the players reunited\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Most of (the players) are still around,” said Goldberg-Safir, who has been \u003ca href=\"https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bounce-honoring-the-san-francisco-pioneers-live-in-person-tickets-1420298634449?aff=ebdssbdestsearch\">dedicated to documenting the history of the Pioneers\u003c/a>. “They really wanna talk about their stories and share their experiences because they really helped pave the way for pro women’s basketball and the WNBA.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the larger Northern California area, there were also \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xngDgvMK28o\">the Sacramento Monarchs\u003c/a>, which played from the inaugural 1997 WNBA season to 2009. (They also had fans rocking purple.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s a lot of nostalgia for that and even sadness that they ever left that area,” said Doherty-Baker, who went to the games as a kid.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"wnba-fandom\">\u003c/a>What should I know about fan culture?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>“WNBA fans are very, very passionate,” Haigh said. “A lot of them have been (here) since the inception years ago. They love their teams.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Goldberg-Safir said that she sees a variety of reasons why people get into the WNBA. It can range from basketball stats, political history or even player fashion.\u003c/p>\n\u003cblockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" style=\"max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px\" cite=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@brwsports/video/7515963003137707295\" data-video-id=\"7515963003137707295\">\n\u003csection>\u003ca title=\"@brwsports\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/@brwsports?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">@brwsports\u003c/a> 🤩 (Via @Golden State Valkyries) \u003ca title=\"wnba\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/wnba?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#wnba\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"womensbasketball\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/womensbasketball?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#womensbasketball\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"fashion\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fashion?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#fashion\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"tunnelfits\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/tag/tunnelfits?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">#tunnelfits\u003c/a> \u003ca title=\"♬ Under Pressure - bleacherreport\" href=\"https://www.tiktok.com/music/Under-Pressure-7398336470773189418?refer=embed\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">♬ Under Pressure – bleacherreport\u003c/a>\u003c/section>\n\u003c/blockquote>\n\u003cp>“There are a lot of folks who are finding fandom in the WNBA that haven’t felt welcomed or included in sports spaces before,” Goldberg-Safir said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Fans do like to know who is dating who\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yang, the basketball fan from San Francisco, said there was a specific “inciting incident” that led to her piqued interest in the WNBA. It was a show where a comedian put together a PowerPoint of all of the ways the WNBA was better than the NBA, with the primary point being because all of the players are dating each other.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "🏀 \u003cstrong>GLOSSARY: MNBA\u003c/strong> — short for the Men’s National Basketball Association — is what some fans slyly call the NBA.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s that kind of stuff that you’re like, ‘Oh, there’s \u003cem>stories \u003c/em>here,” Yang said. “It’s not just, like, who’s winning.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I had a lot of people be like, ‘The WNBA is my reality TV,” Doherty-Baker said. “I think it is a really great way for folks (for whom) sports hasn’t been their jam to come in with an interest in the players.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040679\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040679\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-80_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-80_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-80_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-80_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-80_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-80_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-80_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Golden State Valkyries center Temi Fágbénlé (14) makes a basket during the first quarter. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>It’s more than just the NBA …\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Haigh emphasized the importance of looking at the WNBA as “truly its own league” rather than an “extension of the NBA.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One common — and sexist — criticism of the WNBA is that it’s not as fun “because they don’t dunk.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“As a fan of both leagues, I don’t think that dunking makes the NBA miles and miles better than the W,” Haigh said. “There’s this idea that we should lower the rims in the W so they can dunk, and it’s just this weird obsession with dunking that I just frankly don’t understand.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>… and it’s more than just one player\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever has been a major star in the women’s basketball world, but you will likely get an eye roll from a long-time fan for crediting all of the WNBA’s success to just her.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“(Clark) has done a lot, but the talent has been there. The skills, the vibes, the fans — they have been there since before Caitlin,” Haigh said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There is also the coverage and commentary around Clark that is worth keeping in mind. \u003ca href=\"https://news.rice.edu/news/2025/study-suggests-racial-bias-angel-reese-caitlin-clark-debate-examines-how-social-media\">A March study by Rice University\u003c/a> analyzed thousands of tweets and found that comments about Clark, who is white, tend to be more positive when compared to comments about fellow WNBA star Angel Reese, who is Black.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There are people who are sort of using women’s basketball as a kind of proxy to express racist agendas,” Goldberg-Safir said. “And that can oftentimes look like this emphatic support of specific white players as sort of a white savior role.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Clark said \u003ca href=\"https://www.espn.com/wnba/story/_/id/40348389/caitlin-clark-speaks-racist-misogynistic-comments\">she denounced racist comments\u003c/a>, adding that “People should not be using my name to push those agendas. It’s disappointing. It’s not acceptable.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>WNBA fans value inclusivity\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Goldberg-Safir said WNBA fans have a vested interest in social justice — a cause players have championed within the league, especially around \u003ca href=\"https://www.wnba.com/news/wnba-announces-a-2020-season-dedicated-to-social-justice\">racial justice\u003c/a> and queer visibility.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Raina Mast, San Francisco resident and \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/valkyriessayless/\">Valkyries Say Less podcast\u003c/a> cohost, said she will see people at protests with Valkyries gear, and then hop on the Muni towards the Chase Center for the game the same day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It “is just so telling of what the Bay Area is about,” said Mast, whose father even played in the NBA.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The WNBA has evolved since its inception, said Goldberg-Safir: “More queer, more political, more proudly Black-led.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“A lot of our elders, queer elders, lesbians, former basketball players, people who have been in the community for a long time as coaches or family members, those are the folks that have been around and stuck around,” Goldberg-Safir said. “It’s really important to continue to include those people actively and to learn from them about their knowledge of the WNBA.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040690\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1899px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040690\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-48_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1899\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-48_qed.jpg 1899w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-48_qed-800x562.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-48_qed-1020x716.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-48_qed-160x112.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-48_qed-1536x1078.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1899px) 100vw, 1899px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jhunehl Fortaleza, left, dressed as a Valkyrie, dances outside of Chase Center, following the WNBA game between the Golden State Valkyries and the Los Angeles Sparks on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Representation of the players and coach Naskase has been big for young people too, said Hutchinson-Szekely, Mast’s co-host – who is also a teacher at a school with a large Asian American population.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It was really incredible to see the impact of that on the students, when we first had Kaitlyn Chen,” she said. “I had a student who came up to me and was elated about the fact that her dad bought season tickets, and she got a Kaitlyn Chen jersey … and how connected that made [the student] feel to the team and to her culture.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Queer fandom is a major part of WNBA culture, leading to fan groups like Doherty-Baker’s Valqueeries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The amount of times I’ve heard from other queer fans, like ‘I just wanna make queer friends,’” she said. “You would think in the Bay it would be easier, because there’s so many of us here, but I find that that’s not really the case.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I can be really shy. I would just encourage anyone who’s thinking about it to just say ‘hi.’”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In a moment of political, economic and strife, it “feels really good” to be a part of “something bigger than yourself,” Yang said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040684\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040684\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-29_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-29_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-29_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-29_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-29_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-29_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-29_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans cheer during the Golden State Valkyries’ WNBA season opener against the Los Angeles Sparks. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It’s really cool to be walking into Chase Center on a game day and seeing all these families, all these older queer groups of friends or couples, all these people of color,” Yang said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I was taking the 22 across the city into Chase Center, and I just remember watching people get on the bus and like the bus becoming more and more saturated with this color. It just felt really, really wonderful to be in that presence.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yang said a major part of that feeling can be attributed to the fans and the way the Valkyries were rolled out.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It allows the fans to buy into that as well and be like, ‘Oh yeah, that’s who we are,’” Yang said. “‘We’re gonna support you, like you are the future champions that we hope you are.’”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published on July 14.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "a-basketball-trailblazer-my-mother-the-wnba-star-youve-never-heard-of",
"title": "A Basketball Trailblazer: My Mother, the WNBA Star You’ve Never Heard Of",
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"headTitle": "A Basketball Trailblazer: My Mother, the WNBA Star You’ve Never Heard Of | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>My mom, Judy Mosley McAfee, was one of the very first women drafted into the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/wnba\">WNBA\u003c/a>. But you’ve probably never heard of her. I certainly didn’t know how she blazed a trail for what women’s basketball has become today until I started researching her past.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>My mom passed away from breast cancer when I was 12. I never saw her playing college or pro ball because by the time I was born in 2001, she had stopped playing. I knew her better as a high school teacher and coach.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now that I’m 24, just a few years older than my mom was when she started playing college ball, I’ve been on a quest to understand that side of her, and why she loved a sport I’ve been less than fond of for most of my life.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I’m 5’10” — and my whole life, people have asked me if I play basketball. But the truth is, I’ve never really liked the sport. The exuberant mascots, the endless running up and down the court. It felt pointless and boring to me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But when my mom played, she made fans fall in love with women’s basketball, and ultimately left a legacy that paved the way for today’s record attendance at WNBA games — and the rise of teams like the Golden State Valkyries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12047798\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12047798\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250711_WNBA-mom_011_BF_KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1332\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250711_WNBA-mom_011_BF_KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250711_WNBA-mom_011_BF_KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250711_WNBA-mom_011_BF_KQED-1536x1023.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Audy McAfee at her home in Oakland, on July 11, 2025. \u003ccite>(Brian L. Frank/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>My mom started her basketball career at La Puente High in Los Angeles, where she averaged more than 15 points per game. Recruiters came knocking from more than 80 schools, but she ultimately decided on the University of Hawaii at Manoa, which, at the time, ranked 159th in the U.S.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But my mom turned that around. She would become the nation’s second-leading scorer, averaging 27 points and 15 rebounds per game. And she put the University of Hawaii on the map. Today, the UH Rainbow Wahines are ranked seventh in the NCAA.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID=news_12047885 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00046_TV_qed.jpg']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even 35 years after graduating from UH, my mom is still considered the best player — in both women’s and men’s sports — in the school’s history. She was even honored with the title “All-Time American” for her last two years of college.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This spring, I actually got to visit the college to meet some of her former teammates and see the gym where the Wahines used to play. I kept trying to envision what it must have been like to be 18, a California girl on a basketball scholarship to Hawaii, double majoring and balancing good grades with her record-breaking basketball career. I truly do not know how she did it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The best part of the trip was visiting the current Wahines locker room to marvel at a giant photo on the wall. There was my mom, larger than life, going for a rebound, the only player to lead the Wahines in scoring and rebounding for four straight seasons.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When the ball was in the air, you don’t know which way the ball was gonna bounce, but your mom did,” her former assistant coach, George Wolfe, told me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We call it a nose for the ball,” Wolfe said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Soon after graduating in 1990, my mom played overseas in places like Italy, Hungary, Japan and Spain. Once she met my dad, he traveled with her all over the world, witnessing the influence she had on the crowd. He told me it was like walking on clouds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12047804\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12047804\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250711_WNBA-mom_005_BF_KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1332\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250711_WNBA-mom_005_BF_KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250711_WNBA-mom_005_BF_KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250711_WNBA-mom_005_BF_KQED-1536x1023.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Audy McAfee holds a family picture of her mother and aunt at her home in Oakland, on July 11, 2025. \u003ccite>(Brian L. Frank/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In 1997, she was drafted to the Sacramento Monarchs for the WNBA’s inaugural season. She was the sixth woman picked for the league — out of 32 women selected from around the globe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>My mom’s former teammate, Tajama Abraham, told me it wasn’t easy to be a part of the first-ever women’s basketball national league because there were no mentors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You’re creating this whole women’s pro thing from scratch. We had no understanding of what it [was] going to take at that level,” Abraham said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And in those early years, the women’s league \u003ca href=\"https://uncpress.org/book/9781469674780/shattering-the-glass/\">didn’t get the same coverage as the NBA\u003c/a> — and generated far less advertising revenue and corporate support.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Back in that first year of the WNBA, female players only earned a base salary of $28,000 a season. Compare that to NBA players’ base of $200,000.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even though my mom passed more than a decade ago, it feels good to get to know her better. To know that she paved the way for women’s basketball and teams like the Golden State Valkyries to get the respect they deserve.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12047807\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12047807\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250711_WNBA-mom_002_BF_KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1332\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250711_WNBA-mom_002_BF_KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250711_WNBA-mom_002_BF_KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250711_WNBA-mom_002_BF_KQED-1536x1023.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Audy McAfee at her home in Oakland, on July 11, 2025. \u003ccite>(Brian L. Frank/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>I’m grateful to get to know this side of my mom. She was a champion, a. A true warrior on and off the court. I didn’t get to know her for very long, but she was, and still is, everything to me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I can’t remember how her voice sounds anymore, but I will always recall the smell of the fresh pots of rice she would make in the early morning, before her two-hour commute to work. I will always cherish her big gummy smile, the one we’d see after she told a joke that usually only she thought was funny. I won’t forget the way she would throw her hair up into a ponytail and curl her bangs with a bump.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Like her favorite flower, she was a rose plucked too soon. Luscious, fleeting. A flower that left me with thorns all over because I held on too hard. And still, I would pick thorns out of my hands for the rest of my life if that meant I could see her again. If I make it to 45, I hope I’m at least half as cool as she was.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I may not blaze new trails or set new records like she did, but I know that if I just try my hardest and am genuine in what I do, everything will be okay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I love you, mommy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>Audy McAfee produced this audio documentary as her master’s thesis at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism’s audio program.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>My mom, Judy Mosley McAfee, was one of the very first women drafted into the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/wnba\">WNBA\u003c/a>. But you’ve probably never heard of her. I certainly didn’t know how she blazed a trail for what women’s basketball has become today until I started researching her past.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>My mom passed away from breast cancer when I was 12. I never saw her playing college or pro ball because by the time I was born in 2001, she had stopped playing. I knew her better as a high school teacher and coach.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now that I’m 24, just a few years older than my mom was when she started playing college ball, I’ve been on a quest to understand that side of her, and why she loved a sport I’ve been less than fond of for most of my life.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I’m 5’10” — and my whole life, people have asked me if I play basketball. But the truth is, I’ve never really liked the sport. The exuberant mascots, the endless running up and down the court. It felt pointless and boring to me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But when my mom played, she made fans fall in love with women’s basketball, and ultimately left a legacy that paved the way for today’s record attendance at WNBA games — and the rise of teams like the Golden State Valkyries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12047798\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12047798\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250711_WNBA-mom_011_BF_KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1332\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250711_WNBA-mom_011_BF_KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250711_WNBA-mom_011_BF_KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250711_WNBA-mom_011_BF_KQED-1536x1023.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Audy McAfee at her home in Oakland, on July 11, 2025. \u003ccite>(Brian L. Frank/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>My mom started her basketball career at La Puente High in Los Angeles, where she averaged more than 15 points per game. Recruiters came knocking from more than 80 schools, but she ultimately decided on the University of Hawaii at Manoa, which, at the time, ranked 159th in the U.S.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But my mom turned that around. She would become the nation’s second-leading scorer, averaging 27 points and 15 rebounds per game. And she put the University of Hawaii on the map. Today, the UH Rainbow Wahines are ranked seventh in the NCAA.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even 35 years after graduating from UH, my mom is still considered the best player — in both women’s and men’s sports — in the school’s history. She was even honored with the title “All-Time American” for her last two years of college.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This spring, I actually got to visit the college to meet some of her former teammates and see the gym where the Wahines used to play. I kept trying to envision what it must have been like to be 18, a California girl on a basketball scholarship to Hawaii, double majoring and balancing good grades with her record-breaking basketball career. I truly do not know how she did it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The best part of the trip was visiting the current Wahines locker room to marvel at a giant photo on the wall. There was my mom, larger than life, going for a rebound, the only player to lead the Wahines in scoring and rebounding for four straight seasons.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When the ball was in the air, you don’t know which way the ball was gonna bounce, but your mom did,” her former assistant coach, George Wolfe, told me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We call it a nose for the ball,” Wolfe said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Soon after graduating in 1990, my mom played overseas in places like Italy, Hungary, Japan and Spain. Once she met my dad, he traveled with her all over the world, witnessing the influence she had on the crowd. He told me it was like walking on clouds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12047804\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12047804\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250711_WNBA-mom_005_BF_KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1332\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250711_WNBA-mom_005_BF_KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250711_WNBA-mom_005_BF_KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250711_WNBA-mom_005_BF_KQED-1536x1023.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Audy McAfee holds a family picture of her mother and aunt at her home in Oakland, on July 11, 2025. \u003ccite>(Brian L. Frank/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In 1997, she was drafted to the Sacramento Monarchs for the WNBA’s inaugural season. She was the sixth woman picked for the league — out of 32 women selected from around the globe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>My mom’s former teammate, Tajama Abraham, told me it wasn’t easy to be a part of the first-ever women’s basketball national league because there were no mentors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You’re creating this whole women’s pro thing from scratch. We had no understanding of what it [was] going to take at that level,” Abraham said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And in those early years, the women’s league \u003ca href=\"https://uncpress.org/book/9781469674780/shattering-the-glass/\">didn’t get the same coverage as the NBA\u003c/a> — and generated far less advertising revenue and corporate support.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Back in that first year of the WNBA, female players only earned a base salary of $28,000 a season. Compare that to NBA players’ base of $200,000.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even though my mom passed more than a decade ago, it feels good to get to know her better. To know that she paved the way for women’s basketball and teams like the Golden State Valkyries to get the respect they deserve.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12047807\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12047807\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250711_WNBA-mom_002_BF_KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1332\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250711_WNBA-mom_002_BF_KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250711_WNBA-mom_002_BF_KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250711_WNBA-mom_002_BF_KQED-1536x1023.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Audy McAfee at her home in Oakland, on July 11, 2025. \u003ccite>(Brian L. Frank/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>I’m grateful to get to know this side of my mom. She was a champion, a. A true warrior on and off the court. I didn’t get to know her for very long, but she was, and still is, everything to me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I can’t remember how her voice sounds anymore, but I will always recall the smell of the fresh pots of rice she would make in the early morning, before her two-hour commute to work. I will always cherish her big gummy smile, the one we’d see after she told a joke that usually only she thought was funny. I won’t forget the way she would throw her hair up into a ponytail and curl her bangs with a bump.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Like her favorite flower, she was a rose plucked too soon. Luscious, fleeting. A flower that left me with thorns all over because I held on too hard. And still, I would pick thorns out of my hands for the rest of my life if that meant I could see her again. If I make it to 45, I hope I’m at least half as cool as she was.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I may not blaze new trails or set new records like she did, but I know that if I just try my hardest and am genuine in what I do, everything will be okay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>I love you, mommy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>Audy McAfee produced this audio documentary as her master’s thesis at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism’s audio program.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>Updated 2 p.m. Wednesday\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Trump administration sued California on Wednesday over its policy permitting \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12041770/california-tweaks-trans-athlete-rules-after-trump-threatens-to-halt-federal-funding\">transgender high school athletes\u003c/a> to participate on teams that match their gender identity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The suit comes just days after the California Interscholastic Federation and the state’s Department of Education declined to sign a resolution agreeing to comply with the U.S. Department of Education’s push to ban transgender athletes from women’s sports.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The lawsuit alleges that by allowing transgender athletes to participate on girls’ sports teams, California is discriminating against women and girls, ignoring “undeniable biological differences.” According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the state’s policies violate Title IX, the landmark civil rights law that protects against discrimination based on sex in schools that receive federal funding.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Girls are displaced from podiums, denied awards, and miss out on critical visibility for college scholarships and recognition,” the suit reads.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In a statement, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said the CIF and the state Education Department are following existing state law, which he said is in line with 21 other states’ laws and doesn’t violate Title IX.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“No court has adopted the interpretation of Title IX advanced by the federal government and neither the governor, nor they, get to wave a magic wand and override it,” Newsom’s office said via email. “Unlike Donald Trump, California follows the law.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12043426\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12043426\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/GavinNewsomRobBontaGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1491\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/GavinNewsomRobBontaGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/GavinNewsomRobBontaGetty-160x119.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/GavinNewsomRobBontaGetty-1536x1145.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Gov. Gavin Newsom (right) speaks as Attorney General Rob Bonta looks on during a news conference on April 16, 2025, in Ceres, California. \u003ccite>(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>California state law requires public schools to allow students to participate in all school activities, including sports teams, that match their gender identity. Pushback against it, as well as similar legislation in other states, intensified during the 2024 presidential campaign, when opposition to transgender athletes’ participation in sports became a linchpin of Trump’s platform.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Transgender youth are at the center of this administration’s cruel and discriminatory policies,” said Heron Greenesmith, deputy director of policy at the Transgender Law Center. “Their attempts at wielding Title IX against the very students it is supposed to protect is characteristic of a government that has no issues with continuing to attack an already marginalized group, push a harmful and misinformed narrative about transgender youth, and create confusing and hostile conditions for students and school[s].”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Shortly after Trump took office, he signed an \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/keeping-men-out-of-womens-sports/\">executive order\u003c/a> that sought to ban trans women from competing in women’s sports by rescinding federal funding from educational programs that didn’t comply. In February, his Department of Education launched an investigation into California’s Title IX compliance.[aside postID=news_12041770 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/TrumpTransAthletesGetty-1020x638.jpg']In June, the U.S. Department of Education’s investigation found that the state had violated regulations, and it also gave California an ultimatum requiring it to ban transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports and apologize to female athletes who had lost to transgender competitors within 10 days. If the state refused to do so, the letter said, the U.S. Department of Education could move to withhold funding or refer the case to the Department of Justice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>CIF and the state Department of Education sent letters to the U.S. Department of Education declining to sign a resolution agreement on Monday, saying that they disagreed with its Office of Civil Rights’ analysis. CIF and the state Education Department declined to comment, citing pending litigation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The suit filed Wednesday is the second such lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice against a state that declined to comply with the federal order. It seeks to require California to ban transgender girls from competing in female sports in schools that receive federal funding and to provide compensation for athletes who the suit said have been denied equal athletic opportunities because of the state’s alleged Title IX violations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Among the other states with laws like California’s is Maine, which the DOJ filed a similar suit against in April over its refusal to ban transgender athletes’ participation in sports.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Billions of dollars in federal funding could be at stake. According to the complaint, the U.S. Department of Education has allocated about $44.3 billion to California for fiscal year 2025, with about $3.8 billion of that still “available for drawdown … including both discretionary grants and formula grants.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Attorneys for the DOJ specifically cite California’s high school track and field championships this year, at which a transgender athlete from Riverside County competed in the girls’ high jump, triple jump and long jump. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The athlete’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12042352/trans-athlete-shines-in-california-high-school-track-finals-ignites-amid-policy-debate\">dominance in some of the events\u003c/a> spurred controversy leading up to the meet, amplified by Trump when he threatened on Truth Social to withhold federal funding from California if it did not prohibit the athlete from competing in alignment with his executive order.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hours later, CIF announced that it would pilot a first-of-its-kind entry process at the track and field competition that allowed an additional athlete to advance to the finals and place in events with a transgender competitor. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the DOJ’s lawsuit, CIF’s rule change allowed for an additional placement in the finals for a “biological female,” and in doing so “acknowledged the inherent athletic advantage males have over ‘biological female[s]’ and that allowing males to compete in female athletic competitions displaces girls and denies girls equal athletic opportunities.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Throughout, the lawsuit also jabs at Newsom, who said in a March episode of his podcast “This is Gavin Newsom” that trans athletes’ participation in women’s sports \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12030376/newsom-splits-with-democrats-on-trans-athletes-in-sports\">was “deeply unfair.”\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The complaint included an email CIF Executive Director Ronald Nocetti sent to State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond following the podcast. In the email, Nocetti asked for clarification on the state policy on trans athletes, saying comments made by Newsom “increased the level of confusion and concern of the CIF and our member schools.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>Updated 2 p.m. Wednesday\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Trump administration sued California on Wednesday over its policy permitting \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12041770/california-tweaks-trans-athlete-rules-after-trump-threatens-to-halt-federal-funding\">transgender high school athletes\u003c/a> to participate on teams that match their gender identity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The suit comes just days after the California Interscholastic Federation and the state’s Department of Education declined to sign a resolution agreeing to comply with the U.S. Department of Education’s push to ban transgender athletes from women’s sports.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The lawsuit alleges that by allowing transgender athletes to participate on girls’ sports teams, California is discriminating against women and girls, ignoring “undeniable biological differences.” According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the state’s policies violate Title IX, the landmark civil rights law that protects against discrimination based on sex in schools that receive federal funding.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Girls are displaced from podiums, denied awards, and miss out on critical visibility for college scholarships and recognition,” the suit reads.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In a statement, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office said the CIF and the state Education Department are following existing state law, which he said is in line with 21 other states’ laws and doesn’t violate Title IX.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“No court has adopted the interpretation of Title IX advanced by the federal government and neither the governor, nor they, get to wave a magic wand and override it,” Newsom’s office said via email. “Unlike Donald Trump, California follows the law.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12043426\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12043426\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/GavinNewsomRobBontaGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1491\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/GavinNewsomRobBontaGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/GavinNewsomRobBontaGetty-160x119.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/GavinNewsomRobBontaGetty-1536x1145.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Gov. Gavin Newsom (right) speaks as Attorney General Rob Bonta looks on during a news conference on April 16, 2025, in Ceres, California. \u003ccite>(Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>California state law requires public schools to allow students to participate in all school activities, including sports teams, that match their gender identity. Pushback against it, as well as similar legislation in other states, intensified during the 2024 presidential campaign, when opposition to transgender athletes’ participation in sports became a linchpin of Trump’s platform.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Transgender youth are at the center of this administration’s cruel and discriminatory policies,” said Heron Greenesmith, deputy director of policy at the Transgender Law Center. “Their attempts at wielding Title IX against the very students it is supposed to protect is characteristic of a government that has no issues with continuing to attack an already marginalized group, push a harmful and misinformed narrative about transgender youth, and create confusing and hostile conditions for students and school[s].”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Shortly after Trump took office, he signed an \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/keeping-men-out-of-womens-sports/\">executive order\u003c/a> that sought to ban trans women from competing in women’s sports by rescinding federal funding from educational programs that didn’t comply. In February, his Department of Education launched an investigation into California’s Title IX compliance.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>In June, the U.S. Department of Education’s investigation found that the state had violated regulations, and it also gave California an ultimatum requiring it to ban transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports and apologize to female athletes who had lost to transgender competitors within 10 days. If the state refused to do so, the letter said, the U.S. Department of Education could move to withhold funding or refer the case to the Department of Justice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>CIF and the state Department of Education sent letters to the U.S. Department of Education declining to sign a resolution agreement on Monday, saying that they disagreed with its Office of Civil Rights’ analysis. CIF and the state Education Department declined to comment, citing pending litigation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The suit filed Wednesday is the second such lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice against a state that declined to comply with the federal order. It seeks to require California to ban transgender girls from competing in female sports in schools that receive federal funding and to provide compensation for athletes who the suit said have been denied equal athletic opportunities because of the state’s alleged Title IX violations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Among the other states with laws like California’s is Maine, which the DOJ filed a similar suit against in April over its refusal to ban transgender athletes’ participation in sports.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Billions of dollars in federal funding could be at stake. According to the complaint, the U.S. Department of Education has allocated about $44.3 billion to California for fiscal year 2025, with about $3.8 billion of that still “available for drawdown … including both discretionary grants and formula grants.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Attorneys for the DOJ specifically cite California’s high school track and field championships this year, at which a transgender athlete from Riverside County competed in the girls’ high jump, triple jump and long jump. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The athlete’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12042352/trans-athlete-shines-in-california-high-school-track-finals-ignites-amid-policy-debate\">dominance in some of the events\u003c/a> spurred controversy leading up to the meet, amplified by Trump when he threatened on Truth Social to withhold federal funding from California if it did not prohibit the athlete from competing in alignment with his executive order.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hours later, CIF announced that it would pilot a first-of-its-kind entry process at the track and field competition that allowed an additional athlete to advance to the finals and place in events with a transgender competitor. \u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the DOJ’s lawsuit, CIF’s rule change allowed for an additional placement in the finals for a “biological female,” and in doing so “acknowledged the inherent athletic advantage males have over ‘biological female[s]’ and that allowing males to compete in female athletic competitions displaces girls and denies girls equal athletic opportunities.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Throughout, the lawsuit also jabs at Newsom, who said in a March episode of his podcast “This is Gavin Newsom” that trans athletes’ participation in women’s sports \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12030376/newsom-splits-with-democrats-on-trans-athletes-in-sports\">was “deeply unfair.”\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The complaint included an email CIF Executive Director Ronald Nocetti sent to State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond following the podcast. In the email, Nocetti asked for clarification on the state policy on trans athletes, saying comments made by Newsom “increased the level of confusion and concern of the CIF and our member schools.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>John Fisher, the billionaire owner of the San José Earthquakes, is looking to sell the MLS club, the team said Wednesday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Earthquakes announced in a press release that Fisher’s ownership group has started a process “to sell a controlling interest in the club,” and has hired investment firm Moelis & Company to head up the effort.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The San Jose Earthquakes and PayPal Park have been an important part of our lives for nearly two decades,” Fisher said in the press release. “We are proud of the role the Quakes have played in the growth of soccer throughout Silicon Valley. The Bay Area is a special place, and we’re deeply grateful to the fans, players and staff who’ve been with us on this journey.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fisher, who also owns MLB’s Athletics, has served as the majority owner of the Earthquakes since 2008, after he and partner Lew Wolff paid $20 million to buy the rights for an expansion club in San José. That came after the Earthquakes’ former owner, AEG, moved their team to Houston to become the Dynamo at the end of 2005, and there was no professional soccer in San José during the 2006 and 2007 seasons.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fisher’s group could see a significant profit on the sale, with the club valued at $540 million by \u003ca href=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/justinbirnbaum/2025/02/21/the-most-valuable-mls-teams-2025/\">Forbes\u003c/a>, which is below the league average of $690 million.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The team’s press release did not offer a reason for the sale. Team officials declined an interview request from KQED on Wednesday. The news of the potential sale was first reported late Tuesday night by \u003ca href=\"https://www.sportico.com/leagues/soccer/2025/san-jose-earthquakes-sale-john-fisher-1234857003/\">Sportico\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_10444190\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10444190\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/02/RS14420_IMG_1886-qut.jpg\" alt=\"The San Jose Earthquakes, a professional soccer team, finally gets a permanent home called Avaya Stadium.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/02/RS14420_IMG_1886-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/02/RS14420_IMG_1886-qut-400x300.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/02/RS14420_IMG_1886-qut-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/02/RS14420_IMG_1886-qut-1440x1080.jpg 1440w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/02/RS14420_IMG_1886-qut-1180x885.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/02/RS14420_IMG_1886-qut-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/02/RS14420_IMG_1886-qut-320x240.jpg 320w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The San José Earthquakes’ Avaya Stadium, currently named PayPal Park. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of San José Earthquakes)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>It’s not clear if Fisher is selling to help finance his $1.75 billion, 33,000 capacity stadium project in Las Vegas, where the former Oakland baseball team would play, which is scheduled to break ground next week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fisher uprooted the Athletics from Oakland at the end of the 2024 season, much to the chagrin of untold numbers of A’s fans in the Bay Area. The team is currently playing the first of at least three seasons in a Minor League Baseball park in West Sacramento, sharing it with the River Cats before the planned move to Sin City.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fisher’s family has said it plans to contribute $1 billion toward the project, and Nevada lawmakers pledged up to $380 million in public funds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2015, Fisher’s group opened what was then called Avaya Stadium, a privately financed, $100 million soccer-specific stadium next to San José Mineta International Airport, as the team’s new home facility.[aside postID=news_12044302 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-13-KQED.jpg']The stadium is currently named PayPal Park, and last year also became the home field of Bay FC, of the National Women’s Soccer League, which will host its championship at PayPal Park this season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The stadium has also played host to several major events, including US National Women’s Team matches, several 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup matches, and earlier this year, a sold-out Liga MX friendly between Chivas de Guadalajara and Atlas FC.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even with a modern stadium, attendance for Quakes games in the 2024 season was fourth-lowest in the league of what was then 29 teams, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.transfermarkt.us/major-league-soccer/besucherzahlen/wettbewerb/MLS1/plus/?saison_id=2023\">Transfermarkt\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, the club has made some significant signings in the last year, including paying a club record of roughly $7 million for Argentine midfielder Hernán López, and bringing on five-time MLS Cup champion Bruce Arena as its new head coach. The league has since added a 30th team.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>San José Mayor Matt Mahan told KQED he views the potential sale as an opportunity for the team and the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“An opportunity for more investment, new energy, an opportunity to take the team to the next level,” he said. “The hope with any new ownership group is that they’ll come in with some fresh energy and extra resources to put into the team and that will help the team compete for a championship.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mahan added that city leaders are laying out a vision to create a future sports entertainment district in the western portion of downtown, near the SAP Center where the San Jose Sharks have long played, and thinks the area could be a future home for the Earthquakes and Bay FC.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When they’re looking at their future home, I want them to think first and foremost of downtown San José as the place to put down roots,” he said. “We’re a soccer city. We love our Quakes and we love Bay FC.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s unclear whether a potential new owner would keep the Earthquakes’ previous $50 million commitment for a potential eight-field public-private soccer training facility at the Santa Clara County fairgrounds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A preliminary deal between San José, the county and the team was struck in late 2023 to explore creating such a facility that would be partially open to youth soccer teams and the public, but Mahan said the county has stalled the effort.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The team is also investing in creating a second training facility on the site of a parking lot and tailgate area behind PayPal Park, and is updating some team facilities, including dining rooms and coaches’ meeting rooms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>John Fisher, the billionaire owner of the San José Earthquakes, is looking to sell the MLS club, the team said Wednesday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Earthquakes announced in a press release that Fisher’s ownership group has started a process “to sell a controlling interest in the club,” and has hired investment firm Moelis & Company to head up the effort.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The San Jose Earthquakes and PayPal Park have been an important part of our lives for nearly two decades,” Fisher said in the press release. “We are proud of the role the Quakes have played in the growth of soccer throughout Silicon Valley. The Bay Area is a special place, and we’re deeply grateful to the fans, players and staff who’ve been with us on this journey.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fisher, who also owns MLB’s Athletics, has served as the majority owner of the Earthquakes since 2008, after he and partner Lew Wolff paid $20 million to buy the rights for an expansion club in San José. That came after the Earthquakes’ former owner, AEG, moved their team to Houston to become the Dynamo at the end of 2005, and there was no professional soccer in San José during the 2006 and 2007 seasons.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fisher’s group could see a significant profit on the sale, with the club valued at $540 million by \u003ca href=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/justinbirnbaum/2025/02/21/the-most-valuable-mls-teams-2025/\">Forbes\u003c/a>, which is below the league average of $690 million.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The team’s press release did not offer a reason for the sale. Team officials declined an interview request from KQED on Wednesday. The news of the potential sale was first reported late Tuesday night by \u003ca href=\"https://www.sportico.com/leagues/soccer/2025/san-jose-earthquakes-sale-john-fisher-1234857003/\">Sportico\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_10444190\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10444190\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/02/RS14420_IMG_1886-qut.jpg\" alt=\"The San Jose Earthquakes, a professional soccer team, finally gets a permanent home called Avaya Stadium.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/02/RS14420_IMG_1886-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/02/RS14420_IMG_1886-qut-400x300.jpg 400w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/02/RS14420_IMG_1886-qut-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/02/RS14420_IMG_1886-qut-1440x1080.jpg 1440w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/02/RS14420_IMG_1886-qut-1180x885.jpg 1180w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/02/RS14420_IMG_1886-qut-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/02/RS14420_IMG_1886-qut-320x240.jpg 320w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The San José Earthquakes’ Avaya Stadium, currently named PayPal Park. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of San José Earthquakes)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>It’s not clear if Fisher is selling to help finance his $1.75 billion, 33,000 capacity stadium project in Las Vegas, where the former Oakland baseball team would play, which is scheduled to break ground next week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fisher uprooted the Athletics from Oakland at the end of the 2024 season, much to the chagrin of untold numbers of A’s fans in the Bay Area. The team is currently playing the first of at least three seasons in a Minor League Baseball park in West Sacramento, sharing it with the River Cats before the planned move to Sin City.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fisher’s family has said it plans to contribute $1 billion toward the project, and Nevada lawmakers pledged up to $380 million in public funds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2015, Fisher’s group opened what was then called Avaya Stadium, a privately financed, $100 million soccer-specific stadium next to San José Mineta International Airport, as the team’s new home facility.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The stadium is currently named PayPal Park, and last year also became the home field of Bay FC, of the National Women’s Soccer League, which will host its championship at PayPal Park this season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The stadium has also played host to several major events, including US National Women’s Team matches, several 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup matches, and earlier this year, a sold-out Liga MX friendly between Chivas de Guadalajara and Atlas FC.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even with a modern stadium, attendance for Quakes games in the 2024 season was fourth-lowest in the league of what was then 29 teams, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.transfermarkt.us/major-league-soccer/besucherzahlen/wettbewerb/MLS1/plus/?saison_id=2023\">Transfermarkt\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, the club has made some significant signings in the last year, including paying a club record of roughly $7 million for Argentine midfielder Hernán López, and bringing on five-time MLS Cup champion Bruce Arena as its new head coach. The league has since added a 30th team.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>San José Mayor Matt Mahan told KQED he views the potential sale as an opportunity for the team and the city.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“An opportunity for more investment, new energy, an opportunity to take the team to the next level,” he said. “The hope with any new ownership group is that they’ll come in with some fresh energy and extra resources to put into the team and that will help the team compete for a championship.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mahan added that city leaders are laying out a vision to create a future sports entertainment district in the western portion of downtown, near the SAP Center where the San Jose Sharks have long played, and thinks the area could be a future home for the Earthquakes and Bay FC.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When they’re looking at their future home, I want them to think first and foremost of downtown San José as the place to put down roots,” he said. “We’re a soccer city. We love our Quakes and we love Bay FC.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s unclear whether a potential new owner would keep the Earthquakes’ previous $50 million commitment for a potential eight-field public-private soccer training facility at the Santa Clara County fairgrounds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A preliminary deal between San José, the county and the team was struck in late 2023 to explore creating such a facility that would be partially open to youth soccer teams and the public, but Mahan said the county has stalled the effort.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The team is also investing in creating a second training facility on the site of a parking lot and tailgate area behind PayPal Park, and is updating some team facilities, including dining rooms and coaches’ meeting rooms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>The sweet sound of the crack of a wooden bat once again filled the Oakland Coliseum on Thursday night as Major League Cricket \u003ca href=\"http://kqed.org/news/12032881/oakland-coliseum-host-major-league-cricket-could-2028-la-olympics-be-next\">made its debut\u003c/a> at the stadium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>More than 5,000 fans came to cheer and wave orange flags as the San Francisco Unicorns took on the Washington Freedom in the 2025 MLC season opener.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12044154\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12044154\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-19-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-19-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-19-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-19-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">San Francisco Unicorns fans celebrate a 6 during the San Francisco Unicorns opening Major League Cricket game against the Washington Freedom at the Oakland Coliseum on June 12, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Major League Cricket is only in its third season in the United States, where the second-most-watched sport in the world is hoping to establish a foothold.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ Cricket is a religion in India,” said Shripad Gokhale, who traveled with his wife, son and daughter from Arizona to attend the match.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hours before the game, fans dressed in Banana costumes (just for fun) set up their own friendly cricket match in the Coliseum parking lot. Amid the crack of beer cans and music, people took turns bowling cricket balls and batting in front of a plastic wicket.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12044146\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12044146\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-1-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-1-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-1-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-1-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans, dressed as bananas, play a game of cricket in the parking lot at the Oakland Coliseum, ahead of the inaugural Major League Cricket game between the San Francisco Unicorns and Washington Freedom, on June 12, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“ Cricket’s part of our bloodline in Australia, it’s pretty huge. So it’s pretty exciting to see cricket here in the states,” said Bobby Bent, who drove up from Fresno to catch the first match.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While cricket has a reputation for matches that can last up to five days — sometimes without a clear winner — MLC plays a faster-paced version, called T20, in which games last around three hours.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12044156\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12044156\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-25-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-25-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-25-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-25-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The San Francisco Unicorns play Washington Freedom during their opening Major League Cricket game at the Oakland Coliseum on June 12, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Thursday night’s matchup was a rematch of last year’s MLC finals, which saw the Freedom walk away with the trophy over the Unicorns. But this time the Unicorns prevailed, besting the Freedom by 123 runs, in a final score of 269–146.[aside postID=news_12039317 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/10/IMG_1625-1020x765.jpg']The game was a slugfest, with the Unicorns breaking multiple MLC records. Unicorns opener Finn Allen hit a league record 19 sixes (that’s the cricket equivalent of a home run), in a game that saw the Unicorns also break the league record for the widest margin of victory.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unlike other major league sports in the U.S., MLC does not have a home-and-away stadium format. Instead, the six teams in the league play tournament-style.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Coliseum is set to host nine matches over the next week before the tournament moves to Texas and Florida for the remainder of the season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With the arrival of cricket at the Coliseum, the MLC hopes to tap into dedicated fans in the Bay Area as it seeks to grow the sport’s reach in the United States. The sport is particularly popular among the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11935325/cricket-one-of-the-worlds-most-popular-sports-goes-to-bat-in-the-tri-valley\">Bay Area’s South Asian communities\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12044157\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12044157\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-26-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-26-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-26-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-26-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans wave San Francisco Unicorns flags during the Unicorns’ opening game of Major League Cricket, against the Washington Freedom, at the Oakland Coliseum on June 12, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“ You can walk through any park in the city of Fremont on a weekend, and you’ll see that the fields are packed,” Fremont Mayor Raj Salwan said during a news conference on Wednesday at the Coliseum. “ This is more than just a game. It’s a celebration of our diversity, and a dream come true for so many local fans.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12044155\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12044155\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-23-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-23-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-23-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-23-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans wave flags as the San Francisco Unicorns play the Washington Freedom during their opening Major League Cricket game at the Oakland Coliseum on June 12, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Subbu Kuchibhotla, who plays in a weekend league in Fremont, said he’s seen cricket grow exponentially in the South Bay in recent years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s about six or seven leagues across San Ramon, Fremont, Sunnyvale, you name it. It’s pretty competitive,” Kuchibhotla said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Coliseum games mark a bittersweet moment for the city of Oakland, which has seen the departure of the Warriors, the Raiders and most recently the A’s. The stadium has had a second life, hosting other local professional sports teams, such as the Oakland Roots and Soul soccer clubs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mikey Seraydarian of Oakland said he’s recently gotten into cricket and is just excited to see a sports team call the Coliseum home again.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’ll take any chance to be in the Coliseum again. Even just like walking over the BART bridge, I got chills,” Seraydarian said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12044148\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12044148\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-6-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1325\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-6-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-6-KQED-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-6-KQED-1536x1018.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A San Francisco Unicorns player practices bowling ahead of their opening Major League Cricket game against the Washington Freedom at the Oakland Coliseum on June 12, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>During the Wednesday news conference, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee thanked MLC for investing $3 million into improvements to the Coliseum to help make it ready for cricket. These efforts included trucking in a pitch — the hard grassy surface similar to an infield in baseball — from the East Coast and bringing in cricket groundskeeping experts from Australia.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ We are deeply grateful. That’s jobs. That’s economic activity. That’s energy and momentum for this part of town, and that’s what our residents need the most,” Lee said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12044158\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12044158\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-32-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-32-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-32-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-32-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The San Francisco Unicorns celebrate during their opening Major League Cricket game against the Washington Freedom at the Oakland Coliseum on June 12, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>According to city officials, the MLC games at the Coliseum are an opportunity to showcase the venue as a probable host for cricket matches in the 2028 Olympics. The sport is set to return to the Summer Games for only the second time in Olympic history, after a 128-year hiatus.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All six teams in the MLC have an obligation to build a home stadium in the coming years. Whether MLC will return to the Coliseum next season is still up in the air, as \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12041329/oaklands-army-base-redevelopment-was-a-win-for-locals-can-the-coliseum-be-the-same\">is the future ownership of the Coliseum itself.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The unicorns said in a statement to KQED: “As we look to the future, we’re actively exploring all options for a permanent home for Bay Area cricket fans to enjoy for generations to come.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>The sweet sound of the crack of a wooden bat once again filled the Oakland Coliseum on Thursday night as Major League Cricket \u003ca href=\"http://kqed.org/news/12032881/oakland-coliseum-host-major-league-cricket-could-2028-la-olympics-be-next\">made its debut\u003c/a> at the stadium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>More than 5,000 fans came to cheer and wave orange flags as the San Francisco Unicorns took on the Washington Freedom in the 2025 MLC season opener.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12044154\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12044154\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-19-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-19-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-19-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-19-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">San Francisco Unicorns fans celebrate a 6 during the San Francisco Unicorns opening Major League Cricket game against the Washington Freedom at the Oakland Coliseum on June 12, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Major League Cricket is only in its third season in the United States, where the second-most-watched sport in the world is hoping to establish a foothold.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ Cricket is a religion in India,” said Shripad Gokhale, who traveled with his wife, son and daughter from Arizona to attend the match.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hours before the game, fans dressed in Banana costumes (just for fun) set up their own friendly cricket match in the Coliseum parking lot. Amid the crack of beer cans and music, people took turns bowling cricket balls and batting in front of a plastic wicket.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12044146\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12044146\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-1-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-1-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-1-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-1-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans, dressed as bananas, play a game of cricket in the parking lot at the Oakland Coliseum, ahead of the inaugural Major League Cricket game between the San Francisco Unicorns and Washington Freedom, on June 12, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“ Cricket’s part of our bloodline in Australia, it’s pretty huge. So it’s pretty exciting to see cricket here in the states,” said Bobby Bent, who drove up from Fresno to catch the first match.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While cricket has a reputation for matches that can last up to five days — sometimes without a clear winner — MLC plays a faster-paced version, called T20, in which games last around three hours.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12044156\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12044156\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-25-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-25-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-25-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-25-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The San Francisco Unicorns play Washington Freedom during their opening Major League Cricket game at the Oakland Coliseum on June 12, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Thursday night’s matchup was a rematch of last year’s MLC finals, which saw the Freedom walk away with the trophy over the Unicorns. But this time the Unicorns prevailed, besting the Freedom by 123 runs, in a final score of 269–146.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The game was a slugfest, with the Unicorns breaking multiple MLC records. Unicorns opener Finn Allen hit a league record 19 sixes (that’s the cricket equivalent of a home run), in a game that saw the Unicorns also break the league record for the widest margin of victory.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unlike other major league sports in the U.S., MLC does not have a home-and-away stadium format. Instead, the six teams in the league play tournament-style.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Coliseum is set to host nine matches over the next week before the tournament moves to Texas and Florida for the remainder of the season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With the arrival of cricket at the Coliseum, the MLC hopes to tap into dedicated fans in the Bay Area as it seeks to grow the sport’s reach in the United States. The sport is particularly popular among the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11935325/cricket-one-of-the-worlds-most-popular-sports-goes-to-bat-in-the-tri-valley\">Bay Area’s South Asian communities\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12044157\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12044157\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-26-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-26-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-26-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-26-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans wave San Francisco Unicorns flags during the Unicorns’ opening game of Major League Cricket, against the Washington Freedom, at the Oakland Coliseum on June 12, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“ You can walk through any park in the city of Fremont on a weekend, and you’ll see that the fields are packed,” Fremont Mayor Raj Salwan said during a news conference on Wednesday at the Coliseum. “ This is more than just a game. It’s a celebration of our diversity, and a dream come true for so many local fans.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12044155\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12044155\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-23-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-23-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-23-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-23-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans wave flags as the San Francisco Unicorns play the Washington Freedom during their opening Major League Cricket game at the Oakland Coliseum on June 12, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Subbu Kuchibhotla, who plays in a weekend league in Fremont, said he’s seen cricket grow exponentially in the South Bay in recent years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There’s about six or seven leagues across San Ramon, Fremont, Sunnyvale, you name it. It’s pretty competitive,” Kuchibhotla said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Coliseum games mark a bittersweet moment for the city of Oakland, which has seen the departure of the Warriors, the Raiders and most recently the A’s. The stadium has had a second life, hosting other local professional sports teams, such as the Oakland Roots and Soul soccer clubs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mikey Seraydarian of Oakland said he’s recently gotten into cricket and is just excited to see a sports team call the Coliseum home again.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’ll take any chance to be in the Coliseum again. Even just like walking over the BART bridge, I got chills,” Seraydarian said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12044148\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12044148\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-6-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1325\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-6-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-6-KQED-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-6-KQED-1536x1018.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A San Francisco Unicorns player practices bowling ahead of their opening Major League Cricket game against the Washington Freedom at the Oakland Coliseum on June 12, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>During the Wednesday news conference, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee thanked MLC for investing $3 million into improvements to the Coliseum to help make it ready for cricket. These efforts included trucking in a pitch — the hard grassy surface similar to an infield in baseball — from the East Coast and bringing in cricket groundskeeping experts from Australia.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ We are deeply grateful. That’s jobs. That’s economic activity. That’s energy and momentum for this part of town, and that’s what our residents need the most,” Lee said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12044158\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12044158\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-32-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-32-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-32-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/20250612_CRICKETCOLISEUM_GC-32-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The San Francisco Unicorns celebrate during their opening Major League Cricket game against the Washington Freedom at the Oakland Coliseum on June 12, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>According to city officials, the MLC games at the Coliseum are an opportunity to showcase the venue as a probable host for cricket matches in the 2028 Olympics. The sport is set to return to the Summer Games for only the second time in Olympic history, after a 128-year hiatus.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All six teams in the MLC have an obligation to build a home stadium in the coming years. Whether MLC will return to the Coliseum next season is still up in the air, as \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12041329/oaklands-army-base-redevelopment-was-a-win-for-locals-can-the-coliseum-be-the-same\">is the future ownership of the Coliseum itself.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The unicorns said in a statement to KQED: “As we look to the future, we’re actively exploring all options for a permanent home for Bay Area cricket fans to enjoy for generations to come.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "Bay Area Civil Rights Attorney Calls for Teen Sprinter’s Win to Be Reinstated",
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"content": "\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11793989/attorney-feared-for-his-life-during-traffic-stop-now-hes-suing-oakland\">Bay Area civil rights attorney\u003c/a> is threatening legal action against the state’s high school sports governing board unless it reinstates a recent victory for a Salinas sprinter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The California Interscholastic Federation disqualified 16-year-old Central Coast sophomore Clara Adams after she won the 400-meter dash at last week’s state championship in Clovis, California, because she celebrated by spraying her shoes with a fire extinguisher.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Footage of the event and reaction has received national attention.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Oakland-based civil rights attorney Adante Pointer held a press conference in Salinas on Friday alongside Adams, her coach and father, David Adams, Salinas Mayor Dennis Donohue, members of the local NAACP chapter and other supporters to protest the decision.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Shortly after winning the race with a time of 53.24 seconds, Adams walked to the track’s infield and gave her shoes two quick bursts from a fire extinguisher.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Adam’s gesture was a homage to Olympic gold medalist Maurice Greene’s celebration with a fire extinguisher celebration following his \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSt0SMgIa9g\">win in the 100 meters in 2004\u003c/a>. In that instance, Greene mimicked his shoes being on fire, took them off in the middle of a track before someone else doused his cleats for multiple seconds, much to the amusement of the crowd and telecasters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Adams’ case, CIF officials quickly corralled her and stripped her of her gold medal.[aside postID=news_12041770 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/TrumpTransAthletesGetty-1020x638.jpg']“We demand that CIF do right by this young lady, and reinstate her as a state champion, as well as correct her record and compensate her for the harm that they caused her,” Pointer said. “They grabbed her, they confronted her, embarrassed her, yelled at her, tried to humiliate her in front of the world, all for what celebrating, enjoying a moment of accomplishment in a way that was embraced, not only by her teammates, but by the spectators that were there and even the CIF announcer who was doing the play-by-play.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CIF uses “Pursuing Victory With Honor” \u003ca href=\"https://www.cifstate.org/coaches-admin/pvh/conduct_students.pdf\">standards\u003c/a>, which forbid student-athletes from engaging in “disrespectful conduct of any sort, including … boastful celebrations …”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, Pointer said the CIF immediately “manhandled her away from the infield on what was the greatest moment of her running career,” disqualified her results, and then banned her from running the 200-meter race.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Instead, they robbed her of her achievement and have yet to explain what they based their actions on,” he said. “We will explore every legal avenue available to hold the CIF accountable for their arbitrary, heavy-handed actions that stole a once-in-a-lifetime victory from Clara, who earned every step of it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pointer said that Adams is a 3.8-GPA student who also once chased down a purse snatcher riding a bike.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“She used her God-given talent and the speed that she’s worked hard to create to face that person down, and got the purse back and brought it back to the person who was victimized,” Pointer said. “This is not someone who should be castigated, humiliated and paraded. This is someone who deserves to be celebrated.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Adams’ time in the 400-meter preliminary round was 54.14 seconds. As of Friday, \u003ca href=\"https://rt.trackscoreboard.com/meets/53025/events/7/Prelim\">the official results\u003c/a> have Adams as disqualified for the varsity 400 dash for “unsportsmanlike” conduct.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CIF did not respond to a request for comment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11793989/attorney-feared-for-his-life-during-traffic-stop-now-hes-suing-oakland\">Bay Area civil rights attorney\u003c/a> is threatening legal action against the state’s high school sports governing board unless it reinstates a recent victory for a Salinas sprinter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The California Interscholastic Federation disqualified 16-year-old Central Coast sophomore Clara Adams after she won the 400-meter dash at last week’s state championship in Clovis, California, because she celebrated by spraying her shoes with a fire extinguisher.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Footage of the event and reaction has received national attention.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Oakland-based civil rights attorney Adante Pointer held a press conference in Salinas on Friday alongside Adams, her coach and father, David Adams, Salinas Mayor Dennis Donohue, members of the local NAACP chapter and other supporters to protest the decision.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Shortly after winning the race with a time of 53.24 seconds, Adams walked to the track’s infield and gave her shoes two quick bursts from a fire extinguisher.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Adam’s gesture was a homage to Olympic gold medalist Maurice Greene’s celebration with a fire extinguisher celebration following his \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSt0SMgIa9g\">win in the 100 meters in 2004\u003c/a>. In that instance, Greene mimicked his shoes being on fire, took them off in the middle of a track before someone else doused his cleats for multiple seconds, much to the amusement of the crowd and telecasters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Adams’ case, CIF officials quickly corralled her and stripped her of her gold medal.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“We demand that CIF do right by this young lady, and reinstate her as a state champion, as well as correct her record and compensate her for the harm that they caused her,” Pointer said. “They grabbed her, they confronted her, embarrassed her, yelled at her, tried to humiliate her in front of the world, all for what celebrating, enjoying a moment of accomplishment in a way that was embraced, not only by her teammates, but by the spectators that were there and even the CIF announcer who was doing the play-by-play.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CIF uses “Pursuing Victory With Honor” \u003ca href=\"https://www.cifstate.org/coaches-admin/pvh/conduct_students.pdf\">standards\u003c/a>, which forbid student-athletes from engaging in “disrespectful conduct of any sort, including … boastful celebrations …”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, Pointer said the CIF immediately “manhandled her away from the infield on what was the greatest moment of her running career,” disqualified her results, and then banned her from running the 200-meter race.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Instead, they robbed her of her achievement and have yet to explain what they based their actions on,” he said. “We will explore every legal avenue available to hold the CIF accountable for their arbitrary, heavy-handed actions that stole a once-in-a-lifetime victory from Clara, who earned every step of it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pointer said that Adams is a 3.8-GPA student who also once chased down a purse snatcher riding a bike.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“She used her God-given talent and the speed that she’s worked hard to create to face that person down, and got the purse back and brought it back to the person who was victimized,” Pointer said. “This is not someone who should be castigated, humiliated and paraded. This is someone who deserves to be celebrated.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Adams’ time in the 400-meter preliminary round was 54.14 seconds. As of Friday, \u003ca href=\"https://rt.trackscoreboard.com/meets/53025/events/7/Prelim\">the official results\u003c/a> have Adams as disqualified for the varsity 400 dash for “unsportsmanlike” conduct.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CIF did not respond to a request for comment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>Taking up a new sport or hobby can be tough on the wallet, especially popular ones here in the Bay Area, like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12035335/bay-area-bike-shops-raging-trade-war-brings-uncertain-future\">cycling\u003c/a> or skiing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But not every outdoor activity has to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101909839/have-you-been-priced-out-of-a-hobby#:~:text=You've%20probably%20noticed%20that,personal%20fulfillment%20and%20community%20building.\">break the bank\u003c/a> or require \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11985235/sf-born-rock-climber-beth-rodden-shares-triumphs-traumas-in-new-memoir\">hundreds of hours of training \u003c/a>before you feel confident in your skills.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If your main goal is to get moving — and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11952701/finding-community-in-the-oakland-pickleball-scene\">maybe even to find an active community along the way\u003c/a> — this list of sports taught right here in the Bay Area might be for you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Plus, read on for a few keys to success (or at the very least fun and safety) from the teachers themselves and extra information about cost so you know exactly what you’re getting yourself into.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#Archery\">Archery\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#Indoorrockclimbing\">Indoor rock climbing\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#Australianfootball\">Australian football\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#Curling\">Curling\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#Openwaterswimming\">Open water swimming\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#Swingdancing\">Swing dancing\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12042489\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/SWIMMING1-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12042489\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/SWIMMING1-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2000\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/SWIMMING1-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/SWIMMING1-KQED-800x800.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/SWIMMING1-KQED-1020x1020.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/SWIMMING1-KQED-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/SWIMMING1-KQED-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/SWIMMING1-KQED-1920x1920.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Open water swimmers travel under the Golden Gate Bridge in the San Francisco Bay on Nov. 2, 2022. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of the Pacific Open Water Swim Co.)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Bay Area outdoor \u003ca id=\"Archery\">\u003c/a>archery range\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Shooting a bow and arrow might be something you’ve only ever seen on TV or in the movies, but “this isn’t the Olympics,” Bowhunters Unlimited President Debbie Golzen said. “Anyone can do it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bhuarchers.org/\">Bowhunters Unlimited\u003c/a>, an all-volunteer group that operates out of \u003ca href=\"https://parks.santaclaracounty.gov/locations/stevens-creek-county-park\">Stevens Creek County Park\u003c/a> in Saratoga, offers beginner lessons, team-building activities, a practice range and a field range with around 30 targets along a 3-mile course to get in a full day of target practice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During a lesson, participants learn the \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2-mqV2EV1c\">basics about archery equipment\u003c/a>, safety and shooting form from the training area, where the targets are set close to the shooter and have backstops so you don’t have to chase down your arrows too far, Golzen said. Plus, the lesson area is separated from the regular range so newcomers can take as much time as they need to set up, shoot and retrieve arrows.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“By the end of your lesson, you will feel confident to continue the sport at your leisure,” Golzen said. “Archery is so simple. If you can play catch with someone with a ball without making them chase that ball all over the place every time you throw it to them, you can shoot an arrow 10 yards.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID=news_12040892 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/best-hikes-bay-area-memorial-day-1020x679.png']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Archery is an age-inclusive sport, too, Golzen said, with some of their oldest members in their 80s. The group attends tournaments that are open to anyone of any skill level, where participants, organized by age, gender and category of shooter, shoot at 3D foam targets that are shaped like animals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you make it through all those targets and try, that’s success,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Set up for success: \u003c/strong>Golzen recommends wearing close-toed shoes with some ankle support to the park, and to bring some water. To make shooting easier, wear close-fitted sleeves. All the coaches and the range itself are certified to keep everyone safe. As for gear, they have light bows and arrows available for those taking lessons.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you decide to continue pursuing the sport, Golzen recommends \u003ca href=\"https://www.archeryonly.com/\">Archery Only in Newark\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://predatorsarchery.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopFClLD6F0fYmpsVkrdwArqp-3W2wi1TsMnX5yOf44UUpMR677Z\">Predator’s Archery in Gilroy\u003c/a> or \u003ca href=\"https://www.pacificaarchery.com/\">Pacifica Archery in Daly City\u003c/a> to get fitted for and purchase a bow and arrows that are right for you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You can’t shoot someone else’s gear,” Golzen said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cost: \u003c/strong>There is no fee to use the range, but a $40 yearly membership helps support keeping it open for all. A lesson, \u003ca href=\"https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdAjeoJ8wkVh2zJidoF5rommyraCKjewY_X6EKNqo31rI1ysQ/viewform\">booked through a form\u003c/a> on their website, costs between $20 and $45, depending on how long you’d like and how many people are in your group.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12042488\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1875px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/ARCHERY1-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12042488\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/ARCHERY1-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1875\" height=\"1406\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/ARCHERY1-KQED.jpg 1875w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/ARCHERY1-KQED-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/ARCHERY1-KQED-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/ARCHERY1-KQED-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/ARCHERY1-KQED-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1875px) 100vw, 1875px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A quiver holds colorful arrows at Bowhunters Unlimited at Stevens Creek Archery Range in Saratoga, Calif., on Oct. 4, 2022. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Debbie Golzen)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Free indoor \u003ca id=\"Indoorrockclimbing\">\u003c/a>rock climbing\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Ever considered joining a rock climbing gym, but it all just feels a little too intimidating?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Maybe you tried the sport once or twice as a kid at a birthday party or tagged along with a friend, but never took the leap yourself.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To get you started, \u003ca href=\"https://movementgyms.com/\">Movement Gyms’\u003c/a> San Francisco, Belmont, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale and Mountain View \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ7tZu6S5T0/\">locations offer periodic free-for-all days\u003c/a> for anyone interested in trying out the sport of indoor rock climbing. The days, which Bay Area district director Joey Luna said the gym hopes to offer a few times per year, include free gear rentals and lessons, and are tailored specifically toward beginners.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To help with that, on free days, the gyms are full of extra staff milling around to help participants get started, give pointers on form and answer any questions, he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re not able to make a free day in the future, \u003ca href=\"https://movementgyms.com/first-class-free/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Search+SanFrancisco&utm_content=153473390569&utm_term=movement%20gym&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20318686462&gbraid=0AAAAAoU9BBuQHJLN-4KZvbYNTd31aYI0Q&gclid=CjwKCAjwi-DBBhA5EiwAXOHsGRYldoGYY-wl0P8fRXNV87AhRALCAvIF38nRx2325o-BuGoLezV6uBoCg94QAvD_BwE\">Luna suggested coming out for one of their free introductory courses\u003c/a>, which are offered at each of their Bay Area locations.[aside postID=news_12040961 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/GettyImages-1312721999-1020x680.jpg'] You can sign up for intro bouldering, intro rope climbing or any of their other fitness or yoga classes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The sport of indoor rock climbing \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13969423/sports-dad-rock-climbing-bouldering-parenting\">can be extremely rewarding\u003c/a>, Luna said, especially as you begin to be able to complete routes and execute moves that previously felt impossible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It stokes the fire,” he said. “I was hooked after one climb.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The routes at the gym, Luna said, are set for a wide range of skill levels and heights, so everyone can find a way up the wall that’s comfortable for them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Set up for success: \u003c/strong>Luna suggested wearing clothing that’s easy to bend and stretch in for your first time on the wall. If you want to set yourself up for future sessions, consider choosing the intro to rope climbing course to learn how to belay for your friends and get your certification on your next visit, he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cost: \u003c/strong>The occasional open days are completely free, including rental gear, as is your first intro class at the gym. You can also sign up for \u003ca href=\"https://movementgyms.com/trial-membership/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Search+National&utm_content=153473390569&utm_term=movement%20gym&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20318686462&gbraid=0AAAAAoU9BBuQHJLN-4KZvbYNTd31aYI0Q&gclid=CjwKCAjwi-DBBhA5EiwAXOHsGRWxc2fxNO_civn1K4O4B2hQdzNJSuq-sxY6sDHI1Uj4QWL9njUb-BoCyjQQAvD_BwE\">two weeks of access to the gym \u003c/a>and rentals for $40 if you’re not ready to commit to a full membership.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Learn how to play \u003ca id=\"Australianfootball\">\u003c/a>Australian football in Oakland and San Francisco\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If team sports are more your speed, consider joining the \u003ca href=\"https://www.ggafl.com/\">Golden Gate Australian Football League.\u003c/a> The sport is much like other field sports, but “a bit more fast and free-flowing,” league President Loren Dawes said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think the best thing about \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_SqfNNfhmM\">Aussie rules\u003c/a> is that it’s like a real hybrid of a bunch of other sports,” Dawes said. “So it’s really easy if you’re athletic in any other sport like soccer, basketball, volleyball, ultimate frisbee or rugby. There’s elements in those games that are really going to translate well to Aussie rules.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dawes said the group is always looking for new players, and anyone is welcome to come to any of the three training sessions they host per week across the Bay Area — \u003ca href=\"https://www.ggafl.com/schedule.html\">on Tuesday nights in Oakland, Wednesdays in San Francisco and Thursdays in the South Bay.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Then, if you like the sport, you can come out for their metro league, where they split off participants into teams and compete in games.[aside postID=news_12040242 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/HENRY-COE-6-KQED-1020x765.jpg']The league also forms more competitive \u003ca href=\"https://www.ggafl.com/womens-league.html\">women’s\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.ggafl.com/mens-league.html\">men’s\u003c/a> teams to compete against other cities across the United States and Canada.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Although it is a sport that originated in Australia and it’s not super well known here in the United States, once you discover it, you realize it’s a pretty cool sport to play and also spectate,” Dawes said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Set up for success: \u003c/strong>If you decide to come out to a training, there’s no need to let anyone know — just show up. They will provide the footballs, and you can train in running shoes or cleats. Dawes said it may be smart to bring a mouthguard, because the sport does include a fair amount of contact.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But “it’s more incidental,” kind of like basketball, she said. Plus, they can modify the training or your participation depending on your comfort level.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re more comfortable knowing someone else on the field, bring a friend or reach out via \u003ca href=\"https://www.ggafl.com/contact-us.html\">GGAFL’s interest form\u003c/a> to get in touch with a member. And there’s no real commitment required, either.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We wanted to be as accessible as possible,” Dawes said. “People can drop in. If they want to stay for 10 minutes and leave, they can.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cost: \u003c/strong>There’s no cost to come out to training. If you decide to join the league more permanently, there are yearly dues that cost $80 to $100 per year for your first year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12042565\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/GettyImages-657595064-scaled-e1748986206492.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12042565\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/GettyImages-657595064-scaled-e1748986206492.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1298\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Scotland players sweep ahead of the stone during their play-off against Sweden at the Women’s Curling World Championships in Beijing on March 25, 2017. \u003ccite>(Photo by GREG BAKER / AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Curling\u003ca id=\"Curling\">\u003c/a> in Silicon Valley\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Did you know you can get out on the ice and \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXHh_wadqPw\">learn the sport of curling\u003c/a> any time of year right here in the Bay Area?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://siliconvalleycurling.com/\">Silicon Valley Curling Club\u003c/a> is \u003ca href=\"https://bayareacurling.com/\">one of a few\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://winecountrycurlingclub.com/\">local clubs\u003c/a> that offer \u003ca href=\"https://siliconvalleycurling.com/ltc/\">introductory courses\u003c/a> to the sport of curling at its San Jose and Fremont locations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Curling instructor Jeremy Malerich said the two-hour session starts with some basic skills, like how to slide with the stones, how to sweep and how to communicate with your teammates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“By the end of it, we want people to be able to play a game,” Malerich said. “And everybody plays their first game by the end of those two hours.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>From there, many curlers can jump straight into \u003ca href=\"https://siliconvalleycurling.com/svccleagues/\">playing in the local leagues,\u003c/a> which are seasonal and held once weekly on weekday nights in San Jose and weekends in Fremont. But if you \u003ca href=\"https://siliconvalleycurling.com/curl/\">want more time to get comfortable\u003c/a> before jumping into a league, the club also offers a second-level class, where the focus is more on balance and strategy.[aside postID=news_12041142 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/03/super-bloom_golden-poppy_wildflowers_person_california-qut-1020x680.jpg']Plus, SVCC periodically hosts “fun nights” where things are more fluid and anyone can come play — their members range from ages 13 to in their 70s and are of all abilities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s a game that you can play for the rest of your life,” he said, noting that curling can also be easily adapted to be \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iA27m26nuk8\">played from a wheelchair. \u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Malerich said inevitably, their intro sessions get \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/127024/wannabe-curlers-hurry-hard-to-bay-area-curling-club-clinics\">more popular around the Winter Olympics\u003c/a>, when the sport is being broadcast prominently on national TV. That’s also when they get the most beginners. But a dedicated curler can get good very quickly, he said, and nobody — even first-timers — ever looks too out of place on the ice. Plus, their social events are open to all, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s very traditional to go to the bar together with your opposition after you play,” Malerich said. “Not everybody drinks, but we do like to still hang out together for a bit.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Set up for success: \u003c/strong>Make sure you bring layers, because the rink can get cold, Malerich said. Otherwise, you just need athletic clothes and sneakers to get started — the club provides the rest of the equipment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Malerich said the club always makes sure to match new curlers with more experienced ones for their first season or two to help them develop and learn. During the rush of new players around the Olympics, almost all teams will be a blend of newer and more experienced players, he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cost: \u003c/strong>Each intro course costs $40 for the two-hour session. After that, you can choose to \u003ca href=\"https://siliconvalleycurling.com/membership/\">become a member\u003c/a> for an additional fee of $75 per year or \u003ca href=\"https://siliconvalleycurling.com/event/tuesday-summer-2025-san-jose-league-registration-open/\">join a league\u003c/a> for about $40 per game.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_10467054\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/03/club-logo-e1748986414993.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10467054\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/03/club-logo-e1748986414993.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1111\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Members of the Dolphin Club have been swimming and rowing in the cold waters of the San Francisco Bay for over a century. \u003ccite>(Anya Schultz/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Open water \u003ca id=\"Openwaterswimming\">\u003c/a>swimming in the San Francisco Bay\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Looking to get your feet wet in a slightly more extreme sport this summer? Try open water swimming in the Bay, and consider joining one of several local groups that host formal and informal swims every single week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Aquatic Park are the \u003ca href=\"https://dolphinclub.org/\">Dolphin Club\u003c/a> and the \u003ca href=\"https://serc.com/swimming\">South End Rowing Club\u003c/a>, where swimmers can be found every morning braving the cold water for an energizing workout. Local triathlon clubs like the \u003ca href=\"https://sftriclub.org/swim\">San Francisco Triathlon Club\u003c/a> and the \u003ca href=\"https://ggtc.org/swim\">Golden Gate Triathlon Club\u003c/a> also run supervised open water swims each week. Plus, a handful of other informal swims can usually be found at public beaches in Sausalito, Crissy Field and in the East Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sylvia Lacock, co-founder of \u003ca href=\"https://www.pacificswim.co/\">Pacific Open Water Swim Co.\u003c/a>, which runs guided swims in the Bay and in Lake Tahoe, said a sheltered area like Aquatic Park or Crane Cove are great places to get started if you’re new to the sport.\u003ca href=\"https://pacificswimco.substack.com/p/open-water-swimming-safety-guide\">[aside postID=news_11979339 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/GettyImages-1853812919_qut-1536x1024.jpg']Just make sure you take into account the wind\u003c/a>, currents and others who may be in your path, like \u003ca href=\"https://www.pacificswim.co/sea-lions-and-seal-risk-in-san-francisco-bay/\">marine life,\u003c/a> boaters or paddlers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lacock’s group also hosts the triathlon clubs’ new swimmer orientation, where they go over conditions, practice breathing in cold water and work on navigation — all skills important to get the hang of before your first open water swim.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s highly addictive,” Lacock said. “Some people who come out, they get in the water, and they’re like, ‘I want to do this every day.’”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Set up for success: \u003c/strong>It’s really important that you’re a confident pool swimmer before attempting open water swimming, Lacock said. Wearing goggles and a bright swim cap is recommended, as is a \u003ca href=\"https://shop.sportsbasement.com/products/safety-buoy?srsltid=AfmBOooCP59PozkO7TMJ8ouyaxQkKjEF3fJRQ0VvZSJvGOAdZeXKhmFJ\">tow float\u003c/a> that attaches to your waist and floats behind you, to keep you visible to boats and others in the water.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s your responsibility as a swimmer to also make sure that you are checking on their location and making yourself seen,” Lacock said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://pacificswimco.substack.com/p/whats-the-water-temp-a-swimmers-guide?open=false#%C2%A7do-you-need-a-wetsuit\">Many people also choose to wear wetsuits\u003c/a>, but if you go that route, make sure you get one that’s for swimming, Lacock said — or \u003ca href=\"https://shop.sportsbasement.com/pages/wetsuit-rental-rates?srsltid=AfmBOoo3SjqJgyq1wD6cWyI1neJmxbQ1LubJzn6jX5PSZwDDzSKBTENu\">rent one from Sports Basement\u003c/a> or other nearby retailers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lacock said it’s better to start with shorter times in the water, like 10 or 20 minutes for your first few swims to \u003ca href=\"https://www.pacificswim.co/sf-water-temps-for-swimming/\">get used to the cold \u003c/a>and the roughness of the water. If you can’t go with one of the groups, consider bringing a buddy so you can check in on one another.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You might feel really good right up until the point you don’t,” Lacock said. “And at that point, it may be too late.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cost: \u003c/strong>While swimming in the Bay is totally free, you might consider becoming a member of one of the local triathlon clubs for around $150 per year. The Dolphin Club and South End Rowing Club also each offer day use passes for $12 on alternating days, giving you access to their facilities for showers and lockers. To get professional instruction on open water swimming, \u003ca href=\"https://www.pacificswim.co/open-water-swim-clinics/\">Pacific Open Water Swim’s clinic is pricier\u003c/a>, at $150. If you decide the sport is for you, the group offers personalized events and courses to help you get from casual swimming to completing more difficult routes like swims to Alcatraz or to Angel Island and back.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Swing \u003ca id=\"Swingdancing\">\u003c/a>dancing in Golden Gate Park\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://lindyinthepark.com/\">Lindy in the Park,\u003c/a> the free dance session and lesson held each Sunday in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, is a completely free and open-to-all event to get your swing on.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It doesn’t matter if you’ve been dancing for years or never at all — from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday, a DJ, dance instructor and dozens of participants will be out on \u003ca href=\"https://lindyinthepark.com/faq/directions/\">JFK Drive between Eighth and 10th avenues\u003c/a> swinging to the beat. \u003ca href=\"https://lindyinthepark.com/about/free-lesson/\">The dance lesson\u003c/a>, held at noon each Sunday, is just a half hour and will work you up from basic footwork to learning the dance so you can feel confident jumping onto the dance floor. You don’t even have to bring a partner, co-founder and organizer, Kenneth Watanabe said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12042491\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 978px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/LINDY1-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12042491\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/LINDY1-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"978\" height=\"550\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/LINDY1-KQED.jpg 978w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/LINDY1-KQED-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/LINDY1-KQED-160x90.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 978px) 100vw, 978px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dancers practice the Lindy Hop in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco as part of “Lindy in the Park,” a free swing dance lesson offered every Sunday. \u003ccite>(Sentio Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“You can just show up by yourself and learn a few steps,” Watanabe said. “It’s a good way to try it out and see if you like it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Watanabe and co-founder Chad Kubo \u003ca href=\"https://lindyinthepark.com/about/\">created the group in 1996\u003c/a>, when swing was making a renaissance and the dancing scene in the Bay Area was growing quickly, he said. After someone suggested trying to organize an outside event, Watanabe sent out an email to the around 20 people he knew in the local Lindy Hop community at the time, “and then people just showed up.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“One of my friends brought a boombox and we all met at the bandshell and played CDs,” Watanabe said. “We thought it would be fun just to dance outside.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since then, the group has grown from a monthly to a weekly event to make it easier to attend — on its busiest days, more than 100 people will be out dancing. Watanabe said, apart from occasional disruptions like Bay to Breakers, assume the dancing is on.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Set up for success: \u003c/strong>All you need to get started is comfortable shoes, Watanabe said. Depending on the weather that day, bring layers, as the park can get cold and foggy. And don’t worry about tripping over your own feet: “It’s a really friendly crowd,” Watanabe said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkonZbTj2wE\">“It’s just a happy dance,”\u003c/a> he said. “You’re jumping around, you’re kicking, you’re moving. It is a way to express yourself, it’s a great way to meet people — and the music’s fun.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cost: \u003c/strong>Access to the park and the dance event is completely free.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCeDp_MY_h4G6VWj_-VPl-BJlQ3Uya2H0vxRZZd_47BpXwVA/viewform?embedded=true\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Check out fun things to do in the Bay Area! From archery to rock climbing to swing dancing, get active this weekend with these free or affordable activities.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Taking up a new sport or hobby can be tough on the wallet, especially popular ones here in the Bay Area, like \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12035335/bay-area-bike-shops-raging-trade-war-brings-uncertain-future\">cycling\u003c/a> or skiing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But not every outdoor activity has to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/forum/2010101909839/have-you-been-priced-out-of-a-hobby#:~:text=You've%20probably%20noticed%20that,personal%20fulfillment%20and%20community%20building.\">break the bank\u003c/a> or require \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11985235/sf-born-rock-climber-beth-rodden-shares-triumphs-traumas-in-new-memoir\">hundreds of hours of training \u003c/a>before you feel confident in your skills.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If your main goal is to get moving — and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11952701/finding-community-in-the-oakland-pickleball-scene\">maybe even to find an active community along the way\u003c/a> — this list of sports taught right here in the Bay Area might be for you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Plus, read on for a few keys to success (or at the very least fun and safety) from the teachers themselves and extra information about cost so you know exactly what you’re getting yourself into.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#Archery\">Archery\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#Indoorrockclimbing\">Indoor rock climbing\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#Australianfootball\">Australian football\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#Curling\">Curling\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#Openwaterswimming\">Open water swimming\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#Swingdancing\">Swing dancing\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12042489\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/SWIMMING1-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12042489\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/SWIMMING1-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2000\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/SWIMMING1-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/SWIMMING1-KQED-800x800.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/SWIMMING1-KQED-1020x1020.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/SWIMMING1-KQED-160x160.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/SWIMMING1-KQED-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/SWIMMING1-KQED-1920x1920.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Open water swimmers travel under the Golden Gate Bridge in the San Francisco Bay on Nov. 2, 2022. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of the Pacific Open Water Swim Co.)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Bay Area outdoor \u003ca id=\"Archery\">\u003c/a>archery range\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Shooting a bow and arrow might be something you’ve only ever seen on TV or in the movies, but “this isn’t the Olympics,” Bowhunters Unlimited President Debbie Golzen said. “Anyone can do it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.bhuarchers.org/\">Bowhunters Unlimited\u003c/a>, an all-volunteer group that operates out of \u003ca href=\"https://parks.santaclaracounty.gov/locations/stevens-creek-county-park\">Stevens Creek County Park\u003c/a> in Saratoga, offers beginner lessons, team-building activities, a practice range and a field range with around 30 targets along a 3-mile course to get in a full day of target practice.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During a lesson, participants learn the \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2-mqV2EV1c\">basics about archery equipment\u003c/a>, safety and shooting form from the training area, where the targets are set close to the shooter and have backstops so you don’t have to chase down your arrows too far, Golzen said. Plus, the lesson area is separated from the regular range so newcomers can take as much time as they need to set up, shoot and retrieve arrows.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“By the end of your lesson, you will feel confident to continue the sport at your leisure,” Golzen said. “Archery is so simple. If you can play catch with someone with a ball without making them chase that ball all over the place every time you throw it to them, you can shoot an arrow 10 yards.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Archery is an age-inclusive sport, too, Golzen said, with some of their oldest members in their 80s. The group attends tournaments that are open to anyone of any skill level, where participants, organized by age, gender and category of shooter, shoot at 3D foam targets that are shaped like animals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you make it through all those targets and try, that’s success,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Set up for success: \u003c/strong>Golzen recommends wearing close-toed shoes with some ankle support to the park, and to bring some water. To make shooting easier, wear close-fitted sleeves. All the coaches and the range itself are certified to keep everyone safe. As for gear, they have light bows and arrows available for those taking lessons.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you decide to continue pursuing the sport, Golzen recommends \u003ca href=\"https://www.archeryonly.com/\">Archery Only in Newark\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://predatorsarchery.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopFClLD6F0fYmpsVkrdwArqp-3W2wi1TsMnX5yOf44UUpMR677Z\">Predator’s Archery in Gilroy\u003c/a> or \u003ca href=\"https://www.pacificaarchery.com/\">Pacifica Archery in Daly City\u003c/a> to get fitted for and purchase a bow and arrows that are right for you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You can’t shoot someone else’s gear,” Golzen said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cost: \u003c/strong>There is no fee to use the range, but a $40 yearly membership helps support keeping it open for all. A lesson, \u003ca href=\"https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdAjeoJ8wkVh2zJidoF5rommyraCKjewY_X6EKNqo31rI1ysQ/viewform\">booked through a form\u003c/a> on their website, costs between $20 and $45, depending on how long you’d like and how many people are in your group.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12042488\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1875px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/ARCHERY1-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12042488\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/ARCHERY1-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1875\" height=\"1406\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/ARCHERY1-KQED.jpg 1875w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/ARCHERY1-KQED-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/ARCHERY1-KQED-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/ARCHERY1-KQED-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/ARCHERY1-KQED-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1875px) 100vw, 1875px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A quiver holds colorful arrows at Bowhunters Unlimited at Stevens Creek Archery Range in Saratoga, Calif., on Oct. 4, 2022. \u003ccite>(Courtesy of Debbie Golzen)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Free indoor \u003ca id=\"Indoorrockclimbing\">\u003c/a>rock climbing\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Ever considered joining a rock climbing gym, but it all just feels a little too intimidating?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Maybe you tried the sport once or twice as a kid at a birthday party or tagged along with a friend, but never took the leap yourself.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To get you started, \u003ca href=\"https://movementgyms.com/\">Movement Gyms’\u003c/a> San Francisco, Belmont, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale and Mountain View \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ7tZu6S5T0/\">locations offer periodic free-for-all days\u003c/a> for anyone interested in trying out the sport of indoor rock climbing. The days, which Bay Area district director Joey Luna said the gym hopes to offer a few times per year, include free gear rentals and lessons, and are tailored specifically toward beginners.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To help with that, on free days, the gyms are full of extra staff milling around to help participants get started, give pointers on form and answer any questions, he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re not able to make a free day in the future, \u003ca href=\"https://movementgyms.com/first-class-free/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Search+SanFrancisco&utm_content=153473390569&utm_term=movement%20gym&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20318686462&gbraid=0AAAAAoU9BBuQHJLN-4KZvbYNTd31aYI0Q&gclid=CjwKCAjwi-DBBhA5EiwAXOHsGRYldoGYY-wl0P8fRXNV87AhRALCAvIF38nRx2325o-BuGoLezV6uBoCg94QAvD_BwE\">Luna suggested coming out for one of their free introductory courses\u003c/a>, which are offered at each of their Bay Area locations.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp> You can sign up for intro bouldering, intro rope climbing or any of their other fitness or yoga classes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The sport of indoor rock climbing \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13969423/sports-dad-rock-climbing-bouldering-parenting\">can be extremely rewarding\u003c/a>, Luna said, especially as you begin to be able to complete routes and execute moves that previously felt impossible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It stokes the fire,” he said. “I was hooked after one climb.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The routes at the gym, Luna said, are set for a wide range of skill levels and heights, so everyone can find a way up the wall that’s comfortable for them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Set up for success: \u003c/strong>Luna suggested wearing clothing that’s easy to bend and stretch in for your first time on the wall. If you want to set yourself up for future sessions, consider choosing the intro to rope climbing course to learn how to belay for your friends and get your certification on your next visit, he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cost: \u003c/strong>The occasional open days are completely free, including rental gear, as is your first intro class at the gym. You can also sign up for \u003ca href=\"https://movementgyms.com/trial-membership/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Search+National&utm_content=153473390569&utm_term=movement%20gym&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20318686462&gbraid=0AAAAAoU9BBuQHJLN-4KZvbYNTd31aYI0Q&gclid=CjwKCAjwi-DBBhA5EiwAXOHsGRWxc2fxNO_civn1K4O4B2hQdzNJSuq-sxY6sDHI1Uj4QWL9njUb-BoCyjQQAvD_BwE\">two weeks of access to the gym \u003c/a>and rentals for $40 if you’re not ready to commit to a full membership.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Learn how to play \u003ca id=\"Australianfootball\">\u003c/a>Australian football in Oakland and San Francisco\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If team sports are more your speed, consider joining the \u003ca href=\"https://www.ggafl.com/\">Golden Gate Australian Football League.\u003c/a> The sport is much like other field sports, but “a bit more fast and free-flowing,” league President Loren Dawes said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think the best thing about \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_SqfNNfhmM\">Aussie rules\u003c/a> is that it’s like a real hybrid of a bunch of other sports,” Dawes said. “So it’s really easy if you’re athletic in any other sport like soccer, basketball, volleyball, ultimate frisbee or rugby. There’s elements in those games that are really going to translate well to Aussie rules.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dawes said the group is always looking for new players, and anyone is welcome to come to any of the three training sessions they host per week across the Bay Area — \u003ca href=\"https://www.ggafl.com/schedule.html\">on Tuesday nights in Oakland, Wednesdays in San Francisco and Thursdays in the South Bay.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Then, if you like the sport, you can come out for their metro league, where they split off participants into teams and compete in games.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The league also forms more competitive \u003ca href=\"https://www.ggafl.com/womens-league.html\">women’s\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.ggafl.com/mens-league.html\">men’s\u003c/a> teams to compete against other cities across the United States and Canada.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Although it is a sport that originated in Australia and it’s not super well known here in the United States, once you discover it, you realize it’s a pretty cool sport to play and also spectate,” Dawes said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Set up for success: \u003c/strong>If you decide to come out to a training, there’s no need to let anyone know — just show up. They will provide the footballs, and you can train in running shoes or cleats. Dawes said it may be smart to bring a mouthguard, because the sport does include a fair amount of contact.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But “it’s more incidental,” kind of like basketball, she said. Plus, they can modify the training or your participation depending on your comfort level.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re more comfortable knowing someone else on the field, bring a friend or reach out via \u003ca href=\"https://www.ggafl.com/contact-us.html\">GGAFL’s interest form\u003c/a> to get in touch with a member. And there’s no real commitment required, either.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We wanted to be as accessible as possible,” Dawes said. “People can drop in. If they want to stay for 10 minutes and leave, they can.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cost: \u003c/strong>There’s no cost to come out to training. If you decide to join the league more permanently, there are yearly dues that cost $80 to $100 per year for your first year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12042565\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/GettyImages-657595064-scaled-e1748986206492.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12042565\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/GettyImages-657595064-scaled-e1748986206492.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1298\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Scotland players sweep ahead of the stone during their play-off against Sweden at the Women’s Curling World Championships in Beijing on March 25, 2017. \u003ccite>(Photo by GREG BAKER / AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Curling\u003ca id=\"Curling\">\u003c/a> in Silicon Valley\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Did you know you can get out on the ice and \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXHh_wadqPw\">learn the sport of curling\u003c/a> any time of year right here in the Bay Area?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://siliconvalleycurling.com/\">Silicon Valley Curling Club\u003c/a> is \u003ca href=\"https://bayareacurling.com/\">one of a few\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://winecountrycurlingclub.com/\">local clubs\u003c/a> that offer \u003ca href=\"https://siliconvalleycurling.com/ltc/\">introductory courses\u003c/a> to the sport of curling at its San Jose and Fremont locations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Curling instructor Jeremy Malerich said the two-hour session starts with some basic skills, like how to slide with the stones, how to sweep and how to communicate with your teammates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“By the end of it, we want people to be able to play a game,” Malerich said. “And everybody plays their first game by the end of those two hours.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>From there, many curlers can jump straight into \u003ca href=\"https://siliconvalleycurling.com/svccleagues/\">playing in the local leagues,\u003c/a> which are seasonal and held once weekly on weekday nights in San Jose and weekends in Fremont. But if you \u003ca href=\"https://siliconvalleycurling.com/curl/\">want more time to get comfortable\u003c/a> before jumping into a league, the club also offers a second-level class, where the focus is more on balance and strategy.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Plus, SVCC periodically hosts “fun nights” where things are more fluid and anyone can come play — their members range from ages 13 to in their 70s and are of all abilities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s a game that you can play for the rest of your life,” he said, noting that curling can also be easily adapted to be \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iA27m26nuk8\">played from a wheelchair. \u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Malerich said inevitably, their intro sessions get \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/127024/wannabe-curlers-hurry-hard-to-bay-area-curling-club-clinics\">more popular around the Winter Olympics\u003c/a>, when the sport is being broadcast prominently on national TV. That’s also when they get the most beginners. But a dedicated curler can get good very quickly, he said, and nobody — even first-timers — ever looks too out of place on the ice. Plus, their social events are open to all, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s very traditional to go to the bar together with your opposition after you play,” Malerich said. “Not everybody drinks, but we do like to still hang out together for a bit.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Set up for success: \u003c/strong>Make sure you bring layers, because the rink can get cold, Malerich said. Otherwise, you just need athletic clothes and sneakers to get started — the club provides the rest of the equipment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Malerich said the club always makes sure to match new curlers with more experienced ones for their first season or two to help them develop and learn. During the rush of new players around the Olympics, almost all teams will be a blend of newer and more experienced players, he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cost: \u003c/strong>Each intro course costs $40 for the two-hour session. After that, you can choose to \u003ca href=\"https://siliconvalleycurling.com/membership/\">become a member\u003c/a> for an additional fee of $75 per year or \u003ca href=\"https://siliconvalleycurling.com/event/tuesday-summer-2025-san-jose-league-registration-open/\">join a league\u003c/a> for about $40 per game.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_10467054\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/03/club-logo-e1748986414993.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10467054\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2015/03/club-logo-e1748986414993.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1111\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Members of the Dolphin Club have been swimming and rowing in the cold waters of the San Francisco Bay for over a century. \u003ccite>(Anya Schultz/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>Open water \u003ca id=\"Openwaterswimming\">\u003c/a>swimming in the San Francisco Bay\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Looking to get your feet wet in a slightly more extreme sport this summer? Try open water swimming in the Bay, and consider joining one of several local groups that host formal and informal swims every single week.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Aquatic Park are the \u003ca href=\"https://dolphinclub.org/\">Dolphin Club\u003c/a> and the \u003ca href=\"https://serc.com/swimming\">South End Rowing Club\u003c/a>, where swimmers can be found every morning braving the cold water for an energizing workout. Local triathlon clubs like the \u003ca href=\"https://sftriclub.org/swim\">San Francisco Triathlon Club\u003c/a> and the \u003ca href=\"https://ggtc.org/swim\">Golden Gate Triathlon Club\u003c/a> also run supervised open water swims each week. Plus, a handful of other informal swims can usually be found at public beaches in Sausalito, Crissy Field and in the East Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sylvia Lacock, co-founder of \u003ca href=\"https://www.pacificswim.co/\">Pacific Open Water Swim Co.\u003c/a>, which runs guided swims in the Bay and in Lake Tahoe, said a sheltered area like Aquatic Park or Crane Cove are great places to get started if you’re new to the sport.\u003ca href=\"https://pacificswimco.substack.com/p/open-water-swimming-safety-guide\">\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Just make sure you take into account the wind\u003c/a>, currents and others who may be in your path, like \u003ca href=\"https://www.pacificswim.co/sea-lions-and-seal-risk-in-san-francisco-bay/\">marine life,\u003c/a> boaters or paddlers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lacock’s group also hosts the triathlon clubs’ new swimmer orientation, where they go over conditions, practice breathing in cold water and work on navigation — all skills important to get the hang of before your first open water swim.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s highly addictive,” Lacock said. “Some people who come out, they get in the water, and they’re like, ‘I want to do this every day.’”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Set up for success: \u003c/strong>It’s really important that you’re a confident pool swimmer before attempting open water swimming, Lacock said. Wearing goggles and a bright swim cap is recommended, as is a \u003ca href=\"https://shop.sportsbasement.com/products/safety-buoy?srsltid=AfmBOooCP59PozkO7TMJ8ouyaxQkKjEF3fJRQ0VvZSJvGOAdZeXKhmFJ\">tow float\u003c/a> that attaches to your waist and floats behind you, to keep you visible to boats and others in the water.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s your responsibility as a swimmer to also make sure that you are checking on their location and making yourself seen,” Lacock said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://pacificswimco.substack.com/p/whats-the-water-temp-a-swimmers-guide?open=false#%C2%A7do-you-need-a-wetsuit\">Many people also choose to wear wetsuits\u003c/a>, but if you go that route, make sure you get one that’s for swimming, Lacock said — or \u003ca href=\"https://shop.sportsbasement.com/pages/wetsuit-rental-rates?srsltid=AfmBOoo3SjqJgyq1wD6cWyI1neJmxbQ1LubJzn6jX5PSZwDDzSKBTENu\">rent one from Sports Basement\u003c/a> or other nearby retailers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lacock said it’s better to start with shorter times in the water, like 10 or 20 minutes for your first few swims to \u003ca href=\"https://www.pacificswim.co/sf-water-temps-for-swimming/\">get used to the cold \u003c/a>and the roughness of the water. If you can’t go with one of the groups, consider bringing a buddy so you can check in on one another.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You might feel really good right up until the point you don’t,” Lacock said. “And at that point, it may be too late.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cost: \u003c/strong>While swimming in the Bay is totally free, you might consider becoming a member of one of the local triathlon clubs for around $150 per year. The Dolphin Club and South End Rowing Club also each offer day use passes for $12 on alternating days, giving you access to their facilities for showers and lockers. To get professional instruction on open water swimming, \u003ca href=\"https://www.pacificswim.co/open-water-swim-clinics/\">Pacific Open Water Swim’s clinic is pricier\u003c/a>, at $150. If you decide the sport is for you, the group offers personalized events and courses to help you get from casual swimming to completing more difficult routes like swims to Alcatraz or to Angel Island and back.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Swing \u003ca id=\"Swingdancing\">\u003c/a>dancing in Golden Gate Park\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://lindyinthepark.com/\">Lindy in the Park,\u003c/a> the free dance session and lesson held each Sunday in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, is a completely free and open-to-all event to get your swing on.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It doesn’t matter if you’ve been dancing for years or never at all — from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday, a DJ, dance instructor and dozens of participants will be out on \u003ca href=\"https://lindyinthepark.com/faq/directions/\">JFK Drive between Eighth and 10th avenues\u003c/a> swinging to the beat. \u003ca href=\"https://lindyinthepark.com/about/free-lesson/\">The dance lesson\u003c/a>, held at noon each Sunday, is just a half hour and will work you up from basic footwork to learning the dance so you can feel confident jumping onto the dance floor. You don’t even have to bring a partner, co-founder and organizer, Kenneth Watanabe said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12042491\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 978px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/LINDY1-KQED.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12042491\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/LINDY1-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"978\" height=\"550\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/LINDY1-KQED.jpg 978w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/LINDY1-KQED-800x450.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/LINDY1-KQED-160x90.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 978px) 100vw, 978px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dancers practice the Lindy Hop in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco as part of “Lindy in the Park,” a free swing dance lesson offered every Sunday. \u003ccite>(Sentio Photo)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“You can just show up by yourself and learn a few steps,” Watanabe said. “It’s a good way to try it out and see if you like it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Watanabe and co-founder Chad Kubo \u003ca href=\"https://lindyinthepark.com/about/\">created the group in 1996\u003c/a>, when swing was making a renaissance and the dancing scene in the Bay Area was growing quickly, he said. After someone suggested trying to organize an outside event, Watanabe sent out an email to the around 20 people he knew in the local Lindy Hop community at the time, “and then people just showed up.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“One of my friends brought a boombox and we all met at the bandshell and played CDs,” Watanabe said. “We thought it would be fun just to dance outside.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since then, the group has grown from a monthly to a weekly event to make it easier to attend — on its busiest days, more than 100 people will be out dancing. Watanabe said, apart from occasional disruptions like Bay to Breakers, assume the dancing is on.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Set up for success: \u003c/strong>All you need to get started is comfortable shoes, Watanabe said. Depending on the weather that day, bring layers, as the park can get cold and foggy. And don’t worry about tripping over your own feet: “It’s a really friendly crowd,” Watanabe said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkonZbTj2wE\">“It’s just a happy dance,”\u003c/a> he said. “You’re jumping around, you’re kicking, you’re moving. It is a way to express yourself, it’s a great way to meet people — and the music’s fun.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Cost: \u003c/strong>Access to the park and the dance event is completely free.\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cdiv class='utils-parseShortcode-shortcodes-__shortcodes__shortcodeWrapper'>\n \u003ciframe\n src='https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCeDp_MY_h4G6VWj_-VPl-BJlQ3Uya2H0vxRZZd_47BpXwVA/viewform?embedded=true?embedded=true'\n title='https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeCeDp_MY_h4G6VWj_-VPl-BJlQ3Uya2H0vxRZZd_47BpXwVA/viewform?embedded=true'\n width='760' height='500'\n frameborder='0'\n marginheight='0' marginwidth='0'>\u003c/iframe>\u003c/div>\u003c/p>\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "trans-athlete-shines-in-california-high-school-track-finals-ignites-amid-policy-debate",
"title": "Trans Athlete Shines in California High School Track Finals Amid Policy Debate",
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"headTitle": "Trans Athlete Shines in California High School Track Finals Amid Policy Debate | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>A transgender athlete bested the competition Saturday at the California high school track and field championship to take home gold in the girls high jump and the triple jump at a meet that has stirred controversy and drawn national attention.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>AB Hernandez competed under a new rule change that may be the first of its kind nationally by a high school sports governing body. California’s governing body changed the rules ahead of the meet to allow more girls to compete and medal in events in which Hernandez competed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hernandez finished the high jump with a mark of 5 feet, 7 inches, with no failed attempts. Co-winners Jillene Wetteland and Lelani Laruelle also cleared that height after each logged a failed attempt. The three shared the first-place win, smiling as they stepped together onto the podium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hernandez wrapped up the night with a first place finish in the triple jump, sharing the top spot with Kira Gant Hatcher who trailed by just over a half-meter. Earlier in the afternoon, Hernandez placed second in the long jump.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Olympians Marion Jones and Tara Davis-Woodhall previously set state championship records in the long jump in 1993 and 2017, respectively, both surpassing 22 feet. This year’s winner, Loren Webster, topped 21 feet, with Hernandez trailing by a few inches.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The California Interscholastic Federation announced the new policy earlier this week in response to Hernandez’s success heading into the championships. Under the policy, the federation allowed \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/california-transgender-athletes-state-championship-girls-f91965a7fa6d2f9dff19896af29f6b89\">an additional student to compete\u003c/a> and medal in the events where Hernandez qualified.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The two-day championship kicked off Friday in sweltering heat at a high school near Fresno. Temperatures reached the triple digits during Saturday’s finals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12042355\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/AP25152105209919-scaled.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12042355\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/AP25152105209919-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"A young person in a track and field uniform jumps over a bar.\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/AP25152105209919-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/AP25152105209919-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/AP25152105209919-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/AP25152105209919-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/AP25152105209919-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/AP25152105209919-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/AP25152105209919-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">AB Hernandez, a transgender student at Jurupa Valley High School, competes in the high jump at the California high school track-and-field championships in Clovis, Saturday, May 31, 2025. \u003ccite>(Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The atmosphere was relatively quiet despite critics — including parents, conservative activists and President Donald Trump — calling for Hernandez to be barred from competing. Some critics wore pink bracelets and T-shirts that read, “Save Girls’ Sports.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During Friday’s qualifying events, an aircraft circled above the stadium for more than an hour with a banner: “No Boys in Girls’ Sports!” Two groups that oppose transgender athletes participating in women’s sports — the Independent Council on Women’s Sports and Women Are Real — took credit for flying the banner.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>California at center of national debate\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The federation’s rule change reflected efforts to find a middle ground in the debate over trans girls’ participation in youth sports.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The CIF values all of our student-athletes and we will continue to uphold our mission of providing students with the opportunity to belong, connect, and compete while complying with California law,” the group said in a statement after announcing its rule change.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://apnorc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/may-W2-2025-topline-.pdf\">recent AP-NORC poll\u003c/a> found that about 7 in 10 U.S. adults think transgender female athletes should not be allowed to participate in girls and women’s sports at the high school, college or professional level. That view was shared by about 9 in 10 Republicans and roughly half of Democrats.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The federation announced the change after Trump threatened to pull federal funding from California unless it \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-transgender-athletes-3606411fc12efffec95a893351624e1b\">bars trans female athletes\u003c/a> from competing on girls teams. The federation said it decided on the change before then.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The U.S. Department of Justice also said it would investigate the federation and the district that includes Hernandez’s high school to determine whether they violated federal sex discrimination law. [aside postID=\"news_12029289,news_12041770,news_12026189\" label=\"Related Stories\"]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California law allows trans students to compete on sex-segregated sports teams consistent with their gender identity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The federation said the rule opens the field to more “biological female” athletes. One expert said the change may itself be discriminatory because it creates an extra spot for “biological female” athletes but not for other trans athletes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The federation did not specify how it defines “biological female” or how it would verify whether a competitor meets that definition.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sophia Lorey, outreach director with California Family Council, was among those at the stadium Saturday. She said the federation’s policy is not a fix for the issue and only ends up causing more confusion.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“At the end of the day,” Lorey said, “it shows the girls that we know this is wrong and we’re still letting it happen to you.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hernandez \u003ca href=\"https://capitalandmain.com/a-league-of-her-own-transgender-athlete-ab-hernandez-faces-down-hecklers\">told the publication Capital & Main\u003c/a> this month that she cannot worry about critics.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m still a child, you’re an adult, and for you to act like a child shows how you are as a person,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Other students break records\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>California’s championship stands out from that of other states because of the sheer number of competitors. The state had the second-largest number of students participating in outdoor track and field in the nation during the 2023-2024 school year, behind Texas, according to a survey by the National Federation of State High School Associations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The boys 100-meter heats also were a highlight, with junior Jaden Jefferson of De La Salle High School in Concord finishing in 10.01 seconds Friday, 0.19 seconds faster than a meet record set in 2023. But he fell just shy of making it count as a meet record with a final time of 10.27 seconds in Saturday’s final.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Athletes set new meet records in several events, including boys and girls relay races, hurdle competitions and the boys pole vault.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Associated Press writer Susan Montoya Bryan in Albuquerque, New Mexico, contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>A transgender athlete bested the competition Saturday at the California high school track and field championship to take home gold in the girls high jump and the triple jump at a meet that has stirred controversy and drawn national attention.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>AB Hernandez competed under a new rule change that may be the first of its kind nationally by a high school sports governing body. California’s governing body changed the rules ahead of the meet to allow more girls to compete and medal in events in which Hernandez competed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hernandez finished the high jump with a mark of 5 feet, 7 inches, with no failed attempts. Co-winners Jillene Wetteland and Lelani Laruelle also cleared that height after each logged a failed attempt. The three shared the first-place win, smiling as they stepped together onto the podium.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hernandez wrapped up the night with a first place finish in the triple jump, sharing the top spot with Kira Gant Hatcher who trailed by just over a half-meter. Earlier in the afternoon, Hernandez placed second in the long jump.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Olympians Marion Jones and Tara Davis-Woodhall previously set state championship records in the long jump in 1993 and 2017, respectively, both surpassing 22 feet. This year’s winner, Loren Webster, topped 21 feet, with Hernandez trailing by a few inches.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The California Interscholastic Federation announced the new policy earlier this week in response to Hernandez’s success heading into the championships. Under the policy, the federation allowed \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/california-transgender-athletes-state-championship-girls-f91965a7fa6d2f9dff19896af29f6b89\">an additional student to compete\u003c/a> and medal in the events where Hernandez qualified.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The two-day championship kicked off Friday in sweltering heat at a high school near Fresno. Temperatures reached the triple digits during Saturday’s finals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12042355\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003ca href=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/AP25152105209919-scaled.jpg\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12042355\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/AP25152105209919-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"A young person in a track and field uniform jumps over a bar.\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/AP25152105209919-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/AP25152105209919-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/AP25152105209919-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/AP25152105209919-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/AP25152105209919-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/AP25152105209919-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/AP25152105209919-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">AB Hernandez, a transgender student at Jurupa Valley High School, competes in the high jump at the California high school track-and-field championships in Clovis, Saturday, May 31, 2025. \u003ccite>(Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The atmosphere was relatively quiet despite critics — including parents, conservative activists and President Donald Trump — calling for Hernandez to be barred from competing. Some critics wore pink bracelets and T-shirts that read, “Save Girls’ Sports.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During Friday’s qualifying events, an aircraft circled above the stadium for more than an hour with a banner: “No Boys in Girls’ Sports!” Two groups that oppose transgender athletes participating in women’s sports — the Independent Council on Women’s Sports and Women Are Real — took credit for flying the banner.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>California at center of national debate\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The federation’s rule change reflected efforts to find a middle ground in the debate over trans girls’ participation in youth sports.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The CIF values all of our student-athletes and we will continue to uphold our mission of providing students with the opportunity to belong, connect, and compete while complying with California law,” the group said in a statement after announcing its rule change.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://apnorc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/may-W2-2025-topline-.pdf\">recent AP-NORC poll\u003c/a> found that about 7 in 10 U.S. adults think transgender female athletes should not be allowed to participate in girls and women’s sports at the high school, college or professional level. That view was shared by about 9 in 10 Republicans and roughly half of Democrats.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The federation announced the change after Trump threatened to pull federal funding from California unless it \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-transgender-athletes-3606411fc12efffec95a893351624e1b\">bars trans female athletes\u003c/a> from competing on girls teams. The federation said it decided on the change before then.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The U.S. Department of Justice also said it would investigate the federation and the district that includes Hernandez’s high school to determine whether they violated federal sex discrimination law. \u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California law allows trans students to compete on sex-segregated sports teams consistent with their gender identity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The federation said the rule opens the field to more “biological female” athletes. One expert said the change may itself be discriminatory because it creates an extra spot for “biological female” athletes but not for other trans athletes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The federation did not specify how it defines “biological female” or how it would verify whether a competitor meets that definition.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Sophia Lorey, outreach director with California Family Council, was among those at the stadium Saturday. She said the federation’s policy is not a fix for the issue and only ends up causing more confusion.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“At the end of the day,” Lorey said, “it shows the girls that we know this is wrong and we’re still letting it happen to you.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hernandez \u003ca href=\"https://capitalandmain.com/a-league-of-her-own-transgender-athlete-ab-hernandez-faces-down-hecklers\">told the publication Capital & Main\u003c/a> this month that she cannot worry about critics.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m still a child, you’re an adult, and for you to act like a child shows how you are as a person,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Other students break records\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>California’s championship stands out from that of other states because of the sheer number of competitors. The state had the second-largest number of students participating in outdoor track and field in the nation during the 2023-2024 school year, behind Texas, according to a survey by the National Federation of State High School Associations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The boys 100-meter heats also were a highlight, with junior Jaden Jefferson of De La Salle High School in Concord finishing in 10.01 seconds Friday, 0.19 seconds faster than a meet record set in 2023. But he fell just shy of making it count as a meet record with a final time of 10.27 seconds in Saturday’s final.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Athletes set new meet records in several events, including boys and girls relay races, hurdle competitions and the boys pole vault.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Associated Press writer Susan Montoya Bryan in Albuquerque, New Mexico, contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>CLOVIS, Calif. — A transgender teen will compete in the California high school track-and-field finals on Saturday, one day after advancing in the competition as a protest plane circled about the meet that has drawn national attention, including criticism from President Donald Trump.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The trans student who on Friday advanced in the girls high jump, long jump and triple jump will be in the finals Saturday, competing under a new rule change that may be the first of its kind nationally by a high school sports governing body.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The California Interscholastic Federation announced the new policy earlier this week in response to the trans athlete’s success. According to the policy, the federation will \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/california-transgender-athletes-state-championship-girls-f91965a7fa6d2f9dff19896af29f6b89\">let an additional student compete\u003c/a> and medal in the events where a trans athlete qualified.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The two-day championship kicked off in the sweltering heat at high school near Fresno. The atmosphere was relatively quiet Friday despite critics — including parents, conservative activists and Trump — calling for the athlete to be barred from girls competition leading up to the meet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There was some pushback Friday. A group of fewer than 10 people gathered outside the stadium ahead of the meet to protest. Some of them wore “Save Girls’ Sports” T-shirts. At one point as the athlete was attempting a high jump, someone in the stands yelled an insult.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID=news_12041770 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/TrumpTransAthletesGetty-1020x638.jpg']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>An aircraft circled above the stadium for more than an hour during the events, carrying a banner that read, “No Boys in Girls’ Sports!” Two groups, the Independent Council on Women’s Sports and Women Are Real, that oppose transgender athletes participating in women’s sports took credit for flying the banner.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Separately, one person was arrested outside the competition on Friday after getting in a confrontation with another protester that turned physical, according to the Clovis Police Department.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>California at center of national debate\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The federation’s rule change reflects efforts to find a middle ground in the debate over trans girls’ participation in youth sports.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The CIF values all of our student-athletes and we will continue to uphold our mission of providing students with the opportunity to belong, connect, and compete while complying with California law,” the group said in a statement after announcing its rule change.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://apnorc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/may-W2-2025-topline-.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">recent AP-NORC poll\u003c/a> found that about 7 in 10 U.S. adults think transgender female athletes should not be allowed to participate in girls and women’s sports at the high school, college or professional level. That view was shared by about 9 in 10 Republicans and roughly half of Democrats.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12042332\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1024px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12042332\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/GettyImages-2217942917.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/GettyImages-2217942917.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/GettyImages-2217942917-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/GettyImages-2217942917-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/GettyImages-2217942917-160x107.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">People hold Save Girls Sports signs in protest of a transgender athlete of Jurupa Valley (not pictured) during the CIF State Track and Field Championships at Veterans Memorial Stadium on May 30, 2025 in Clovis, Fresno County. \u003ccite>(Kirby Lee/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The federation announced the rule change after Trump threatened this week to pull federal funding from California unless it \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-transgender-athletes-3606411fc12efffec95a893351624e1b\">bars trans female athletes\u003c/a> from competing on girls teams. The federation said it decided on the change before then.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The U.S. Department of Justice also said it would investigate the state federation and the district that includes the trans athlete’s high school to determine whether they violated federal sex discrimination law by allowing trans girls to compete in girls sports.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some California Republicans also weighed in, with several state lawmakers attending a news conference to criticize the federation for keeping the athlete in the competition and a Republican gubernatorial candidate planning to attend Saturday’s finals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California law allows trans students to compete on sex-segregated sports teams consistent with their gender identity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The federation said the rule would open the field to more “biological female” athletes. One expert said the change may itself be discriminatory because it creates an extra spot for “biological female” athletes but not for other trans athletes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The federation did not specify how they define “biological female” or how they would verify whether a competitor meets that definition.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Another student breaks a record\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>California’s state championship stands out from that of other states because of the number of competitors athletes are up against to qualify. The state had the second-largest number of students participating in outdoor track and field in the nation during the 2023–2024 school year, behind Texas, according to a survey by the National Federation of State High School Associations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Olympians Marion Jones and Tara Davis-Woodhall previously set state championship records in the long jump in 1993 and 2017, respectively, both surpassing 22 feet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The boys 100-meter dash heats were also a highlight Friday. Junior Jaden Jefferson of De La Salle High School in Concord finished in 10.01 seconds, about 0.2 seconds faster than a meet record set in 2023. Jefferson’s time won’t count as a record unless he can replicate his results in the final.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story has been edited to remove the name of the transgender athlete, who is a minor.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>An aircraft circled above the stadium for more than an hour during the events, carrying a banner that read, “No Boys in Girls’ Sports!” Two groups, the Independent Council on Women’s Sports and Women Are Real, that oppose transgender athletes participating in women’s sports took credit for flying the banner.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Separately, one person was arrested outside the competition on Friday after getting in a confrontation with another protester that turned physical, according to the Clovis Police Department.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>California at center of national debate\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The federation’s rule change reflects efforts to find a middle ground in the debate over trans girls’ participation in youth sports.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The CIF values all of our student-athletes and we will continue to uphold our mission of providing students with the opportunity to belong, connect, and compete while complying with California law,” the group said in a statement after announcing its rule change.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A \u003ca href=\"https://apnorc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/may-W2-2025-topline-.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">recent AP-NORC poll\u003c/a> found that about 7 in 10 U.S. adults think transgender female athletes should not be allowed to participate in girls and women’s sports at the high school, college or professional level. That view was shared by about 9 in 10 Republicans and roughly half of Democrats.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12042332\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1024px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12042332\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/GettyImages-2217942917.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/GettyImages-2217942917.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/GettyImages-2217942917-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/GettyImages-2217942917-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/GettyImages-2217942917-160x107.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">People hold Save Girls Sports signs in protest of a transgender athlete of Jurupa Valley (not pictured) during the CIF State Track and Field Championships at Veterans Memorial Stadium on May 30, 2025 in Clovis, Fresno County. \u003ccite>(Kirby Lee/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The federation announced the rule change after Trump threatened this week to pull federal funding from California unless it \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-transgender-athletes-3606411fc12efffec95a893351624e1b\">bars trans female athletes\u003c/a> from competing on girls teams. The federation said it decided on the change before then.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The U.S. Department of Justice also said it would investigate the state federation and the district that includes the trans athlete’s high school to determine whether they violated federal sex discrimination law by allowing trans girls to compete in girls sports.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some California Republicans also weighed in, with several state lawmakers attending a news conference to criticize the federation for keeping the athlete in the competition and a Republican gubernatorial candidate planning to attend Saturday’s finals.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California law allows trans students to compete on sex-segregated sports teams consistent with their gender identity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The federation said the rule would open the field to more “biological female” athletes. One expert said the change may itself be discriminatory because it creates an extra spot for “biological female” athletes but not for other trans athletes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The federation did not specify how they define “biological female” or how they would verify whether a competitor meets that definition.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Another student breaks a record\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>California’s state championship stands out from that of other states because of the number of competitors athletes are up against to qualify. The state had the second-largest number of students participating in outdoor track and field in the nation during the 2023–2024 school year, behind Texas, according to a survey by the National Federation of State High School Associations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Olympians Marion Jones and Tara Davis-Woodhall previously set state championship records in the long jump in 1993 and 2017, respectively, both surpassing 22 feet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The boys 100-meter dash heats were also a highlight Friday. Junior Jaden Jefferson of De La Salle High School in Concord finished in 10.01 seconds, about 0.2 seconds faster than a meet record set in 2023. Jefferson’s time won’t count as a record unless he can replicate his results in the final.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story has been edited to remove the name of the transgender athlete, who is a minor.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>After social media threats from \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/donald-trump\">President Trump\u003c/a>, California’s high school sports governing body said it will allow cisgender female track athletes who lost their qualifying positions to transgender competitors to still be able to compete in an upcoming state championship.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The California Interscholastic Federation announced the change on Tuesday, just hours after Trump posted on social media that he would withhold billions of dollars in federal education funds from the state if officials didn’t block a transgender female athlete from competing at the State Track and Field Championships in Clovis next weekend.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The CIF believes this pilot entry process achieves the participation opportunities we seek to afford our student-athletes,” the group said in a statement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>CIF had adopted its new policy before Trump issued his threat, according to Izzy Gardon, a spokesperson for the governor’s office. It’s unclear how many athletes will be affected by the rule change.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Trump appeared to be targeting a transgender high school athlete from Riverside County who recently won regional competitions in long jump and triple jump, \u003ca href=\"https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/27/newsom-transgender-athlete-00371572\">Politico reported\u003c/a>. The president accused the athlete of being a “less than average competitor” as a male, but “practically unbeatable” as a female.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12023131\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12023131\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/DonaldTrumpInaugurationAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/DonaldTrumpInaugurationAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/DonaldTrumpInaugurationAP-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/DonaldTrumpInaugurationAP-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/DonaldTrumpInaugurationAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/DonaldTrumpInaugurationAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/DonaldTrumpInaugurationAP-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">President Donald Trump speaks during the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. \u003ccite>(Chip Somodevilla/Pool Photo via AP)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“THIS IS NOT FAIR, AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS. Please be hereby advised that large-scale Federal Funding will be held back, maybe permanently, if the Executive Order on this subject matter is not adhered to,” he continued, referring to his \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/keeping-men-out-of-womens-sports/\">February order\u003c/a> that “rescinds all funds from educational programs that deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Democratic state Sen. Scott Wiener of San Francisco lambasted the president’s statement, calling the threat illegal and urging California to challenge it in court if necessary.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Unfortunately, this is just another chapter in Donald Trump’s war on transgender people,” he told KQED. “It’s just outrageous. He needs to let California manage our own sports programs and stop it with these attacks.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The president “could care less about girls and women’s sports,” Wiener said. “What he does care about is attacking trans people and dehumanizing them.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Under a \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/california-divide/2025/04/transgender-athletes-inland-empire/\">2013 California law\u003c/a>, public schools are required to let students participate in all school activities and sports teams that match their gender identity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gov. Gavin Newsom, who in March \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/03/newsom-transgender-athletes/\">stoked controversy\u003c/a> for saying he \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12030376/newsom-splits-with-democrats-on-trans-athletes-in-sports\">thinks it’s “deeply unfair”\u003c/a> for transgender athletes to compete in girls’ sports events, appeared to support the federation’s rule change.[aside postID=news_12029289 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/StanfordAthleticsGetty-1020x680.jpg']“CIF’s proposed pilot is a reasonable, respectful way to navigate a complex issue without compromising competitive fairness — a model worth pursuing,” Gardon said in a statement. “The governor is encouraged by this thoughtful approach.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Trump’s salvo on Tuesday marked his latest threat against a state or institution over its efforts to be more inclusive of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12035999/with-trans-athletes-under-attack-what-does-fairness-look-like\">transgender athletes\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Both \u003ca href=\"https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-politics-and-policy/trump-administration-settles-maine-funding-freeze-dispute-trans-athlet-rcna204541\">Maine\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/22/us/minnesota-trump-transgender-athletes.html\">Minnesota\u003c/a>, in recent months, have successfully sued the administration to stop it from suspending federal education funding because of such policies. And in March, the White House \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/03/20/nx-s1-5333675/university-pennsylvania-upenn-trump-suspends-funding-trans-student-athletes\">announced it was freezing \u003c/a>$175 million of federal funding to the University of Pennsylvania — the president’s alma mater — over the school’s policies on transgender athletes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wiener said states under attack from the administration need to hold the line on this and a host of other issues in what he called a larger fight against “fascism.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“What Trump is doing is illegal,” he said. “Trump is not the king. He doesn’t get to make up the law, and he does not have the authority to revoke this funding.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since taking office in January, Trump has repeatedly targeted California over its policies aimed at protecting certain groups of marginalized young people, including transgender and undocumented students, whom the administration has disparaged.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This is how bullies operate, Wiener said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They demand things … and they tell you if you don’t do what they demand, they are going to take your lunch money,” he said. “So, at some point, as a state, you have to draw the line and say ‘No.’ That’s the response to bullies.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/sgonzalez\">\u003cem>Saul Gonzalez\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>After social media threats from \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/donald-trump\">President Trump\u003c/a>, California’s high school sports governing body said it will allow cisgender female track athletes who lost their qualifying positions to transgender competitors to still be able to compete in an upcoming state championship.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The California Interscholastic Federation announced the change on Tuesday, just hours after Trump posted on social media that he would withhold billions of dollars in federal education funds from the state if officials didn’t block a transgender female athlete from competing at the State Track and Field Championships in Clovis next weekend.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The CIF believes this pilot entry process achieves the participation opportunities we seek to afford our student-athletes,” the group said in a statement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>CIF had adopted its new policy before Trump issued his threat, according to Izzy Gardon, a spokesperson for the governor’s office. It’s unclear how many athletes will be affected by the rule change.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Trump appeared to be targeting a transgender high school athlete from Riverside County who recently won regional competitions in long jump and triple jump, \u003ca href=\"https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/27/newsom-transgender-athlete-00371572\">Politico reported\u003c/a>. The president accused the athlete of being a “less than average competitor” as a male, but “practically unbeatable” as a female.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12023131\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12023131\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/DonaldTrumpInaugurationAP.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/DonaldTrumpInaugurationAP.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/DonaldTrumpInaugurationAP-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/DonaldTrumpInaugurationAP-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/DonaldTrumpInaugurationAP-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/DonaldTrumpInaugurationAP-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/DonaldTrumpInaugurationAP-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">President Donald Trump speaks during the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. \u003ccite>(Chip Somodevilla/Pool Photo via AP)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“THIS IS NOT FAIR, AND TOTALLY DEMEANING TO WOMEN AND GIRLS. Please be hereby advised that large-scale Federal Funding will be held back, maybe permanently, if the Executive Order on this subject matter is not adhered to,” he continued, referring to his \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/keeping-men-out-of-womens-sports/\">February order\u003c/a> that “rescinds all funds from educational programs that deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Democratic state Sen. Scott Wiener of San Francisco lambasted the president’s statement, calling the threat illegal and urging California to challenge it in court if necessary.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Unfortunately, this is just another chapter in Donald Trump’s war on transgender people,” he told KQED. “It’s just outrageous. He needs to let California manage our own sports programs and stop it with these attacks.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The president “could care less about girls and women’s sports,” Wiener said. “What he does care about is attacking trans people and dehumanizing them.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Under a \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/california-divide/2025/04/transgender-athletes-inland-empire/\">2013 California law\u003c/a>, public schools are required to let students participate in all school activities and sports teams that match their gender identity.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gov. Gavin Newsom, who in March \u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/03/newsom-transgender-athletes/\">stoked controversy\u003c/a> for saying he \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12030376/newsom-splits-with-democrats-on-trans-athletes-in-sports\">thinks it’s “deeply unfair”\u003c/a> for transgender athletes to compete in girls’ sports events, appeared to support the federation’s rule change.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“CIF’s proposed pilot is a reasonable, respectful way to navigate a complex issue without compromising competitive fairness — a model worth pursuing,” Gardon said in a statement. “The governor is encouraged by this thoughtful approach.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Trump’s salvo on Tuesday marked his latest threat against a state or institution over its efforts to be more inclusive of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12035999/with-trans-athletes-under-attack-what-does-fairness-look-like\">transgender athletes\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Both \u003ca href=\"https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-politics-and-policy/trump-administration-settles-maine-funding-freeze-dispute-trans-athlet-rcna204541\">Maine\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/22/us/minnesota-trump-transgender-athletes.html\">Minnesota\u003c/a>, in recent months, have successfully sued the administration to stop it from suspending federal education funding because of such policies. And in March, the White House \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/03/20/nx-s1-5333675/university-pennsylvania-upenn-trump-suspends-funding-trans-student-athletes\">announced it was freezing \u003c/a>$175 million of federal funding to the University of Pennsylvania — the president’s alma mater — over the school’s policies on transgender athletes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wiener said states under attack from the administration need to hold the line on this and a host of other issues in what he called a larger fight against “fascism.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“What Trump is doing is illegal,” he said. “Trump is not the king. He doesn’t get to make up the law, and he does not have the authority to revoke this funding.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since taking office in January, Trump has repeatedly targeted California over its policies aimed at protecting certain groups of marginalized young people, including transgender and undocumented students, whom the administration has disparaged.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This is how bullies operate, Wiener said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They demand things … and they tell you if you don’t do what they demand, they are going to take your lunch money,” he said. “So, at some point, as a state, you have to draw the line and say ‘No.’ That’s the response to bullies.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/sgonzalez\">\u003cem>Saul Gonzalez\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003cem> contributed to this report.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>The Bay Area’s brand new WNBA team, the Golden State Valkyries, made history Friday with the second-largest crowd — a roaring 18,064 fans — of any team in their debut game.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the Chase Center, purple, or rather Valkyries violet, took over the regular blue and gold for the team’s home opener Friday night against the Los Angeles Sparks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040674\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040674\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-22_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-22_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-22_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-22_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-22_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-22_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-22_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Golden State Valkyries are introduced for their home opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at Chase Center on May 16, 2025.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040703\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040703\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"833\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-5.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-5-800x267.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-5-1020x340.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-5-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-5-1536x512.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-5-2048x682.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-5-1920x640.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton (22) and Los Angeles Sparks forward Rickea Jackson (2) tip-off during the 1st quarter (left), and a fan holds a Valkyries flag (right) at the Valkyries’ home opener. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Forward Kayla Thornton, formerly of the New York Liberty, recorded the first points in the game and the first points in franchise history with a 2 at the 9:36 mark.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For much of the game, it looked like the team might actually write a win in the record books for their first game, but the Valkyries gave the ball away 22 times, which led to 25 Sparks points from turnovers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040679\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040679\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-80_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-80_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-80_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-80_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-80_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-80_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-80_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Golden State Valkyries center Temi Fágbénlé (14) makes a basket during the first quarter. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040705\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040705\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-6.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"833\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-6.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-6-800x267.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-6-1020x340.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-6-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-6-1536x512.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-6-2048x682.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-6-1920x640.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Golden State Valkyries play against the Los Angeles Sparks as fans cheer them on. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040680\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040680\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-47_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-47_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-47_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-47_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-47_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-47_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-47_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans cheer as the Golden State Valkyries score. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The star of the night was guard Julie Vanloo, who sank three 3-pointers in a row in the third quarter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We still have to learn how to play with each other,” Vanloo said of the loss. “It hasn’t even been two and a half weeks [playing as a team], so let’s be honest, it’s not easy. L.A. had a lot of people who have been playing with each other. We’re new. We’re going to work through it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040681\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040681\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1304\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed-800x522.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed-1020x665.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed-1536x1001.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed-1920x1252.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Golden State Valkyries guard Julie Vanloo (35) advances toward the basket. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040682\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040682\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans cheer as the Golden State Valkyries score during their WNBA season opener. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040684\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040684\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-29_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-29_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-29_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-29_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-29_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-29_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-29_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans cheer during the Golden State Valkyries’ WNBA season opener against the Los Angeles Sparks. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>At the last buzzer, the score was 84–67.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the loss did not seem to discourage the fans looking to stand by the team through thick and thin.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040685\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040685\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A fan cheers after the Golden State Valkyries scored during their home opener at Chase Center. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040686\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040686\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-36_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-36_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-36_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-36_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-36_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-36_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-36_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mychal Threets (right) takes a photo with E-40 after the WNBA game between the Golden State Valkyries and Los Angeles Sparks at Chase Center on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040690\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1899px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040690\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-48_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1899\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-48_qed.jpg 1899w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-48_qed-800x562.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-48_qed-1020x716.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-48_qed-160x112.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-48_qed-1536x1078.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1899px) 100vw, 1899px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jhunehl Fortaleza, left, dressed as a Valkyrie, dances outside of Chase Center, following the WNBA game between the Golden State Valkyries and the Los Angeles Sparks on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I was out of my chair a lot and cheering really, really loudly, even though obviously the ending didn’t go as we wanted,” said season ticket holder Erin Ng. “I think the energy is still just so supportive of this team and how we just want to show up for them.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And show up they did. Fans started arriving at Chase Center hours before tip-off, sporting Valkyries violet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040699\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040699\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"833\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-4.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-4-800x267.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-4-1020x340.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-4-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-4-1536x512.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-4-2048x682.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-4-1920x640.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dennis Aguiling (left) and Riley, 11, (right) pose for photos ahead of the Golden State Valkyries’ home opener. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>For some, it was about more than the game.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I want her to see women on a platform, celebrated in sports,” said Beth MacNulty, tears falling down her face as she spoke about why she brought her 5-year-old daughter, Clara, to the game. “I’m hoping this inspires her to love basketball as much as I have loved basketball and it’ll just be a fun time to see this through her eyes.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040691\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1873px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040691\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-53_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1873\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-53_qed.jpg 1873w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-53_qed-800x569.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-53_qed-1020x726.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-53_qed-160x114.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-53_qed-1536x1093.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1873px) 100vw, 1873px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans pose for a photo outside of Chase Center, following the WNBA game between the Golden State Valkyries and the Los Angeles Sparks on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>MacNulty played basketball growing up, as did fellow Valkyries fan, Corinne Cueva.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Back in the day when I was in high school, I was a point guard and I was like ‘I want to be in the WNBA’ but then, you know, I’m Filipino and I’m short,” she said. “So this is the closest I’m gonna get to being in the WNBA, is being a superfan.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s basketball that brought her and her husband, Cesar Cueva, together.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040688\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040688\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-11_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-11_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-11_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-11_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-11_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-11_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-11_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Couple Cesar and Corrine Cueva pose for a photo, holding a sign that Cesar made, ahead of the Golden State Valkyries’ home opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at Chase Center on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“One of our first few dates is just like us going to a basketball court and shooting it around,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Krista Juli has planned her vacation schedule to make every single Valkyries game.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re getting the opportunity to see just amazing basketball,” she said. “And it’s not just about the Valkyries, but we’re gonna see the [Indiana] Fever, we’re going to see the [New York] Liberty, we’re going to see amazing players across the league. … And then just being able to cheer on our own team while all of that is happening is just an added bonus.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gloria Challenger came all the way from Florida to see the Valkyries’ first game.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I support the women. The men get all the support. the women don’t get much support, so I go out and support the women.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040689\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1954px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040689\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-9_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1954\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-9_qed.jpg 1954w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-9_qed-800x546.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-9_qed-1020x696.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-9_qed-160x109.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-9_qed-1536x1048.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-9_qed-1920x1310.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1954px) 100vw, 1954px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Gloria Challenger of Florida poses for a photo ahead of the Golden State Valkyries’ home opener. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Over the years, she’s traveled to see the first games of WNBA expansions in San Antonio, and most recently in Miami in 2008.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Valkyries’ arrival was highly-anticipated among Bay Area basketball fans. The team is the first WNBA expansion team in 17 years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040692\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040692\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1243\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1-800x497.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1-1020x634.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1-160x99.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1-1536x955.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1-1920x1193.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Golden State Valkyries at their home opener at Chase Center on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>As for the season ahead?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m just excited to see them get to know each other better, get better with every game,” said Leigha Bartley, who drove in from Eureka with her mom and 10-year-old daughter. “And, hey, maybe they will bring home that championship in the first five years.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Golden State hosts the Washington Mystics on Wednesday, May 21 at 7 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>The Bay Area’s brand new WNBA team, the Golden State Valkyries, made history Friday with the second-largest crowd — a roaring 18,064 fans — of any team in their debut game.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the Chase Center, purple, or rather Valkyries violet, took over the regular blue and gold for the team’s home opener Friday night against the Los Angeles Sparks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040674\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040674\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-22_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-22_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-22_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-22_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-22_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-22_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-22_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Golden State Valkyries are introduced for their home opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at Chase Center on May 16, 2025.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040703\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040703\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-5.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"833\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-5.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-5-800x267.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-5-1020x340.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-5-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-5-1536x512.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-5-2048x682.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-5-1920x640.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton (22) and Los Angeles Sparks forward Rickea Jackson (2) tip-off during the 1st quarter (left), and a fan holds a Valkyries flag (right) at the Valkyries’ home opener. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Forward Kayla Thornton, formerly of the New York Liberty, recorded the first points in the game and the first points in franchise history with a 2 at the 9:36 mark.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For much of the game, it looked like the team might actually write a win in the record books for their first game, but the Valkyries gave the ball away 22 times, which led to 25 Sparks points from turnovers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040679\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040679\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-80_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-80_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-80_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-80_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-80_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-80_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-80_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Golden State Valkyries center Temi Fágbénlé (14) makes a basket during the first quarter. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040705\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040705\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-6.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"833\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-6.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-6-800x267.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-6-1020x340.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-6-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-6-1536x512.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-6-2048x682.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-6-1920x640.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Golden State Valkyries play against the Los Angeles Sparks as fans cheer them on. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040680\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040680\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-47_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-47_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-47_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-47_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-47_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-47_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-47_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans cheer as the Golden State Valkyries score. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The star of the night was guard Julie Vanloo, who sank three 3-pointers in a row in the third quarter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We still have to learn how to play with each other,” Vanloo said of the loss. “It hasn’t even been two and a half weeks [playing as a team], so let’s be honest, it’s not easy. L.A. had a lot of people who have been playing with each other. We’re new. We’re going to work through it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040681\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040681\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1304\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed-800x522.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed-1020x665.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed-160x104.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed-1536x1001.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-69_qed-1920x1252.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Golden State Valkyries guard Julie Vanloo (35) advances toward the basket. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040682\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040682\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-44_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans cheer as the Golden State Valkyries score during their WNBA season opener. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040684\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040684\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-29_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-29_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-29_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-29_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-29_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-29_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-29_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans cheer during the Golden State Valkyries’ WNBA season opener against the Los Angeles Sparks. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>At the last buzzer, the score was 84–67.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the loss did not seem to discourage the fans looking to stand by the team through thick and thin.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040685\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040685\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-49_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A fan cheers after the Golden State Valkyries scored during their home opener at Chase Center. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040686\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040686\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-36_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-36_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-36_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-36_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-36_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-36_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-36_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mychal Threets (right) takes a photo with E-40 after the WNBA game between the Golden State Valkyries and Los Angeles Sparks at Chase Center on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040690\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1899px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040690\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-48_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1899\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-48_qed.jpg 1899w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-48_qed-800x562.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-48_qed-1020x716.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-48_qed-160x112.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-48_qed-1536x1078.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1899px) 100vw, 1899px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jhunehl Fortaleza, left, dressed as a Valkyrie, dances outside of Chase Center, following the WNBA game between the Golden State Valkyries and the Los Angeles Sparks on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“I was out of my chair a lot and cheering really, really loudly, even though obviously the ending didn’t go as we wanted,” said season ticket holder Erin Ng. “I think the energy is still just so supportive of this team and how we just want to show up for them.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And show up they did. Fans started arriving at Chase Center hours before tip-off, sporting Valkyries violet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040699\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2500px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040699\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-4.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2500\" height=\"833\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-4.jpg 2500w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-4-800x267.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-4-1020x340.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-4-160x53.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-4-1536x512.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-4-2048x682.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/Side-by-side-Downpage-4-1920x640.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2500px) 100vw, 2500px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dennis Aguiling (left) and Riley, 11, (right) pose for photos ahead of the Golden State Valkyries’ home opener. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>For some, it was about more than the game.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I want her to see women on a platform, celebrated in sports,” said Beth MacNulty, tears falling down her face as she spoke about why she brought her 5-year-old daughter, Clara, to the game. “I’m hoping this inspires her to love basketball as much as I have loved basketball and it’ll just be a fun time to see this through her eyes.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040691\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1873px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040691\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-53_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1873\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-53_qed.jpg 1873w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-53_qed-800x569.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-53_qed-1020x726.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-53_qed-160x114.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-53_qed-1536x1093.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1873px) 100vw, 1873px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fans pose for a photo outside of Chase Center, following the WNBA game between the Golden State Valkyries and the Los Angeles Sparks on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>MacNulty played basketball growing up, as did fellow Valkyries fan, Corinne Cueva.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Back in the day when I was in high school, I was a point guard and I was like ‘I want to be in the WNBA’ but then, you know, I’m Filipino and I’m short,” she said. “So this is the closest I’m gonna get to being in the WNBA, is being a superfan.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s basketball that brought her and her husband, Cesar Cueva, together.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040688\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040688\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-11_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-11_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-11_qed-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-11_qed-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-11_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-11_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-11_qed-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Couple Cesar and Corrine Cueva pose for a photo, holding a sign that Cesar made, ahead of the Golden State Valkyries’ home opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at Chase Center on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“One of our first few dates is just like us going to a basketball court and shooting it around,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Krista Juli has planned her vacation schedule to make every single Valkyries game.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re getting the opportunity to see just amazing basketball,” she said. “And it’s not just about the Valkyries, but we’re gonna see the [Indiana] Fever, we’re going to see the [New York] Liberty, we’re going to see amazing players across the league. … And then just being able to cheer on our own team while all of that is happening is just an added bonus.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gloria Challenger came all the way from Florida to see the Valkyries’ first game.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I support the women. The men get all the support. the women don’t get much support, so I go out and support the women.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040689\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1954px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040689\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-9_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1954\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-9_qed.jpg 1954w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-9_qed-800x546.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-9_qed-1020x696.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-9_qed-160x109.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-9_qed-1536x1048.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-9_qed-1920x1310.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1954px) 100vw, 1954px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Gloria Challenger of Florida poses for a photo ahead of the Golden State Valkyries’ home opener. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Over the years, she’s traveled to see the first games of WNBA expansions in San Antonio, and most recently in Miami in 2008.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Valkyries’ arrival was highly-anticipated among Bay Area basketball fans. The team is the first WNBA expansion team in 17 years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12040692\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12040692\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1243\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1-800x497.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1-1020x634.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1-160x99.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1-1536x955.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-23_qed-1-1920x1193.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Golden State Valkyries at their home opener at Chase Center on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>As for the season ahead?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m just excited to see them get to know each other better, get better with every game,” said Leigha Bartley, who drove in from Eureka with her mom and 10-year-old daughter. “And, hey, maybe they will bring home that championship in the first five years.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Golden State hosts the Washington Mystics on Wednesday, May 21 at 7 p.m.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>Kaitlyn Chen has had a busy spring.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Just weeks after she hoisted the NCAA \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/womens-basketball\">women’s basketball\u003c/a> championship trophy with her University of Connecticut teammates, the point guard, originally from Southern California, was drafted by the WNBA’s newest team, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11986061/get-ready-for-the-golden-state-valkyries-bay-areas-new-wnba-team\">Golden State Valkyries\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s been hectic,” Chen told KQED during preseason training camp in Oakland to determine the team’s final 12-player roster ahead of the May 16 home opener at Chase Center. “The best part is how much everyone cares and everyone really wants you to succeed.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If she makes the team, Chen’s first game with the Valkyries will be against the Los Angeles Sparks — a team she grew up watching play at Crypto.com Arena, formerly Staples Center.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s definitely a surreal experience,” she said, smiling.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s been about a year since the Golden State Valkyries were officially named a WNBA franchise in the league’s first expansion in 17 years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s a huge deal,” said Dr. Bonnie Morris, professor of women’s history at UC Berkeley and author of the book \u003cem>What’s the Score? 25 Years of Teaching Women’s Sports History\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12038785\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12038785\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-36-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-36-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-36-BL-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-36-BL-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-36-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-36-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-36-BL-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Golden State Valkyries’ Kaitlyn Chen speaks with the press during training camp held at the Sephora Performance Center in Oakland on May 1, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>According to Morris, the expansion of the league increases opportunities for women to make a living from the professional sports industry — not just as athletes, but in support roles that range from media to officiating to management.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We have more women playing sports than ever before, but we haven’t seen the same revolution in terms of staffing,” Morris said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Women make up much of the Valkyries’ senior leadership, including the president, vice presidents, general manager, director of player development, director of performance, head athletic trainer and head coach.[aside postID=news_12040376 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-21-BL-KQED.jpg']“We get to write our own story,” head coach Natalie Nakase said during a press event on May 1. “I think that’s one of the coolest things. But I’m also telling our players to just be present. Just be where your feet are.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Eighteen players were invited to the 19-day training camp at the Sephora Performance Center in downtown Oakland. Many players have played with or against each other in college, the WNBA and international leagues.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We all have been in each other’s spheres in one way or the other throughout the years. So the communication and the chemistry came a bit more easily because of that,” said Temi Fágbénlé, a center who was one of the Valkyries’ nine expansion draft selections.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fágbénlé, who most recently played for the Indiana Fever, won a WNBA championship with the Minnesota Lynx in 2017 and represented Great Britain in women’s basketball at the 2012 Summer Olympics.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12038781\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12038781\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-11-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-11-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-11-BL-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-11-BL-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-11-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-11-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-11-BL-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Golden State Valkyries’ Kaitlyn Chen (right) practices during training camp held at the Sephora Performance Center in Oakland on May 1, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Other WNBA competitors-turned-teammates include guard Kate Martin, formerly with the Las Vegas Aces; forward Monique Billings, who previously played for the Phoenix Mercury; and forward Kayla Thornton, who played for the New York Liberty last season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When it comes to creating chemistry between veterans and rookies like Chen, Nakase said she’s trying to foster a team philosophy that’s “competitive and connected.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This means running practices where players aren’t afraid to push and shove, but also making sure players are feeling healthy both mentally and physically, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m big on just having them have a free mind. So whatever that takes — whether I have to adjust to more shooting, to less shooting, to more defense — I’m very flexible. Health is important,” Nakase added. “Once we step on that floor, I want Chase Center and all our fans to feel that.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12038786\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12038786\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-38-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-38-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-38-BL-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-38-BL-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-38-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-38-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-38-BL-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Golden State Valkyries’ Head Coach Natalie Nakase speaks with the press during training camp held at the Sephora Performance Center in Oakland on May 1, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Jessie Lin, a lifelong basketball player and UC Berkeley student, said her family already has tickets to two Valkyries games.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think a lot of young girls are going to be like, ‘This is doable,’” said Lin, who, as an Asian American, is particularly inspired by the drafting of Chen, whose parents are Taiwanese immigrants. “This is the profession I can pursue. And I’m so excited for the visibility.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Despite all the excitement, Morris acknowledged that a “social lag” in the United States persists when considering professional women’s sports “high level.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The question is now: Can women, fans and investors make the difference for professional women’s leagues?” she said. “I hope so.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Kaitlyn Chen has had a busy spring.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Just weeks after she hoisted the NCAA \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/womens-basketball\">women’s basketball\u003c/a> championship trophy with her University of Connecticut teammates, the point guard, originally from Southern California, was drafted by the WNBA’s newest team, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11986061/get-ready-for-the-golden-state-valkyries-bay-areas-new-wnba-team\">Golden State Valkyries\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s been hectic,” Chen told KQED during preseason training camp in Oakland to determine the team’s final 12-player roster ahead of the May 16 home opener at Chase Center. “The best part is how much everyone cares and everyone really wants you to succeed.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If she makes the team, Chen’s first game with the Valkyries will be against the Los Angeles Sparks — a team she grew up watching play at Crypto.com Arena, formerly Staples Center.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s definitely a surreal experience,” she said, smiling.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s been about a year since the Golden State Valkyries were officially named a WNBA franchise in the league’s first expansion in 17 years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s a huge deal,” said Dr. Bonnie Morris, professor of women’s history at UC Berkeley and author of the book \u003cem>What’s the Score? 25 Years of Teaching Women’s Sports History\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12038785\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12038785\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-36-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-36-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-36-BL-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-36-BL-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-36-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-36-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-36-BL-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Golden State Valkyries’ Kaitlyn Chen speaks with the press during training camp held at the Sephora Performance Center in Oakland on May 1, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>According to Morris, the expansion of the league increases opportunities for women to make a living from the professional sports industry — not just as athletes, but in support roles that range from media to officiating to management.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We have more women playing sports than ever before, but we haven’t seen the same revolution in terms of staffing,” Morris said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Women make up much of the Valkyries’ senior leadership, including the president, vice presidents, general manager, director of player development, director of performance, head athletic trainer and head coach.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“We get to write our own story,” head coach Natalie Nakase said during a press event on May 1. “I think that’s one of the coolest things. But I’m also telling our players to just be present. Just be where your feet are.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Eighteen players were invited to the 19-day training camp at the Sephora Performance Center in downtown Oakland. Many players have played with or against each other in college, the WNBA and international leagues.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We all have been in each other’s spheres in one way or the other throughout the years. So the communication and the chemistry came a bit more easily because of that,” said Temi Fágbénlé, a center who was one of the Valkyries’ nine expansion draft selections.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Fágbénlé, who most recently played for the Indiana Fever, won a WNBA championship with the Minnesota Lynx in 2017 and represented Great Britain in women’s basketball at the 2012 Summer Olympics.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12038781\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12038781\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-11-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-11-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-11-BL-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-11-BL-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-11-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-11-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-11-BL-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Golden State Valkyries’ Kaitlyn Chen (right) practices during training camp held at the Sephora Performance Center in Oakland on May 1, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Other WNBA competitors-turned-teammates include guard Kate Martin, formerly with the Las Vegas Aces; forward Monique Billings, who previously played for the Phoenix Mercury; and forward Kayla Thornton, who played for the New York Liberty last season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When it comes to creating chemistry between veterans and rookies like Chen, Nakase said she’s trying to foster a team philosophy that’s “competitive and connected.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This means running practices where players aren’t afraid to push and shove, but also making sure players are feeling healthy both mentally and physically, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m big on just having them have a free mind. So whatever that takes — whether I have to adjust to more shooting, to less shooting, to more defense — I’m very flexible. Health is important,” Nakase added. “Once we step on that floor, I want Chase Center and all our fans to feel that.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12038786\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12038786\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-38-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-38-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-38-BL-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-38-BL-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-38-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-38-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/05/250501-VALKYRIESOPENERTEAMPROFILE-38-BL-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Golden State Valkyries’ Head Coach Natalie Nakase speaks with the press during training camp held at the Sephora Performance Center in Oakland on May 1, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Jessie Lin, a lifelong basketball player and UC Berkeley student, said her family already has tickets to two Valkyries games.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think a lot of young girls are going to be like, ‘This is doable,’” said Lin, who, as an Asian American, is particularly inspired by the drafting of Chen, whose parents are Taiwanese immigrants. “This is the profession I can pursue. And I’m so excited for the visibility.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Despite all the excitement, Morris acknowledged that a “social lag” in the United States persists when considering professional women’s sports “high level.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The question is now: Can women, fans and investors make the difference for professional women’s leagues?” she said. “I hope so.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"id": "baycurious",
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"tagline": "Exploring the Bay Area, one question at a time",
"info": "KQED’s new podcast, Bay Curious, gets to the bottom of the mysteries — both profound and peculiar — that give the Bay Area its unique identity. And we’ll do it with your help! You ask the questions. You decide what Bay Curious investigates. And you join us on the journey to find the answers.",
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},
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},
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"info": "KQED’s statewide radio news program providing daily coverage of issues, trends and public policy decisions.",
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"order": 8
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"tagline": "Your state, your stories",
"info": "Every week, The California Report Magazine takes you on a road trip for the ears: to visit the places and meet the people who make California unique. The in-depth storytelling podcast from the California Report.",
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"source": "City Arts & Lectures"
},
"link": "https://www.cityarts.net",
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"order": 1
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"title": "Code Switch / Life Kit",
"info": "\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em>, which listeners will hear in the first part of the hour, has fearless and much-needed conversations about race. Hosted by journalists of color, the show tackles the subject of race head-on, exploring how it impacts every part of society — from politics and pop culture to history, sports and more.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em>, which will be in the second part of the hour, guides you through spaces and feelings no one prepares you for — from finances to mental health, from workplace microaggressions to imposter syndrome, from relationships to parenting. The show features experts with real world experience and shares their knowledge. Because everyone needs a little help being human.\u003cbr />\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510312/codeswitch\">\u003cem>Code Switch\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/lifekit\">\u003cem>Life Kit\u003c/em> offical site and podcast\u003c/a>\u003cbr />",
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"id": "commonwealth-club",
"title": "Commonwealth Club of California Podcast",
"info": "The Commonwealth Club of California is the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum. As a non-partisan forum, The Club brings to the public airwaves diverse viewpoints on important topics. The Club's weekly radio broadcast - the oldest in the U.S., dating back to 1924 - is carried across the nation on public radio stations and is now podcasting. Our website archive features audio of our recent programs, as well as selected speeches from our long and distinguished history. This podcast feed is usually updated twice a week and is always un-edited.",
"airtime": "THU 10pm, FRI 1am",
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"source": "Commonwealth Club of California"
},
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"title": "Forum",
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"info": "KQED’s live call-in program discussing local, state, national and international issues, as well as in-depth interviews.",
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"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Forum-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
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"order": 9
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"meta": {
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"source": "WNYC"
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"id": "fresh-air",
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"info": "A live production of NPR and WBUR Boston, in collaboration with stations across the country, Here & Now reflects the fluid world of news as it's happening in the middle of the day, with timely, in-depth news, interviews and conversation. Hosted by Robin Young, Jeremy Hobson and Tonya Mosley.",
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"hidden-brain": {
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"info": "Shankar Vedantam uses science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, shape our choices and direct our relationships.",
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"airtime": "SUN 7pm-8pm",
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"source": "NPR"
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"how-i-built-this": {
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"info": "Guy Raz dives into the stories behind some of the world's best known companies. How I Built This weaves a narrative journey about innovators, entrepreneurs and idealists—and the movements they built.",
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"airtime": "SUN 7:30pm-8pm",
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"hyphenacion": {
"id": "hyphenacion",
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"tagline": "Where conversation and cultura meet",
"info": "What kind of no sabo word is Hyphenación? For us, it’s about living within a hyphenation. Like being a third-gen Mexican-American from the Texas border now living that Bay Area Chicano life. Like Xorje! Each week we bring together a couple of hyphenated Latinos to talk all about personal life choices: family, careers, relationships, belonging … everything is on the table. ",
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"jerrybrown": {
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"title": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown",
"tagline": "Lessons from a lifetime in politics",
"info": "The Political Mind of Jerry Brown brings listeners the wisdom of the former Governor, Mayor, and presidential candidate. Scott Shafer interviewed Brown for more than 40 hours, covering the former governor's life and half-century in the political game – and Brown has some lessons he'd like to share. ",
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"order": 18
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},
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"id": "latino-usa",
"title": "Latino USA",
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"info": "Latino USA, the radio journal of news and culture, is the only national, English-language radio program produced from a Latino perspective.",
"imageSrc": "https://ww2.kqed.org/radio/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2018/04/latinoUsa.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "http://latinousa.org/",
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},
"link": "/radio/program/latino-usa",
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"apple": "https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?s=143441&mt=2&id=79681317&at=11l79Y&ct=nprdirectory",
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"rss": "https://feeds.npr.org/510016/podcast.xml"
}
},
"marketplace": {
"id": "marketplace",
"title": "Marketplace",
"info": "Our flagship program, helmed by Kai Ryssdal, examines what the day in money delivered, through stories, conversations, newsworthy numbers and more. Updated Monday through Friday at about 3:30 p.m. PT.",
"airtime": "MON-FRI 4pm-4:30pm, MON-WED 6:30pm-7pm",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Marketplace-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.marketplace.org/",
"meta": {
"site": "news",
"source": "American Public Media"
},
"link": "/radio/program/marketplace",
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"rss": "https://feeds.publicradio.org/public_feeds/marketplace-pm/rss/rss"
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},
"masters-of-scale": {
"id": "masters-of-scale",
"title": "Masters of Scale",
"info": "Masters of Scale is an original podcast in which LinkedIn co-founder and Greylock Partner Reid Hoffman sets out to describe and prove theories that explain how great entrepreneurs take their companies from zero to a gazillion in ingenious fashion.",
"airtime": "Every other Wednesday June 12 through October 16 at 8pm (repeats Thursdays at 2am)",
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"officialWebsiteLink": "https://mastersofscale.com/",
"meta": {
"site": "radio",
"source": "WaitWhat"
},
"link": "/radio/program/masters-of-scale",
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"rss": "https://rss.art19.com/masters-of-scale"
}
},
"mindshift": {
"id": "mindshift",
"title": "MindShift",
"tagline": "A podcast about the future of learning and how we raise our kids",
"info": "The MindShift podcast explores the innovations in education that are shaping how kids learn. Hosts Ki Sung and Katrina Schwartz introduce listeners to educators, researchers, parents and students who are developing effective ways to improve how kids learn. We cover topics like how fed-up administrators are developing surprising tactics to deal with classroom disruptions; how listening to podcasts are helping kids develop reading skills; the consequences of overparenting; and why interdisciplinary learning can engage students on all ends of the traditional achievement spectrum. This podcast is part of the MindShift education site, a division of KQED News. KQED is an NPR/PBS member station based in San Francisco. You can also visit the MindShift website for episodes and supplemental blog posts or tweet us \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED\">@MindShiftKQED\u003c/a> or visit us at \u003ca href=\"/mindshift\">MindShift.KQED.org\u003c/a>",
"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Mindshift-Podcast-Tile-703x703-1.jpg",
"imageAlt": "KQED MindShift: How We Will Learn",
"officialWebsiteLink": "/mindshift/",
"meta": {
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"source": "kqed",
"order": 12
},
"link": "/podcasts/mindshift",
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