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"content": "\u003cp>This spring, San Francisco’s Chase Center is once again morphing into \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12047885/how-to-be-a-valkyries-fan-a-beginners-guide-to-bay-area-wnba-fandom\">Ballhalla\u003c/a>, the home of the Golden State Valkyries — who are \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082963/ballhalla-rising-golden-state-valkyries-cool-off-phoenix-mercury-to-take-home-opener\">beginning their second year\u003c/a> in the Women’s National Basketball Association.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During the team’s inaugural year, fans enthusiastically welcomed the Valkyries to the Bay Area sports scene. Home games \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.\">consistently sold out\u003c/a> and were so loud that even opposing players and their fans have taken notice 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>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This year, the Valkyries are back with \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/roster\">new players\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.wnba.com/news/wnba-expansion-cleveland-detroit-philadelphia\">new teams to play against \u003c/a>and another chance to make it to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12056563/better-than-i-ever-dreamed-valkyries-fans-reflect-on-historic-first-season\">the WNBA playoffs\u003c/a> once again.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you’re a newer fan, keep reading for our guide to how to attend a home game at Chase Center, including information about where to get tickets, parking and public transportation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#WherecanIfindparkingnearChaseCenterforaValkyriesgame\">Where can I find parking near Chase Center for a Valkyries game?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#ValkyrieswatchpartiesintheBayAreaifyoudidntgettickets\">Valkyries watch parties in the Bay Area (if you didn’t get tickets)\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>And if you missed out on the Valkyries hype last year altogether, jump in this month by using \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12047885/how-to-be-a-valkyries-fan-a-beginners-guide-to-bay-area-wnba-fandom\">KQED’s 2025 guide on WNBA fandom and culture\u003c/a> to help you prepare. (Just keep in mind that some aspects of the guide may be outdated, like the team’s roster.) You can jump straight to our section on gatherings in the Bay to learn how you can meet other fans and celebrate the Valkyries outside of Chase Center.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What is the Valkyries’ 2026 schedule?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/schedule?season=2026&month=all&location=all&opponent=all&gclsrc=aw.ds&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=DEPT_SEM_Google_Brand_Acquisition_GSV_Bay-Area_US_Tickets_ROAS_BAU_02-05-2026&utm_term=valkyries&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23527058315&gbraid=0AAAAACpgn3d2oPa-VcSg7etJhBLaKdwcX&gclid=CjwKCAjwnN3OBhA8EiwAfpTYerWar1or-i19ohlTr_DUZOfqVv77H1ryO6-Esj5LVadL6-FZAof4ERoC7xMQAvD_BwE&upcoming=false\">current 2026 schedule\u003c/a> for home games is as follows:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, May 13, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Chicago Sky\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Monday, May 25, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Connecticut Sun\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Thursday, May 28, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Indiana Fever\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, May 31, at 12:30 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Las Vegas Aces\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Tuesday, June 2, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Portland Fire\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Tuesday, June 9, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Phoenix Mercury\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Monday, June 15, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Los Angeles Sparks\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, June 17, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Dallas Wings\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, June 19, at 7 p.m: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, June 24, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Atlanta Dream\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, June 26, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Atlanta Dream\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, June 28, at 4 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs New York Liberty\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, July 18, at 5:30 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Washington Mystics\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Monday, July 20, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Washington Mystics\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, Aug. 2, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Toronto Tempo\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Tuesday, Aug. 4, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Toronto Tempo\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Chicago Sky\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Monday, Aug. 17, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Dallas Wings\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, Aug. 19, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, Sept. 18, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Portland Fire\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, Sept. 19, at 6 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Seattle Storm\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12083066\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12083066\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-35-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-35-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-35-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-35-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Golden State Valkyries celebrate the team’s win against the Phoenix Mercury during their home opener at Chase Center in San Francisco on May 10, 2026. The game marked the start of the Valkyries’ second WNBA season. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Home games usually have halftime shows featuring performances by local acts, such as \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DVcW0azDyUr/\">a Bollywood dance group\u003c/a>. The first home game of this season featured \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/shorts/LYv5mupFaq0\">Oakland-born musician Sheila E.\u003c/a> as the halftime show act and \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/nbcolympics/videos/olympic-gold-meets-valkyries-violet-bay-area-native-eileen-gu-felt-right-at-home/1492140162634875/\">Bay Area Olympian Eileen Gu\u003c/a> hitting the GSV drum.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You may also see famous Bay Area faces at the game. Last year, \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLgbcQyxEef/\">Warriors star Steph Curry\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/article/ali-wong-golden-state-valkyries-20332724.php\">comedian Ali Wong\u003c/a> were in the audience. The \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3TzNm7gRgI\">Warriors’ Brandin Podziemski\u003c/a> is also a frequent face at Valkyries games.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Valkyries’ away games are as scheduled:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Thursday, June 4, at 6 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, June 6, at 12 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Las Vegas Aces\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, June 12, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Seattle Storm\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, June 21, at 1 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Las Vegas Aces\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, July 4, at 10 a.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Atlanta Dream\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Monday, July 6, at 4:30 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Washington Mystics\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, July 8, at 4 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Toronto Tempo\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, July 10, at 4:30 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Connecticut Sun\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, July 15, at 5 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Indiana Fever\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, July 29, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Phoenix Mercury\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, Aug. 7, at 6:30 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Dallas Wings\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, Aug. 9, at 4 p.m: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Los Angeles Sparks\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, Aug. 21, at 4:30 p.m: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Chicago Sky\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Monday, Aug. 24, at 5 p.m: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 5 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Connecticut Sun\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Thursday, Aug. 27, at 5 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs New York Liberty\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, Aug. 30, at 4 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Portland Fire\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Portland Fire\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Thursday, Sept. 24, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Los Angeles Sparks\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>You can keep an eye on \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/schedule/broadcast-schedule\">the broadcast schedule\u003c/a> on the Valkyries’ website to see your options for streaming or live TV.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How can I get tickets to a Valkyries game?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>You can \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/tickets\">get tickets for home games\u003c/a> at the Valkyries’ official website, where options include mini-plans for multiple games or season tickets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Single-game tickets currently start at relatively affordable prices. As of publication, for example, tickets for the May 25 game start \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/golden-state-valkyries-vs-connecticut-sun-san-francisco-california-05-25-2026/event/1C006435CB183623\">around $27 but run to over $216\u003c/a>. (Fans have noted that tickets have gotten \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfgate.com/valkyries/article/valkyries-most-expensive-ticket-wnba-game-20325914.php\">more expensive as the hype for the team has grown\u003c/a>.)\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>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. Valqueeries organizer Megan Doherty-Baker said \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12047885/how-to-be-a-valkyries-fan-a-beginners-guide-to-bay-area-wnba-fandom#valkyries-schedule\">in 2025\u003c/a> that fan groups like hers may also have a quick connection to people who are looking to sell or just generously give out their tickets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(But be careful, and verify the person before sending any money — \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\u003ch2>What time should I arrive at Chase Center?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Doors are scheduled to open \u003ca href=\"https://chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/\">at least 90 minutes\u003c/a> before a game starts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are new to the sport, like this reporter was last year, know that basketball games move \u003cem>fast,\u003c/em> and it is best to be in your seat at tip-off. Games, which are split into quarters, are around two to two-and-a-half hours long and it can be easy to miss something once play gets started (unlike, for example, baseball).\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where can I find Golden State Valkyries merch?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Some select games and themed nights at Chase Center may have promotions or complimentary merch for all fans or people who arrive early.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For example, on April 25, attendees will get \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/schedule?season=2026&month=all&location=all&opponent=all&gclsrc=aw.ds&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=DEPT_SEM_Google_Brand_Acquisition_GSV_Bay-Area_US_Tickets_ROAS_BAU_02-05-2026&utm_term=valkyries&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23527058315&gbraid=0AAAAACpgn3d2oPa-VcSg7etJhBLaKdwcX&gclid=CjwKCAjwnN3OBhA8EiwAfpTYerWar1or-i19ohlTr_DUZOfqVv77H1ryO6-Esj5LVadL6-FZAof4ERoC7xMQAvD_BwE&upcoming=false\">a free Valkyries shirt\u003c/a> that says, “Born in the Bay.” On July 20, the team will distribute a very cute plushie of Hello Kitty wearing Valkyries merch. Another special night to keep note of: June 28 is the 30th anniversary of the WNBA.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-M\">on the hunt for merch\u003c/a> — \u003ca href=\"https://shop.valkyries.com/en/\">the Valkyries have plenty\u003c/a> in the team’s signature\u003ca href=\"https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/olivia-rodrigo-prince-hole-purple-pop-music-history\"> pop-girl purple\u003c/a> — check out the stands at Portals 10, 21, 41, 42, 47 and 59.\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>The Golden State Shop right outside Chase Center, which stays \u003ca href=\"https://goldenstate.com/shop/\">open late after games\u003c/a>, also sells merch. Keep in mind: The line after a game will be \u003cem>long\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some merch can also be found online, including at the \u003ca href=\"https://shop.valkyries.com/\">official Valkyries shop\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://wnbastore.nba.com/Golden-State-Valkyries/t-13183796+z-9844603-3130371206?vap=1&ab=%7Bwt-static_graphic%7D%7Bpt-tlp%7D%7Bal-a_spot%7D%7Bct-team%7D%7Btt-valkyries%7D%7Baid-091825%7D\">the WNBA store\u003c/a>, local brands like \u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandish.com/collections/golden-state-valkyries-tees?srsltid=AfmBOooGOo08ctr3-Pf7IG-YyXXCATiZ8eSWRFcPNrBIMKdxNZOXHdbs\">Oaklandish\u003c/a> and retailers like \u003ca href=\"https://www.homage.com/collections/wnba-x-peanuts/products/peanuts-peppermint-patty-x-golden-state-valkyries\">Homage\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/f/golden-state-valkyries?srsltid=AfmBOootDt1JVfLmLqK5fBIm0qMA_zYCr5qdK117rjHshqK-zhYh9fxA\">Dick’s Sporting Goods\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In this reporter’s experience, Bay Area designers unveil their own specialized fan merch around WNBA season and can be found on Instagram and at block parties and street festivals. They are unofficial — and unaffiliated with the WNBA — but some designs may be worth keeping an eye on.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What is the Chase Center bag policy for Valkyries games?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Backpacks (except for single-compartment drawstring bags) of any kind are \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-B\">prohibited from entering the arena\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Any other bag, including diaper bags, must be smaller than 14 inches by 14 inches by 6 inches.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Attendees with bags that do not meet the requirements can check them at 16th Street & Terry Francois Boulevard for $10. Bag check opens an hour before doors open and closes an hour after the event ends.\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>Here are some more things \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-P\">you cannot bring into Chase Center\u003c/a>:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Reusable 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 acceptable.)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Lights, tripods and professional recording equipment\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\u003cli>Skateboards, scooters, rollerblades, bicycles and helmets\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>You can bring:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-C\">Baby bags\u003c/a>, plastic baby bottles and formula\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-S\">Strollers\u003c/a>, which can be checked in at Portals 13 or 52 during the event\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-U\">Umbrellas\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-B\">Binoculars and their cases\u003c/a>, in most instances, but they will likely be searched.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Is food available at Chase Center?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Outside food and drink are \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-F\">\u003cem>not\u003c/em> permitted \u003c/a>into the Chase Center. There are a lot of food stalls and bars within the center, with drink stands scattered throughout.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can find \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/food-and-beverage/\">a list of restaurants on the Chase Center website\u003c/a>, although in this reporter’s experience, not all of them will be open on the day of a game. But there will be reliable game-day bites, like chicken tenders and fries.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"WherecanIfindparkingnearChaseCenterforaValkyriesgame\">\u003c/a>Where can I find parking near Chase Center?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Chase Center has \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/transportation/parking/\">a guide to its parking garage\u003c/a> on 99 Warriors Way, including \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/transportation/parking/#event-day\">what to do during event days.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the Chase Center website, event parking begins two hours before the start time, and the rate “is an additional $75, on top of any accrued public parking fees.” You can try \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/chase-center-tickets-san-francisco/venue/230012?addOnType=PARKING\">reserving parking on Ticketmaster\u003c/a>.\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 against the Los Angeles Sparks at Chase Center on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>You can also book a spot using \u003ca href=\"https://spothero.com/destination/san-francisco/chase-center-parking\">the third-party parking website SpotHero\u003c/a>, which may have cheaper parking options farther away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can take a chance on street parking in the area \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/getting-around/drive-park/oracle-park-and-chase-center-special-event-parking-regulations\">by using this guide from SFMTA\u003c/a>, but be sure to be careful of parking tickets.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What should I know about rideshare services like Uber, Lyft and Waymo at Chase Center?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Getting to Chase Center using a rideshare service will likely be pretty smooth — it’s getting \u003cem>out \u003c/em>of the area after 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://chasecenter.com/lyft/\">multiple designated pickup and drop-off zones\u003c/a> located around Chase Center, including:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Warriors Way & Terry Francois Boulevard\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Mission Bay Boulevard (South)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Fourth Street & Campus Way\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Zone 1 and 2: Pier 52\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Zone 3 and 4: Mission Rock Resort\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>What are my public transit options at Chase Center?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Public transit schedules are always subject to change, so check the timetable for your route on the day of the event, and be cognizant of when service ends so you don’t get stuck far from home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A map of public transit options can be \u003ca href=\"https://cdn.nba.com/teams/uploads/sites/1610612744/2024/08/CC_BM_20231005_CC_Transportation_MapCC_BM_20231005_CC_Transportation_Map_1080x1080.jpg\">found on the Valkyries’ website\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>SF Muni\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Any Chase Center patron who shows their event ticket at Muni turnstiles and boarding platforms can ride Muni \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/fares/your-chase-center-event-ticket-your-muni-fare\">without charge\u003c/a>. (This offer expires at 2 a.m.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There is a Muni Metro rail stop serving the venue on the T Third Street line, which connects Chinatown and Sunnydale. See \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/routes/t-third-street\">the Muni Metro schedule\u003c/a>.\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>\u003cstrong>BART\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Several BART stations offer convenient connections to get to the venue.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Muni Route 22 connects to the 16th Street and Mission BART station. The closest stop is located on Third Street and Gene Friend Way.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Muni Route 15 serves as a connection to the Montgomery Street BART station. The closest stop is located on Third Street and Warriors Way.[aside postID=news_12047885 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/golden-state-valkyries.png']You can transfer to the new Union Square Muni Metro rail station from Powell BART station via the underground corridor to take the T Third Street line or S Shuttle Mission Bay line to the UCSF/Chase Center stop.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can find more information and schedules \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/\">on the BART website\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Caltrain\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you take Caltrain to San Francisco, you can walk 15-20 minutes along Fourth Street and turn left on Gene Friend Way to Chase Center.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can also transfer from the San Francisco Caltrain station to the Muni Metro T Third Street platform, which is located across the street, and take Muni to the UCSF/Chase Center stop.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are attending a weekend game, be sure to check \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/dollarfares?active_tab=route_explorer_tab\">Caltrain’s weekend schedule to make sure you know when the last train leaves\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Riders 18 and under can ride for \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/dollarfares\">$1 one-way or buy a day pass for $2\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Biking\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chase Center offers guests \u003ca href=\"https://chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-B\">free bike valet\u003c/a> for up to 300 bikes beginning an hour before start time. The valet is available along 16th Street, on the south side of Chase Center.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There is also \u003ca href=\"https://www.lyft.com/bikes/bay-wheels\">a Lyft/Bay Wheels bike share station\u003c/a> on Warriors Way.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What should I know about accessibility at Chase Center?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Chase Center addresses \u003ca href=\"https://chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/accessible-services/\">questions about accessibility\u003c/a> in its \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-A\">online A-to-Z Guide\u003c/a>, which includes information about accessible parking, hearing assistance, ADA-compliant restrooms and service animals. For more questions, fans can contact \u003ca href=\"mailto:guestexperiences@warriors.com\">guestexperiences@warriors.com\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the guide, all entrances are wheelchair accessible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12049845\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12049845\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-79_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1284\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-79_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-79_qed-160x103.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-79_qed-1536x986.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Golden State Valkyries forward Kayla Thornton (5) attempts to make a basket during the first quarter at the Valkyries’ home opener at Chase Center on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The venue said guests can request complimentary wheelchair escorts by visiting the kiosks located at Portal 13 and Portal 53, or by texting 833-CC4-FANS. Wheelchairs are not available for rent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Accessible parking in \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/transportation/#drive\">the parking garage\u003c/a> is available on a first-come, first-served basis.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-A\">the guide\u003c/a>, “disabled and accessible seating is available at Chase Center in all ticket price categories, based on availability.” Guests buying these seats “may purchase companion seating as well. Chase Center will attempt to reasonably accommodate any concern regarding guests with disabilities.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"ValkyrieswatchpartiesintheBayAreaifyoudidntgettickets\">\u003c/a>I didn’t get tickets. Are there any Valkyries watch parties in the Bay Area?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>There will definitely be more watch parties popping up throughout the WNBA season (including at \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/thetwelfthmarin\">a Marin women’s sports bar\u003c/a> scheduled to open this summer).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Local sports journalist Maya Goldberg-Safir, who writes about \u003ca href=\"https://wnbaroughnotes.substack.com/\">the WNBA in Rough Notes\u003c/a>, also pulled together \u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1yIDpg_Y8ULIO2-IdC2H3wmR9nZeXbl4&ll=38.06201922218028%2C-121.05610149375002&z=8\">a \u003cem>very\u003c/em> thorough map of Valkyries fandom spots\u003c/a> throughout the Bay Area, including parties, extended Ballhalla communities and women’s/queer pickup basketball.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1yIDpg_Y8ULIO2-IdC2H3wmR9nZeXbl4&ehbc=2E312F\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" scrolling=\"yes\" class=\"iframe-class\" frameborder=\"0\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Spots that have aired Valkyries games, hosted viewing parties in the past or are part of the \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/bar-network\">Valkyries Bar Network\u003c/a> include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>San Francisco\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/events/?brand=Thrive%20city\">Thrive City\u003c/a> (the venue connected to Chase Center) may show away games on a large screen outside the arena. Be sure to check the website beforehand to verify.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13977457/rikkis-first-womens-sports-bar-bay-area-open-castro-sf-valkyries\">Rikki’s\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.mothersf.com/\">Mother\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://valleytavern.com/\">Valley Tavern\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.atwatertavern.com/\">Atwater Tavern\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://harmonicbrewing.com/\">Harmonic Brewing Thrive City\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.harrysbarsf.com/\">Harry’s Bar\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://hitopsbar.com/\">Hi Tops\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://standarddeviantbrewing.com/\">Standard Deviant\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://splashsportsbar.com/\">Splash Sports Bar\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Oakland\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/georgeandwaltsbar/\">George & Walt’s\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://line51beer.com/\">Line 51 Brewing\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://xingones.com/\">Xingones Cantina\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://lucybluebar.com/\">Lucy Blue\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://benandnicks.com/\">Ben n’ Nicks\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.pickleathletics.com/public-events/\">Pickle Athletics\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://whitehorsebar.com/\">The White Horse\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>South Bay\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.rookieslodge.com/\">Rookie’s Sports Lodge\u003c/a> in San José\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>This spring, San Francisco’s Chase Center is once again morphing into \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12047885/how-to-be-a-valkyries-fan-a-beginners-guide-to-bay-area-wnba-fandom\">Ballhalla\u003c/a>, the home of the Golden State Valkyries — who are \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082963/ballhalla-rising-golden-state-valkyries-cool-off-phoenix-mercury-to-take-home-opener\">beginning their second year\u003c/a> in the Women’s National Basketball Association.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During the team’s inaugural year, fans enthusiastically welcomed the Valkyries to the Bay Area sports scene. Home games \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.\">consistently sold out\u003c/a> and were so loud that even opposing players and their fans have taken notice 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>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This year, the Valkyries are back with \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/roster\">new players\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.wnba.com/news/wnba-expansion-cleveland-detroit-philadelphia\">new teams to play against \u003c/a>and another chance to make it to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12056563/better-than-i-ever-dreamed-valkyries-fans-reflect-on-historic-first-season\">the WNBA playoffs\u003c/a> once again.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you’re a newer fan, keep reading for our guide to how to attend a home game at Chase Center, including information about where to get tickets, parking and public transportation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#WherecanIfindparkingnearChaseCenterforaValkyriesgame\">Where can I find parking near Chase Center for a Valkyries game?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#ValkyrieswatchpartiesintheBayAreaifyoudidntgettickets\">Valkyries watch parties in the Bay Area (if you didn’t get tickets)\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>And if you missed out on the Valkyries hype last year altogether, jump in this month by using \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12047885/how-to-be-a-valkyries-fan-a-beginners-guide-to-bay-area-wnba-fandom\">KQED’s 2025 guide on WNBA fandom and culture\u003c/a> to help you prepare. (Just keep in mind that some aspects of the guide may be outdated, like the team’s roster.) You can jump straight to our section on gatherings in the Bay to learn how you can meet other fans and celebrate the Valkyries outside of Chase Center.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What is the Valkyries’ 2026 schedule?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/schedule?season=2026&month=all&location=all&opponent=all&gclsrc=aw.ds&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=DEPT_SEM_Google_Brand_Acquisition_GSV_Bay-Area_US_Tickets_ROAS_BAU_02-05-2026&utm_term=valkyries&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23527058315&gbraid=0AAAAACpgn3d2oPa-VcSg7etJhBLaKdwcX&gclid=CjwKCAjwnN3OBhA8EiwAfpTYerWar1or-i19ohlTr_DUZOfqVv77H1ryO6-Esj5LVadL6-FZAof4ERoC7xMQAvD_BwE&upcoming=false\">current 2026 schedule\u003c/a> for home games is as follows:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, May 13, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Chicago Sky\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Monday, May 25, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Connecticut Sun\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Thursday, May 28, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Indiana Fever\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, May 31, at 12:30 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Las Vegas Aces\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Tuesday, June 2, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Portland Fire\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Tuesday, June 9, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Phoenix Mercury\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Monday, June 15, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Los Angeles Sparks\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, June 17, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Dallas Wings\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, June 19, at 7 p.m: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, June 24, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Atlanta Dream\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, June 26, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Atlanta Dream\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, June 28, at 4 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs New York Liberty\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, July 18, at 5:30 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Washington Mystics\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Monday, July 20, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Washington Mystics\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, Aug. 2, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Toronto Tempo\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Tuesday, Aug. 4, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Toronto Tempo\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Chicago Sky\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Monday, Aug. 17, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Dallas Wings\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, Aug. 19, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, Sept. 18, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Portland Fire\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, Sept. 19, at 6 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Seattle Storm\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12083066\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12083066\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-35-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-35-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-35-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-35-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Golden State Valkyries celebrate the team’s win against the Phoenix Mercury during their home opener at Chase Center in San Francisco on May 10, 2026. The game marked the start of the Valkyries’ second WNBA season. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Home games usually have halftime shows featuring performances by local acts, such as \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/p/DVcW0azDyUr/\">a Bollywood dance group\u003c/a>. The first home game of this season featured \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/shorts/LYv5mupFaq0\">Oakland-born musician Sheila E.\u003c/a> as the halftime show act and \u003ca href=\"https://www.facebook.com/nbcolympics/videos/olympic-gold-meets-valkyries-violet-bay-area-native-eileen-gu-felt-right-at-home/1492140162634875/\">Bay Area Olympian Eileen Gu\u003c/a> hitting the GSV drum.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You may also see famous Bay Area faces at the game. Last year, \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLgbcQyxEef/\">Warriors star Steph Curry\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/article/ali-wong-golden-state-valkyries-20332724.php\">comedian Ali Wong\u003c/a> were in the audience. The \u003ca href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3TzNm7gRgI\">Warriors’ Brandin Podziemski\u003c/a> is also a frequent face at Valkyries games.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Valkyries’ away games are as scheduled:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Thursday, June 4, at 6 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, June 6, at 12 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Las Vegas Aces\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, June 12, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Seattle Storm\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, June 21, at 1 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Las Vegas Aces\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Saturday, July 4, at 10 a.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Atlanta Dream\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Monday, July 6, at 4:30 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Washington Mystics\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, July 8, at 4 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Toronto Tempo\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, July 10, at 4:30 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Connecticut Sun\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, July 15, at 5 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Indiana Fever\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, July 29, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Phoenix Mercury\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, Aug. 7, at 6:30 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Dallas Wings\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, Aug. 9, at 4 p.m: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Los Angeles Sparks\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Friday, Aug. 21, at 4:30 p.m: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Chicago Sky\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Monday, Aug. 24, at 5 p.m: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 5 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Connecticut Sun\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Thursday, Aug. 27, at 5 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs New York Liberty\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sunday, Aug. 30, at 4 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Portland Fire\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Portland Fire\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Thursday, Sept. 24, at 7 p.m.: \u003c/strong>Valkyries vs. Los Angeles Sparks\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>You can keep an eye on \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/schedule/broadcast-schedule\">the broadcast schedule\u003c/a> on the Valkyries’ website to see your options for streaming or live TV.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How can I get tickets to a Valkyries game?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>You can \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/tickets\">get tickets for home games\u003c/a> at the Valkyries’ official website, where options include mini-plans for multiple games or season tickets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Single-game tickets currently start at relatively affordable prices. As of publication, for example, tickets for the May 25 game start \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/golden-state-valkyries-vs-connecticut-sun-san-francisco-california-05-25-2026/event/1C006435CB183623\">around $27 but run to over $216\u003c/a>. (Fans have noted that tickets have gotten \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfgate.com/valkyries/article/valkyries-most-expensive-ticket-wnba-game-20325914.php\">more expensive as the hype for the team has grown\u003c/a>.)\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>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. Valqueeries organizer Megan Doherty-Baker said \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12047885/how-to-be-a-valkyries-fan-a-beginners-guide-to-bay-area-wnba-fandom#valkyries-schedule\">in 2025\u003c/a> that fan groups like hers may also have a quick connection to people who are looking to sell or just generously give out their tickets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(But be careful, and verify the person before sending any money — \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\u003ch2>What time should I arrive at Chase Center?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Doors are scheduled to open \u003ca href=\"https://chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/\">at least 90 minutes\u003c/a> before a game starts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are new to the sport, like this reporter was last year, know that basketball games move \u003cem>fast,\u003c/em> and it is best to be in your seat at tip-off. Games, which are split into quarters, are around two to two-and-a-half hours long and it can be easy to miss something once play gets started (unlike, for example, baseball).\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where can I find Golden State Valkyries merch?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Some select games and themed nights at Chase Center may have promotions or complimentary merch for all fans or people who arrive early.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For example, on April 25, attendees will get \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/schedule?season=2026&month=all&location=all&opponent=all&gclsrc=aw.ds&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=DEPT_SEM_Google_Brand_Acquisition_GSV_Bay-Area_US_Tickets_ROAS_BAU_02-05-2026&utm_term=valkyries&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23527058315&gbraid=0AAAAACpgn3d2oPa-VcSg7etJhBLaKdwcX&gclid=CjwKCAjwnN3OBhA8EiwAfpTYerWar1or-i19ohlTr_DUZOfqVv77H1ryO6-Esj5LVadL6-FZAof4ERoC7xMQAvD_BwE&upcoming=false\">a free Valkyries shirt\u003c/a> that says, “Born in the Bay.” On July 20, the team will distribute a very cute plushie of Hello Kitty wearing Valkyries merch. Another special night to keep note of: June 28 is the 30th anniversary of the WNBA.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-M\">on the hunt for merch\u003c/a> — \u003ca href=\"https://shop.valkyries.com/en/\">the Valkyries have plenty\u003c/a> in the team’s signature\u003ca href=\"https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/olivia-rodrigo-prince-hole-purple-pop-music-history\"> pop-girl purple\u003c/a> — check out the stands at Portals 10, 21, 41, 42, 47 and 59.\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>The Golden State Shop right outside Chase Center, which stays \u003ca href=\"https://goldenstate.com/shop/\">open late after games\u003c/a>, also sells merch. Keep in mind: The line after a game will be \u003cem>long\u003c/em>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some merch can also be found online, including at the \u003ca href=\"https://shop.valkyries.com/\">official Valkyries shop\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://wnbastore.nba.com/Golden-State-Valkyries/t-13183796+z-9844603-3130371206?vap=1&ab=%7Bwt-static_graphic%7D%7Bpt-tlp%7D%7Bal-a_spot%7D%7Bct-team%7D%7Btt-valkyries%7D%7Baid-091825%7D\">the WNBA store\u003c/a>, local brands like \u003ca href=\"https://www.oaklandish.com/collections/golden-state-valkyries-tees?srsltid=AfmBOooGOo08ctr3-Pf7IG-YyXXCATiZ8eSWRFcPNrBIMKdxNZOXHdbs\">Oaklandish\u003c/a> and retailers like \u003ca href=\"https://www.homage.com/collections/wnba-x-peanuts/products/peanuts-peppermint-patty-x-golden-state-valkyries\">Homage\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/f/golden-state-valkyries?srsltid=AfmBOootDt1JVfLmLqK5fBIm0qMA_zYCr5qdK117rjHshqK-zhYh9fxA\">Dick’s Sporting Goods\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In this reporter’s experience, Bay Area designers unveil their own specialized fan merch around WNBA season and can be found on Instagram and at block parties and street festivals. They are unofficial — and unaffiliated with the WNBA — but some designs may be worth keeping an eye on.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What is the Chase Center bag policy for Valkyries games?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Backpacks (except for single-compartment drawstring bags) of any kind are \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-B\">prohibited from entering the arena\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Any other bag, including diaper bags, must be smaller than 14 inches by 14 inches by 6 inches.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Attendees with bags that do not meet the requirements can check them at 16th Street & Terry Francois Boulevard for $10. Bag check opens an hour before doors open and closes an hour after the event ends.\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>Here are some more things \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-P\">you cannot bring into Chase Center\u003c/a>:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Reusable 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 acceptable.)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Lights, tripods and professional recording equipment\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\u003cli>Skateboards, scooters, rollerblades, bicycles and helmets\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>You can bring:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-C\">Baby bags\u003c/a>, plastic baby bottles and formula\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-S\">Strollers\u003c/a>, which can be checked in at Portals 13 or 52 during the event\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-U\">Umbrellas\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-B\">Binoculars and their cases\u003c/a>, in most instances, but they will likely be searched.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>Is food available at Chase Center?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Outside food and drink are \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-F\">\u003cem>not\u003c/em> permitted \u003c/a>into the Chase Center. There are a lot of food stalls and bars within the center, with drink stands scattered throughout.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can find \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/food-and-beverage/\">a list of restaurants on the Chase Center website\u003c/a>, although in this reporter’s experience, not all of them will be open on the day of a game. But there will be reliable game-day bites, like chicken tenders and fries.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"WherecanIfindparkingnearChaseCenterforaValkyriesgame\">\u003c/a>Where can I find parking near Chase Center?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Chase Center has \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/transportation/parking/\">a guide to its parking garage\u003c/a> on 99 Warriors Way, including \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/transportation/parking/#event-day\">what to do during event days.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the Chase Center website, event parking begins two hours before the start time, and the rate “is an additional $75, on top of any accrued public parking fees.” You can try \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/chase-center-tickets-san-francisco/venue/230012?addOnType=PARKING\">reserving parking on Ticketmaster\u003c/a>.\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 against the Los Angeles Sparks at Chase Center on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>You can also book a spot using \u003ca href=\"https://spothero.com/destination/san-francisco/chase-center-parking\">the third-party parking website SpotHero\u003c/a>, which may have cheaper parking options farther away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can take a chance on street parking in the area \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/getting-around/drive-park/oracle-park-and-chase-center-special-event-parking-regulations\">by using this guide from SFMTA\u003c/a>, but be sure to be careful of parking tickets.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What should I know about rideshare services like Uber, Lyft and Waymo at Chase Center?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Getting to Chase Center using a rideshare service will likely be pretty smooth — it’s getting \u003cem>out \u003c/em>of the area after 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://chasecenter.com/lyft/\">multiple designated pickup and drop-off zones\u003c/a> located around Chase Center, including:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Warriors Way & Terry Francois Boulevard\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Mission Bay Boulevard (South)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Fourth Street & Campus Way\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Zone 1 and 2: Pier 52\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Zone 3 and 4: Mission Rock Resort\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>What are my public transit options at Chase Center?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Public transit schedules are always subject to change, so check the timetable for your route on the day of the event, and be cognizant of when service ends so you don’t get stuck far from home.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A map of public transit options can be \u003ca href=\"https://cdn.nba.com/teams/uploads/sites/1610612744/2024/08/CC_BM_20231005_CC_Transportation_MapCC_BM_20231005_CC_Transportation_Map_1080x1080.jpg\">found on the Valkyries’ website\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>SF Muni\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Any Chase Center patron who shows their event ticket at Muni turnstiles and boarding platforms can ride Muni \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/fares/your-chase-center-event-ticket-your-muni-fare\">without charge\u003c/a>. (This offer expires at 2 a.m.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There is a Muni Metro rail stop serving the venue on the T Third Street line, which connects Chinatown and Sunnydale. See \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfmta.com/routes/t-third-street\">the Muni Metro schedule\u003c/a>.\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>\u003cstrong>BART\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Several BART stations offer convenient connections to get to the venue.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Muni Route 22 connects to the 16th Street and Mission BART station. The closest stop is located on Third Street and Gene Friend Way.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Muni Route 15 serves as a connection to the Montgomery Street BART station. The closest stop is located on Third Street and Warriors Way.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>You can transfer to the new Union Square Muni Metro rail station from Powell BART station via the underground corridor to take the T Third Street line or S Shuttle Mission Bay line to the UCSF/Chase Center stop.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can find more information and schedules \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/\">on the BART website\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Caltrain\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you take Caltrain to San Francisco, you can walk 15-20 minutes along Fourth Street and turn left on Gene Friend Way to Chase Center.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can also transfer from the San Francisco Caltrain station to the Muni Metro T Third Street platform, which is located across the street, and take Muni to the UCSF/Chase Center stop.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are attending a weekend game, be sure to check \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/dollarfares?active_tab=route_explorer_tab\">Caltrain’s weekend schedule to make sure you know when the last train leaves\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Riders 18 and under can ride for \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/dollarfares\">$1 one-way or buy a day pass for $2\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Biking\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chase Center offers guests \u003ca href=\"https://chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-B\">free bike valet\u003c/a> for up to 300 bikes beginning an hour before start time. The valet is available along 16th Street, on the south side of Chase Center.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There is also \u003ca href=\"https://www.lyft.com/bikes/bay-wheels\">a Lyft/Bay Wheels bike share station\u003c/a> on Warriors Way.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What should I know about accessibility at Chase Center?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Chase Center addresses \u003ca href=\"https://chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/accessible-services/\">questions about accessibility\u003c/a> in its \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-A\">online A-to-Z Guide\u003c/a>, which includes information about accessible parking, hearing assistance, ADA-compliant restrooms and service animals. For more questions, fans can contact \u003ca href=\"mailto:guestexperiences@warriors.com\">guestexperiences@warriors.com\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the guide, all entrances are wheelchair accessible.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12049845\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12049845\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-79_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1284\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-79_qed.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-79_qed-160x103.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/20250516_ValkyriesHomeOpener_GC-79_qed-1536x986.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Golden State Valkyries forward Kayla Thornton (5) attempts to make a basket during the first quarter at the Valkyries’ home opener at Chase Center on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The venue said guests can request complimentary wheelchair escorts by visiting the kiosks located at Portal 13 and Portal 53, or by texting 833-CC4-FANS. Wheelchairs are not available for rent.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Accessible parking in \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/transportation/#drive\">the parking garage\u003c/a> is available on a first-come, first-served basis.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to \u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/plan-your-visit/a-to-z-guide/#letter-A\">the guide\u003c/a>, “disabled and accessible seating is available at Chase Center in all ticket price categories, based on availability.” Guests buying these seats “may purchase companion seating as well. Chase Center will attempt to reasonably accommodate any concern regarding guests with disabilities.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"ValkyrieswatchpartiesintheBayAreaifyoudidntgettickets\">\u003c/a>I didn’t get tickets. Are there any Valkyries watch parties in the Bay Area?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>There will definitely be more watch parties popping up throughout the WNBA season (including at \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/thetwelfthmarin\">a Marin women’s sports bar\u003c/a> scheduled to open this summer).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Local sports journalist Maya Goldberg-Safir, who writes about \u003ca href=\"https://wnbaroughnotes.substack.com/\">the WNBA in Rough Notes\u003c/a>, also pulled together \u003ca href=\"https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1yIDpg_Y8ULIO2-IdC2H3wmR9nZeXbl4&ll=38.06201922218028%2C-121.05610149375002&z=8\">a \u003cem>very\u003c/em> thorough map of Valkyries fandom spots\u003c/a> throughout the Bay Area, including parties, extended Ballhalla communities and women’s/queer pickup basketball.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1yIDpg_Y8ULIO2-IdC2H3wmR9nZeXbl4&ehbc=2E312F\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" scrolling=\"yes\" class=\"iframe-class\" frameborder=\"0\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Spots that have aired Valkyries games, hosted viewing parties in the past or are part of the \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.wnba.com/bar-network\">Valkyries Bar Network\u003c/a> include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>San Francisco\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/events/?brand=Thrive%20city\">Thrive City\u003c/a> (the venue connected to Chase Center) may show away games on a large screen outside the arena. Be sure to check the website beforehand to verify.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13977457/rikkis-first-womens-sports-bar-bay-area-open-castro-sf-valkyries\">Rikki’s\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.mothersf.com/\">Mother\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://valleytavern.com/\">Valley Tavern\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.atwatertavern.com/\">Atwater Tavern\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://harmonicbrewing.com/\">Harmonic Brewing Thrive City\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.harrysbarsf.com/\">Harry’s Bar\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://hitopsbar.com/\">Hi Tops\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://standarddeviantbrewing.com/\">Standard Deviant\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://splashsportsbar.com/\">Splash Sports Bar\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Oakland\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/georgeandwaltsbar/\">George & Walt’s\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://line51beer.com/\">Line 51 Brewing\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://xingones.com/\">Xingones Cantina\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://lucybluebar.com/\">Lucy Blue\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://benandnicks.com/\">Ben n’ Nicks\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.pickleathletics.com/public-events/\">Pickle Athletics\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"http://whitehorsebar.com/\">The White Horse\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>South Bay\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.rookieslodge.com/\">Rookie’s Sports Lodge\u003c/a> in San José\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "ballhalla-rising-golden-state-valkyries-cool-off-phoenix-mercury-to-take-home-opener",
"title": "Ballhalla Rising: Golden State Valkyries Cool Off Phoenix Mercury to Take Home Opener",
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"headTitle": "Ballhalla Rising: Golden State Valkyries Cool Off Phoenix Mercury to Take Home Opener | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>The seats were packed with purple as the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082769/the-valkyries-first-season-was-a-huge-success-can-they-take-it-to-the-next-level\">Golden State Valkyries \u003c/a>kicked off their second season in the WNBA at San Francisco’s Chase Center on Sunday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When I go in there, I just get goosebumps,” forward Kayla Thornton said in a postgame interview. “If I was on the other side, I would feel very intimidated.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That home court advantage worked well for the team. Their opponents, the Phoenix Mercury, got a head start in the first quarter, but the Valkyries upped their game in the second, coming to a score of 48 to 31 at halftime.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The score got tighter going into the fourth quarter, as is typical for the team, but a strong defense helped the Valkyries finish with a 95-79 win in front of a characteristic loud and enthusiastic crowd.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As returning guard Veronica Burton put it, “We have the best home court in the WNBA.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12083065\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12083065\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-29-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-29-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-29-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-29-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ashley Richardson cheers during the Golden State Valkyries’ home opener against the Phoenix Mercury at Chase Center in San Francisco on May 10, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Last season, the Valkyries became the first WNBA team to make the playoffs in their expansion season. This year, Golden State faces high expectations to not only repeat that victory, but also take it further.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So far, the team and general manager Ohemaa Nyanin have made several controversial roster decisions, starting with a WNBA draft in April that saw a \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7262396/2026/05/08/flaujae-johnson-golden-state-valkyries-seattle-storm-trade/\">draft-day trade\u003c/a> of eighth-overall pick Flau’jae Johnson.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most recently, before their first game against the Seattle Storm on Friday, the team waived fan-favorite Kate Martin.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12083063\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12083063\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-25-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-25-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-25-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-25-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Golden State Valkyries play the Phoenix Mercury during their home opener at Chase Center in San Francisco on May 10, 2026. The game marked the start of the Valkyries’ second WNBA season. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It’s tough because you just grow to love everybody,” season-ticket-holder Rachel Dorney told KQED while waiting in line to get into the stadium. “Like last year when [Julie] Vanloo left, that was really hard. I had her jersey. But she’s still a part of the Valkyries even though she’s not on our team anymore.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even so, fans want to trust the process.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s hard to listen to all the noise, all the people who are really upset,” Dorney said. “I think last year it worked out pretty well, so I think I trust the GM, I trust the coaches. It seems like they have a very good game plan.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12083067\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12083067\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-37-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-37-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-37-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-37-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Golden State Valkyries Kayla Thornton and Janelle Salaun talk to the press after the team’s win against the Phoenix Mercury during their home opener at Chase Center in San Francisco on May 10, 2026. The game marked the start of the Valkyries’ second WNBA season. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Dorney came to the game with their mom, Gail, for Mother’s Day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I don’t really need flowers or brunch,” Gail Dorney said. “This is kind of our thing. And we’ve always done this together.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The game was a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12047885/how-to-be-a-valkyries-fan-a-beginners-guide-to-bay-area-wnba-fandom\">family affair for many in Ballhalla\u003c/a>, as the arena is called — playing on the name of the place in Norse mythology where the Valkyries guide the souls of Warriors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Andrea and Brian Roberts brought their two daughters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12083066\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12083066\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-35-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-35-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-35-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-35-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Golden State Valkyries celebrate the team’s win against the Phoenix Mercury during their home opener at Chase Center in San Francisco on May 10, 2026. The game marked the start of the Valkyries’ second WNBA season. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It’s really cool because we’re different than all the other WNBA teams because we don’t have one star player, we’re all amazing players,” said Katherine Roberts, 14.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The teen’s prediction for the Valkyries second season?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re gonna win them all.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Valkyries host the Chicago Sky on Wednesday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>The seats were packed with purple as the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12082769/the-valkyries-first-season-was-a-huge-success-can-they-take-it-to-the-next-level\">Golden State Valkyries \u003c/a>kicked off their second season in the WNBA at San Francisco’s Chase Center on Sunday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“When I go in there, I just get goosebumps,” forward Kayla Thornton said in a postgame interview. “If I was on the other side, I would feel very intimidated.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That home court advantage worked well for the team. Their opponents, the Phoenix Mercury, got a head start in the first quarter, but the Valkyries upped their game in the second, coming to a score of 48 to 31 at halftime.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The score got tighter going into the fourth quarter, as is typical for the team, but a strong defense helped the Valkyries finish with a 95-79 win in front of a characteristic loud and enthusiastic crowd.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As returning guard Veronica Burton put it, “We have the best home court in the WNBA.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12083065\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12083065\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-29-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-29-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-29-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-29-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ashley Richardson cheers during the Golden State Valkyries’ home opener against the Phoenix Mercury at Chase Center in San Francisco on May 10, 2026. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Last season, the Valkyries became the first WNBA team to make the playoffs in their expansion season. This year, Golden State faces high expectations to not only repeat that victory, but also take it further.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So far, the team and general manager Ohemaa Nyanin have made several controversial roster decisions, starting with a WNBA draft in April that saw a \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7262396/2026/05/08/flaujae-johnson-golden-state-valkyries-seattle-storm-trade/\">draft-day trade\u003c/a> of eighth-overall pick Flau’jae Johnson.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most recently, before their first game against the Seattle Storm on Friday, the team waived fan-favorite Kate Martin.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12083063\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12083063\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-25-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-25-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-25-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-25-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Golden State Valkyries play the Phoenix Mercury during their home opener at Chase Center in San Francisco on May 10, 2026. The game marked the start of the Valkyries’ second WNBA season. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It’s tough because you just grow to love everybody,” season-ticket-holder Rachel Dorney told KQED while waiting in line to get into the stadium. “Like last year when [Julie] Vanloo left, that was really hard. I had her jersey. But she’s still a part of the Valkyries even though she’s not on our team anymore.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even so, fans want to trust the process.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s hard to listen to all the noise, all the people who are really upset,” Dorney said. “I think last year it worked out pretty well, so I think I trust the GM, I trust the coaches. It seems like they have a very good game plan.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12083067\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12083067\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-37-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-37-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-37-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-37-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Golden State Valkyries Kayla Thornton and Janelle Salaun talk to the press after the team’s win against the Phoenix Mercury during their home opener at Chase Center in San Francisco on May 10, 2026. The game marked the start of the Valkyries’ second WNBA season. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Dorney came to the game with their mom, Gail, for Mother’s Day.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I don’t really need flowers or brunch,” Gail Dorney said. “This is kind of our thing. And we’ve always done this together.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The game was a \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12047885/how-to-be-a-valkyries-fan-a-beginners-guide-to-bay-area-wnba-fandom\">family affair for many in Ballhalla\u003c/a>, as the arena is called — playing on the name of the place in Norse mythology where the Valkyries guide the souls of Warriors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Andrea and Brian Roberts brought their two daughters.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12083066\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12083066\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-35-BL-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-35-BL-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-35-BL-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/05/260510-VALKYRIESHOMEOPENER-35-BL-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Golden State Valkyries celebrate the team’s win against the Phoenix Mercury during their home opener at Chase Center in San Francisco on May 10, 2026. The game marked the start of the Valkyries’ second WNBA season. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It’s really cool because we’re different than all the other WNBA teams because we don’t have one star player, we’re all amazing players,” said Katherine Roberts, 14.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The teen’s prediction for the Valkyries second season?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re gonna win them all.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Valkyries host the Chicago Sky on Wednesday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "the-valkyries-first-season-was-a-huge-success-can-they-take-it-to-the-next-level",
"title": "The Valkyries’ First Season Was a Huge Success. Can They Take It to the Next Level?",
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"headTitle": "The Valkyries’ First Season Was a Huge Success. Can They Take It to the Next Level? | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Golden State Valkyries’ first season was a huge success. The team sold out every home game and became the first WNBA team ever to make the playoffs in their expansion season.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">This year, expectations are high. Marisa Ingemi of \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.valkyriesbeat.com/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Valkyries Beat\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> joins us to preview the Valkyries’ second season season, and provide some helpful tips for new fans.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Links:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.valkyriesbeat.com/p/2026-wnba-season-preview-from-a-valkyries-perspective\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">2026 WNBA Season Preview from a Valkyries perspective\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (Valkyries Beat)\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Some members of the KQED podcast team are represented by The Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, San Francisco-Northern California Local.\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https://playlist.megaphone.fm?e=KQINC4292072038&light=true\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:00:00] I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra and welcome to The Bay, local news to keep you rooted. Last year in their first season ever, the Golden State Valkyries exceeded all expectations. Not only were they good, but the vibes? Immaculate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:00:23] Yeah it’s gonna be loud, it’s going to be crowded. They sold out all of their games last year. You like legitimately get chills.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:00:32] This weekend, the Valkyries returned to the court for their first regular season game, and the expectations are high. Today, we talk with Valkyries beat reporter, Marissa Ingemi, about what to expect of the Valkyries in their second season and everything you need to know to get on the bandwagon if you haven’t already.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:01:06] The Valkyries have started their second season. This is, of course, after a massively successful first season. Can you remind us how successful that was.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:01:18] So the Valkyries were the first WNBA team to ever make the playoffs in their expansion season, which was very unexpected. A lot of people projected the Valkyries to be the worst team in the league or like pretty close to it, so then midway through the season it became clear like oh, they might be a playoff team. That’s kind of crazy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>Playoffs tape \u003c/strong>[00:01:39] Tough three, no good, and that’s it. Put an X next to their name. The Golden State Valkyries are off to the playoffs. First expansion franchise In WNBA history.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:01:51] They also sold out every game, like it was truly a phenomenon in a way that I don’t think any women’s sports franchise has ever really reached yet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:02:03] I feel like another measurement of success and their success so far is just the vibes of Chase Center when you go to a Valkyries home game. I mean, how would you describe that feeling?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:02:16] Yeah, ballhalla is like something I’ve never experienced before. Last season I went to every WNBA arena and there were some that were like pretty special. Like Indiana would sell out or Seattle was pretty cool. New York would come close to selling out but just the way the fan base in the community has embraced the Valkyries is pretty special.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>Sports commentator \u003c/strong>[00:02:42] What do you say to Ballhalla and the fans, Janelle? Thank you, guys!\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:02:53] It’s so community-centered because the Valkyries have done such a great job of reaching women, reaching new sports fans, reaching the queer community. And it really does feel like a celebration of community at these games. The anonymous general manager’s poll on the WNBA that just came out, I think it was unanimous, almost, voted that the Valkyries had the best home field advantage in the WMBA. And I think that’s probably true, or home court advantage, I guess. It’s really special, it’s really unique.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:03:22] Fast forward to today, Marisa, how are you feeling about the Valkyries’ second season?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:03:29] Intrigued. It’s interesting because they’ve really harped on like continuity and they brought back a lot of their team from last year. Last year everyone was just kind of happy to be here for it to an extent it’s like oh there’s a WNBA team here now how awesome is that. Now it’s kind of like okay you guys have bought in to who you are and how last year went. That wasn’t a fluke. So now it’s, like, are you able to elevate? Do you make the playoffs again? Can you win a playoff game? And I think if they were to be stagnant or to regress that would be. A big disappointment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:04:03] Get me up to speed here Marisa, because I gotta be honest, I’m still sort of a newbie when it comes to the WNBA. I actually still have not been to a Valkyries game, but this season will be the season. As a newbee, what should I know about what kind of game the Valkyries plan to play this season?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:04:24] Yeah. So their big goal is they want to be the best defensive team in the league. They want to, be really hard to play against. They want it to make it so other teams don’t really score on them. They were a pretty good defensive team last year. They were one of the best in the League. Last year, they were also a team that shot a ton of three-pointers and early in the season did not make a lot of them. I would expect a similar type of offensive approach of a team that really likes to shoot, but I think they might be a little bit more intentional about that shot selection. I think that will be really important for them. Their calling card is going to be defense and playing in these really tough gritty games.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:05:02] If you were to recommend for me, who would be the people that you think I should look out for this season? Like the big names and the big players to know.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:05:12] Gabby Williams is their big free agent signing on the French national team. She comes from Seattle and there’s high expectations for her. She’s going to be like an integral part of the team.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>Sports commentator \u003c/strong>[00:05:21] Gabby pokes it free. This is what Seattle does. They rip, and they run. And the score by Gabby Williams…\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:05:29] And then Kayla Thornton was the lone All-Star last year, and then she injured her knee, like, in a practice right after the All-star game. So she missed the entire second half of the year. But she’s healthy now and looking to have a full season and kind of like her comeback. And does she have the same kind of a year? Because in the first half of this season last year she was like a breakout player.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>Sports commentator \u003c/strong>[00:05:48] Thought about the three, Thornton takes it and makes it. It’s great to see Kayla Thornton, knock one down\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:05:57] And then coming back, Veronica Burton, the league’s most improved player, starting point guard. She’s kind of like the de facto captain of the team. Natalie really trusts her on the court. She’s really the facilitator and she’s an excellent defensive player too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>Sports commentator \u003c/strong>[00:06:11] Here comes the pick. Burton on Buecker’s, flips it up, and one!\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:06:24] And you mentioned Natalie, that’s Natalie Nakase, the head coach of the team, right? Yes. How would you describe Natalie Nakase’s personality as a coach and I guess the kind of tone that she sets for the team?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:06:37] Yeah, she’s extremely fiery.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>Media \u003c/strong>[00:06:41] And coach for you, you got the hard part out of the way with all the first from last year to bounce off of Megan’s question a little bit, but now comes the even more difficult part, keeping that momentum alive. As a head coach, how can you do that without spoiling anything on the road ahead?\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>Natalie Nakase \u003c/strong>[00:06:57] We didn’t win last year.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>Media \u003c/strong>[00:06:59] Oh, no, we should, well, maybe in the playoffs and whatnot.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>Natalie Nakase \u003c/strong>[00:07:02] No, I’m… the momentum is to win it.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:07:04] That’s something that the players always say about her is she’s like always yelling and screaming and cursing, but like lovingly, they’ve really bought in. Last year she like called herself a psycho and like she kept swearing during the press conferences at the end of the year. It was really funny, but she notices like all the nuance, all the details, like she is so locked in on this as her job and her life. And I think that’s why the players really believe in her because they know that like knows all the intricacies of everything they’re dealing with.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>Natalie Nakase \u003c/strong>[00:07:34] You know, year two for us, we spent more time together in the off season. We like each other even more than last year. So now we’re going for it. That’s our expectations. It was our expectations last year, we just didn’t say too much about it, but our goal is always to win.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:07:59] Coming up, what the mood is like around the team and why the WNBA is growing even more. Stay with us.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:08:21] You’ve of course, been around the team a bunch. What is the mood like lately, especially heading into the second season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:08:27] It’s interesting because like I said, the expectations just feel different, like they’re not going to sneak up on anyone anymore. And it’s been a little chaotic this preseason. Thursday morning, they announced the roster and Kate Martin gets waved and that created a bunch of shockwaves. Starting center Iliana Rupert is pregnant and that kind of came out of nowhere for them. So like it’s interesting, because they do have that core of the team of Williams and Burton and Hayes and Thornton. But it might look a little different than we thought even a week ago. So it’s, I think there’s a lot of anticipation to just like get to the basketball games.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:09:07] Well, stepping back just a little bit, Marissa, it’s been a year since the Valkyries came onto the scene. What do you think has changed in women’s sports just in the last year as a result of this team’s success?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:09:21] Well, the Valkyries are the first billion-dollar franchise in women’s sports history, so that’s pretty huge. There’s more expansion teams than the WNBA. Portland and Toronto are in the league now. Teams in Cleveland, Philadelphia, and Detroit are going to be coming in in the next few years. Connecticut’s moving to Houston next year, so like, the WNBA footprint is expanding and changing a little bit, so, that’s kind of worth keeping an eye on. But yeah, even in the Bay Area, like, there’s going to two women’s volleyball teams next year. In San Francisco in two different leagues. There’s a professional women’s baseball team. There’s women’s football team in the Golden State Storm that play in Oakland. The Bay Breakers, the rugby team that play Lodi. So like the footprint in the Bay Area and women’s sports is just expanding and growing and that audience is there for it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:10:09] You mentioned the value of the team going up. Does that mean that the players are also getting paid a lot more?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:10:15] Not specifically related to that, but they are because in the off season, the league had negotiations for its collective bargaining agreement. So the players union, um, and the league were negotiating for higher salaries and they got that. The super max deal, which is the highest contract a player could have went up from like 270,000 to over a million. The rookie deal went from being around 70,000, to 500,000. Um, so like. Yeah, the players have gotten paid, the salary cap is up, and it’s huge because it’ll just keep expanding from there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:10:56] Well Marisa, my last question for you here, what should I be prepared for when I go to my first Valkyries game? Like any advice from you for a new fan like me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:11:09] Yeah, it’s going to be loud. It’s going be crowded. They sold out all of their games last year. You legitimately get chills. I have covered a Super Bowl. I have cover Stanley Cup Game 7. I’ve been to World Series and I’ve never quite felt anything like the end of a Valkyries close game, like in the regular season and just feeling the emotion and just like how much it means to the community there. So you’re going to see a lot of purple. You’re going see a a lot people are dressed up, a lot of people who are just like really excited to feel a part of something. From everyone I know who’s like been to games as a fan, like it’s addictive. I know people who have never watched sports in their life who got season tickets after going to one game.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:11:49] So I’m hearing earbuds and prepared to keep my wallet open. Yeah, I would say so. Those, the food and beer costs there are quite significant.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:12:00] Yeah, new hyperfixation incoming it sounds like. Marisa thank you so much for joining me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:12:06] Thank you.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Golden State Valkyries’ first season was a huge success. The team sold out every home game and became the first WNBA team ever to make the playoffs in their expansion season.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">This year, expectations are high. Marisa Ingemi of \u003c/span>\u003ca href=\"https://www.valkyriesbeat.com/\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Valkyries Beat\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> joins us to preview the Valkyries’ second season season, and provide some helpful tips for new fans.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Links:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.valkyriesbeat.com/p/2026-wnba-season-preview-from-a-valkyries-perspective\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">2026 WNBA Season Preview from a Valkyries perspective\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (Valkyries Beat)\u003c/span>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Some members of the KQED podcast team are represented by The Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, San Francisco-Northern California Local.\u003c/span>\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https://playlist.megaphone.fm?e=KQINC4292072038&light=true\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:00:00] I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra and welcome to The Bay, local news to keep you rooted. Last year in their first season ever, the Golden State Valkyries exceeded all expectations. Not only were they good, but the vibes? Immaculate.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:00:23] Yeah it’s gonna be loud, it’s going to be crowded. They sold out all of their games last year. You like legitimately get chills.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:00:32] This weekend, the Valkyries returned to the court for their first regular season game, and the expectations are high. Today, we talk with Valkyries beat reporter, Marissa Ingemi, about what to expect of the Valkyries in their second season and everything you need to know to get on the bandwagon if you haven’t already.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:01:06] The Valkyries have started their second season. This is, of course, after a massively successful first season. Can you remind us how successful that was.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:01:18] So the Valkyries were the first WNBA team to ever make the playoffs in their expansion season, which was very unexpected. A lot of people projected the Valkyries to be the worst team in the league or like pretty close to it, so then midway through the season it became clear like oh, they might be a playoff team. That’s kind of crazy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>Playoffs tape \u003c/strong>[00:01:39] Tough three, no good, and that’s it. Put an X next to their name. The Golden State Valkyries are off to the playoffs. First expansion franchise In WNBA history.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:01:51] They also sold out every game, like it was truly a phenomenon in a way that I don’t think any women’s sports franchise has ever really reached yet.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:02:03] I feel like another measurement of success and their success so far is just the vibes of Chase Center when you go to a Valkyries home game. I mean, how would you describe that feeling?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:02:16] Yeah, ballhalla is like something I’ve never experienced before. Last season I went to every WNBA arena and there were some that were like pretty special. Like Indiana would sell out or Seattle was pretty cool. New York would come close to selling out but just the way the fan base in the community has embraced the Valkyries is pretty special.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>Sports commentator \u003c/strong>[00:02:42] What do you say to Ballhalla and the fans, Janelle? Thank you, guys!\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:02:53] It’s so community-centered because the Valkyries have done such a great job of reaching women, reaching new sports fans, reaching the queer community. And it really does feel like a celebration of community at these games. The anonymous general manager’s poll on the WNBA that just came out, I think it was unanimous, almost, voted that the Valkyries had the best home field advantage in the WMBA. And I think that’s probably true, or home court advantage, I guess. It’s really special, it’s really unique.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:03:22] Fast forward to today, Marisa, how are you feeling about the Valkyries’ second season?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:03:29] Intrigued. It’s interesting because they’ve really harped on like continuity and they brought back a lot of their team from last year. Last year everyone was just kind of happy to be here for it to an extent it’s like oh there’s a WNBA team here now how awesome is that. Now it’s kind of like okay you guys have bought in to who you are and how last year went. That wasn’t a fluke. So now it’s, like, are you able to elevate? Do you make the playoffs again? Can you win a playoff game? And I think if they were to be stagnant or to regress that would be. A big disappointment.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:04:03] Get me up to speed here Marisa, because I gotta be honest, I’m still sort of a newbie when it comes to the WNBA. I actually still have not been to a Valkyries game, but this season will be the season. As a newbee, what should I know about what kind of game the Valkyries plan to play this season?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:04:24] Yeah. So their big goal is they want to be the best defensive team in the league. They want to, be really hard to play against. They want it to make it so other teams don’t really score on them. They were a pretty good defensive team last year. They were one of the best in the League. Last year, they were also a team that shot a ton of three-pointers and early in the season did not make a lot of them. I would expect a similar type of offensive approach of a team that really likes to shoot, but I think they might be a little bit more intentional about that shot selection. I think that will be really important for them. Their calling card is going to be defense and playing in these really tough gritty games.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:05:02] If you were to recommend for me, who would be the people that you think I should look out for this season? Like the big names and the big players to know.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:05:12] Gabby Williams is their big free agent signing on the French national team. She comes from Seattle and there’s high expectations for her. She’s going to be like an integral part of the team.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>Sports commentator \u003c/strong>[00:05:21] Gabby pokes it free. This is what Seattle does. They rip, and they run. And the score by Gabby Williams…\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:05:29] And then Kayla Thornton was the lone All-Star last year, and then she injured her knee, like, in a practice right after the All-star game. So she missed the entire second half of the year. But she’s healthy now and looking to have a full season and kind of like her comeback. And does she have the same kind of a year? Because in the first half of this season last year she was like a breakout player.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>Sports commentator \u003c/strong>[00:05:48] Thought about the three, Thornton takes it and makes it. It’s great to see Kayla Thornton, knock one down\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:05:57] And then coming back, Veronica Burton, the league’s most improved player, starting point guard. She’s kind of like the de facto captain of the team. Natalie really trusts her on the court. She’s really the facilitator and she’s an excellent defensive player too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>Sports commentator \u003c/strong>[00:06:11] Here comes the pick. Burton on Buecker’s, flips it up, and one!\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:06:24] And you mentioned Natalie, that’s Natalie Nakase, the head coach of the team, right? Yes. How would you describe Natalie Nakase’s personality as a coach and I guess the kind of tone that she sets for the team?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:06:37] Yeah, she’s extremely fiery.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>Media \u003c/strong>[00:06:41] And coach for you, you got the hard part out of the way with all the first from last year to bounce off of Megan’s question a little bit, but now comes the even more difficult part, keeping that momentum alive. As a head coach, how can you do that without spoiling anything on the road ahead?\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>Natalie Nakase \u003c/strong>[00:06:57] We didn’t win last year.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>Media \u003c/strong>[00:06:59] Oh, no, we should, well, maybe in the playoffs and whatnot.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>Natalie Nakase \u003c/strong>[00:07:02] No, I’m… the momentum is to win it.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:07:04] That’s something that the players always say about her is she’s like always yelling and screaming and cursing, but like lovingly, they’ve really bought in. Last year she like called herself a psycho and like she kept swearing during the press conferences at the end of the year. It was really funny, but she notices like all the nuance, all the details, like she is so locked in on this as her job and her life. And I think that’s why the players really believe in her because they know that like knows all the intricacies of everything they’re dealing with.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>Natalie Nakase \u003c/strong>[00:07:34] You know, year two for us, we spent more time together in the off season. We like each other even more than last year. So now we’re going for it. That’s our expectations. It was our expectations last year, we just didn’t say too much about it, but our goal is always to win.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:07:59] Coming up, what the mood is like around the team and why the WNBA is growing even more. Stay with us.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:08:21] You’ve of course, been around the team a bunch. What is the mood like lately, especially heading into the second season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:08:27] It’s interesting because like I said, the expectations just feel different, like they’re not going to sneak up on anyone anymore. And it’s been a little chaotic this preseason. Thursday morning, they announced the roster and Kate Martin gets waved and that created a bunch of shockwaves. Starting center Iliana Rupert is pregnant and that kind of came out of nowhere for them. So like it’s interesting, because they do have that core of the team of Williams and Burton and Hayes and Thornton. But it might look a little different than we thought even a week ago. So it’s, I think there’s a lot of anticipation to just like get to the basketball games.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:09:07] Well, stepping back just a little bit, Marissa, it’s been a year since the Valkyries came onto the scene. What do you think has changed in women’s sports just in the last year as a result of this team’s success?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:09:21] Well, the Valkyries are the first billion-dollar franchise in women’s sports history, so that’s pretty huge. There’s more expansion teams than the WNBA. Portland and Toronto are in the league now. Teams in Cleveland, Philadelphia, and Detroit are going to be coming in in the next few years. Connecticut’s moving to Houston next year, so like, the WNBA footprint is expanding and changing a little bit, so, that’s kind of worth keeping an eye on. But yeah, even in the Bay Area, like, there’s going to two women’s volleyball teams next year. In San Francisco in two different leagues. There’s a professional women’s baseball team. There’s women’s football team in the Golden State Storm that play in Oakland. The Bay Breakers, the rugby team that play Lodi. So like the footprint in the Bay Area and women’s sports is just expanding and growing and that audience is there for it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:10:09] You mentioned the value of the team going up. Does that mean that the players are also getting paid a lot more?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:10:15] Not specifically related to that, but they are because in the off season, the league had negotiations for its collective bargaining agreement. So the players union, um, and the league were negotiating for higher salaries and they got that. The super max deal, which is the highest contract a player could have went up from like 270,000 to over a million. The rookie deal went from being around 70,000, to 500,000. Um, so like. Yeah, the players have gotten paid, the salary cap is up, and it’s huge because it’ll just keep expanding from there.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:10:56] Well Marisa, my last question for you here, what should I be prepared for when I go to my first Valkyries game? Like any advice from you for a new fan like me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:11:09] Yeah, it’s going to be loud. It’s going be crowded. They sold out all of their games last year. You legitimately get chills. I have covered a Super Bowl. I have cover Stanley Cup Game 7. I’ve been to World Series and I’ve never quite felt anything like the end of a Valkyries close game, like in the regular season and just feeling the emotion and just like how much it means to the community there. So you’re going to see a lot of purple. You’re going see a a lot people are dressed up, a lot of people who are just like really excited to feel a part of something. From everyone I know who’s like been to games as a fan, like it’s addictive. I know people who have never watched sports in their life who got season tickets after going to one game.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:11:49] So I’m hearing earbuds and prepared to keep my wallet open. Yeah, I would say so. Those, the food and beer costs there are quite significant.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:12:00] Yeah, new hyperfixation incoming it sounds like. Marisa thank you so much for joining me.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:12:06] Thank you.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>“I need a cigarette,” Gerri Bordash said as she flung open one of the many doors \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12055992/valkyries-fans-fly-south-for-historic-make-or-break-playoff-game\">at San José’s SAP Center\u003c/a> on Wednesday and walked out into the warm night air.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Like many other \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12047885/how-to-be-a-valkyries-fan-a-beginners-guide-to-bay-area-wnba-fandom\">fans of the Golden State Valkyries\u003c/a>, Bordash had some processing to do. Her team had just been eliminated from the first round of the WNBA playoffs, losing by a solitary point to the Minnesota Lynx, the top-seeded team in the league. On the other hand, this was the Valkyries’ inaugural season, and Bordash found a lot to be proud of.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ They were graceful. They fought like the valiant warriors that they are. Everyone can’t win, right? But for a first-time team, they did tremendously well and we’re very proud of them,“ Bordash said. She said she had tears in her eyes when the final buzzer sounded.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Valkyries’ 75–74 loss ended a phenomenal first season, in which they christened San Francisco’s Chase Center as “\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13980855/golden-state-valkyries-wnba-bay-area-djs-ladyryan-shellheart-chase-center\">Ballhalla\u003c/a>,” proceeded to sell out every home game and became the first WNBA expansion team to make it to the postseason in their debut season. For fans, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to welcome a WNBA team of their own to the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still inside the arena after the game, Rita Garcia stood alone with her back against a column, staring blankly as others lined up to buy Valkyries jerseys at 40% off.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12056524\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12056524\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-08-BL_QED-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-08-BL_QED-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-08-BL_QED-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-08-BL_QED-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Golden State Valkyries fans cheer during Game 2 of the Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx WNBA playoff game at the SAP Center in San José on Sept. 17, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“One basket. We could have won by just one basket,” said Garcia, her voice faltering. “Those last couple of minutes were so heartbreaking.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wearing a Valkyries letterman jacket, she said she was feeling “a lot of emotions.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ I just feel a deep connection with the team, with the essence of Ballhalla, the other fans, the community. The community is really welcoming to everyone,” Garcia said.[aside postID=news_12055670 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00420_TV_qed.jpg']Even longtime fans of the WNBA are surprised by how quickly — and how fiercely — the Bay Area embraced the Valkyries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ I’ve been waiting years for this and it’s been better than I ever dreamed it would be,” said Carissa Perkins of Oakland, who has followed the WNBA for six years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In just one 44-game season, the Valkyries have built a diehard following. Deafening cheers rattled SAP Center on Wednesday night as a sell-out crowd of 18,543 — some wearing lavender-sequin jackets, others in Valkyries-themed helmets — roared during the team’s first-ever home playoff game.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is what it’s supposed to be like to love sports,” Perkins said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Although a scheduling conflict prevented the team from hosting the Lynx at Chase Center, fans were determined to make SAP Center feel like theirs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Ballhalla is a mentality,” read one sign in the crowd.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Outside, DJs worked the block party while 11-year-old Eloise Annerau shot hoops on a temporary court.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12056525\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12056525 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-11-BL_QED-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-11-BL_QED-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-11-BL_QED-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-11-BL_QED-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Game 2 of the Golden State Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx WNBA playoff game begins at the SAP Center in San José on Sept. 17, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It’s gotten me more into basketball,” Eloise said of the team’s success. “ I started last year and I’ve gotten so much better. They’re really inspiring to me.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Her mother, Kristen Hutchins, leaned against a barricade and watched.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Since she started coming to Valkyries games, I’ve seen her play with more confidence and have more confidence in school and with friends,” Hutchins said. “ So sports is doing everything that I wanted it to do for her, which is to give her self-confidence and learn to be a leader.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ahead of the game, Caltrain rolled out a Valkyries-themed train. Purple tassels decorated the cars as staff passed out rally towels and hosted Valkyries trivia. Jason Schafer rode the train with his 8-year-old son.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12056629\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12056629 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-ValkyriesPlayoffs-01-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-ValkyriesPlayoffs-01-BL_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-ValkyriesPlayoffs-01-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-ValkyriesPlayoffs-01-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Caltrain employee Emely Anne Balingit gives away swag to Golden State Valkyries fans as they ride Caltrain to the SAP Center in San José on Sept. 17, 2025, for Game 2 of the Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx WNBA playoff. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Valkyries games have every kind of person, families, food and music,” Schafer said. “It’s just the most Bay Area thing ever.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While Valkyries fans are rabid about the team, frustration with the WNBA surfaced in the stands.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some wore shirts reading, “Pay them what you owe them,” referring to players’ push for a larger share of league revenue in negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement to replace the one that expires Oct. 31.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is a huge moment,” said E Gilliam, who held up a sign that read, “Pay the players.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12056533\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12056533 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-38-BL_QED-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-38-BL_QED-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-38-BL_QED-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-38-BL_QED-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Veronica Burton (left) and the Golden State Valkyries play the Minnesota Lynx during Game 2 of the WNBA playoffs at the SAP Center in San José on Sept. 17, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“There’s been a surge in viewership. There’s been a massive surge in attendance, and the players are not seeing a bump in wages,” Gilliam said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Valkyries broke multiple league attendance records this year and sold out all 22 home games. In just their first year, they have become the first women’s sports team to be valued at $500 million, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sportico.com/valuations/teams/2025/wnba-team-values-2025-golden-state-valkyries-1234857652/\">an analysis\u003c/a> by the sports industry publication Sportico.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yet most players on the Valkyries roster, like many across the WNBA, are on contracts that pay them \u003ca href=\"https://www.spotrac.com/wnba/contracts/_/team/gs\">less than $80,000 a year\u003c/a> on average. The team’s highest-paid player is 13-year veteran Tiffany Hayes, who signed a one-year, $200,000 contract in February.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the game’s end, it was difficult to tell that the Valkyries had lost amid the thunderous cheers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12056529\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12056529\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-18-BL_QED-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-18-BL_QED-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-18-BL_QED-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-18-BL_QED-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Golden State Valkyries fans cheer during Game 2 of the Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx WNBA playoff game at the SAP Center in San José on Sept. 17, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Chinaka Hodge, a member of the Valkyries’ “founding guard” of inaugural season ticket holders, said the night was “incredible” as she walked down the back stairs out of the arena with her mother.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ I remember when the WNBA came out and people said, ‘No one will ever come see women’s basketball,’” Hodge said. “ To see young boys cheering for these young women — to see people of all different sexual orientations, creeds, nationalities, races cheering for these women — was a dream of mine.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12056538\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12056538\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-66-BL_QED-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-66-BL_QED-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-66-BL_QED-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-66-BL_QED-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Golden State Valkyries team member Monique Billings looks out to the crowd after losing to the Minnesota Lynx during the WNBA Playoffs at SAP Center in San José on Sept. 17, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Across the street from SAP Center, it was hard to find a seat on the 9:53 p.m. train headed toward San Francisco. Its cars were packed with fans chatting about the game, but the vibe was anything but downtrodden.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lily Brown hung on to a rail as the train rocked its way down the tracks, with her seven-months-pregnant wife sitting nearby. The San Francisco couple were season ticket holders this year. Next year, they’re planning on investing in a good pair of earmuffs so they can bring their newborn.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Though the Golden State Valkyries were eliminated from the WNBA playoffs, fans expressed intense admiration for the new team and excitement about years to come.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>“I need a cigarette,” Gerri Bordash said as she flung open one of the many doors \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12055992/valkyries-fans-fly-south-for-historic-make-or-break-playoff-game\">at San José’s SAP Center\u003c/a> on Wednesday and walked out into the warm night air.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Like many other \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12047885/how-to-be-a-valkyries-fan-a-beginners-guide-to-bay-area-wnba-fandom\">fans of the Golden State Valkyries\u003c/a>, Bordash had some processing to do. Her team had just been eliminated from the first round of the WNBA playoffs, losing by a solitary point to the Minnesota Lynx, the top-seeded team in the league. On the other hand, this was the Valkyries’ inaugural season, and Bordash found a lot to be proud of.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ They were graceful. They fought like the valiant warriors that they are. Everyone can’t win, right? But for a first-time team, they did tremendously well and we’re very proud of them,“ Bordash said. She said she had tears in her eyes when the final buzzer sounded.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Valkyries’ 75–74 loss ended a phenomenal first season, in which they christened San Francisco’s Chase Center as “\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13980855/golden-state-valkyries-wnba-bay-area-djs-ladyryan-shellheart-chase-center\">Ballhalla\u003c/a>,” proceeded to sell out every home game and became the first WNBA expansion team to make it to the postseason in their debut season. For fans, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to welcome a WNBA team of their own to the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still inside the arena after the game, Rita Garcia stood alone with her back against a column, staring blankly as others lined up to buy Valkyries jerseys at 40% off.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12056524\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12056524\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-08-BL_QED-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-08-BL_QED-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-08-BL_QED-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-08-BL_QED-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Golden State Valkyries fans cheer during Game 2 of the Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx WNBA playoff game at the SAP Center in San José on Sept. 17, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“One basket. We could have won by just one basket,” said Garcia, her voice faltering. “Those last couple of minutes were so heartbreaking.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wearing a Valkyries letterman jacket, she said she was feeling “a lot of emotions.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ I just feel a deep connection with the team, with the essence of Ballhalla, the other fans, the community. The community is really welcoming to everyone,” Garcia said.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Even longtime fans of the WNBA are surprised by how quickly — and how fiercely — the Bay Area embraced the Valkyries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ I’ve been waiting years for this and it’s been better than I ever dreamed it would be,” said Carissa Perkins of Oakland, who has followed the WNBA for six years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In just one 44-game season, the Valkyries have built a diehard following. Deafening cheers rattled SAP Center on Wednesday night as a sell-out crowd of 18,543 — some wearing lavender-sequin jackets, others in Valkyries-themed helmets — roared during the team’s first-ever home playoff game.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is what it’s supposed to be like to love sports,” Perkins said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Although a scheduling conflict prevented the team from hosting the Lynx at Chase Center, fans were determined to make SAP Center feel like theirs.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Ballhalla is a mentality,” read one sign in the crowd.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Outside, DJs worked the block party while 11-year-old Eloise Annerau shot hoops on a temporary court.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12056525\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12056525 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-11-BL_QED-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-11-BL_QED-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-11-BL_QED-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-11-BL_QED-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Game 2 of the Golden State Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx WNBA playoff game begins at the SAP Center in San José on Sept. 17, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“It’s gotten me more into basketball,” Eloise said of the team’s success. “ I started last year and I’ve gotten so much better. They’re really inspiring to me.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Her mother, Kristen Hutchins, leaned against a barricade and watched.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Since she started coming to Valkyries games, I’ve seen her play with more confidence and have more confidence in school and with friends,” Hutchins said. “ So sports is doing everything that I wanted it to do for her, which is to give her self-confidence and learn to be a leader.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ahead of the game, Caltrain rolled out a Valkyries-themed train. Purple tassels decorated the cars as staff passed out rally towels and hosted Valkyries trivia. Jason Schafer rode the train with his 8-year-old son.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12056629\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1999px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12056629 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-ValkyriesPlayoffs-01-BL_qed.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1999\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-ValkyriesPlayoffs-01-BL_qed.jpg 1999w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-ValkyriesPlayoffs-01-BL_qed-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-ValkyriesPlayoffs-01-BL_qed-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1999px) 100vw, 1999px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Caltrain employee Emely Anne Balingit gives away swag to Golden State Valkyries fans as they ride Caltrain to the SAP Center in San José on Sept. 17, 2025, for Game 2 of the Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx WNBA playoff. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Valkyries games have every kind of person, families, food and music,” Schafer said. “It’s just the most Bay Area thing ever.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While Valkyries fans are rabid about the team, frustration with the WNBA surfaced in the stands.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some wore shirts reading, “Pay them what you owe them,” referring to players’ push for a larger share of league revenue in negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement to replace the one that expires Oct. 31.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is a huge moment,” said E Gilliam, who held up a sign that read, “Pay the players.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12056533\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-12056533 size-full\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-38-BL_QED-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-38-BL_QED-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-38-BL_QED-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-38-BL_QED-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Veronica Burton (left) and the Golden State Valkyries play the Minnesota Lynx during Game 2 of the WNBA playoffs at the SAP Center in San José on Sept. 17, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“There’s been a surge in viewership. There’s been a massive surge in attendance, and the players are not seeing a bump in wages,” Gilliam said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Valkyries broke multiple league attendance records this year and sold out all 22 home games. In just their first year, they have become the first women’s sports team to be valued at $500 million, according to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sportico.com/valuations/teams/2025/wnba-team-values-2025-golden-state-valkyries-1234857652/\">an analysis\u003c/a> by the sports industry publication Sportico.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Yet most players on the Valkyries roster, like many across the WNBA, are on contracts that pay them \u003ca href=\"https://www.spotrac.com/wnba/contracts/_/team/gs\">less than $80,000 a year\u003c/a> on average. The team’s highest-paid player is 13-year veteran Tiffany Hayes, who signed a one-year, $200,000 contract in February.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the game’s end, it was difficult to tell that the Valkyries had lost amid the thunderous cheers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12056529\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12056529\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-18-BL_QED-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-18-BL_QED-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-18-BL_QED-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-18-BL_QED-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Golden State Valkyries fans cheer during Game 2 of the Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx WNBA playoff game at the SAP Center in San José on Sept. 17, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Chinaka Hodge, a member of the Valkyries’ “founding guard” of inaugural season ticket holders, said the night was “incredible” as she walked down the back stairs out of the arena with her mother.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ I remember when the WNBA came out and people said, ‘No one will ever come see women’s basketball,’” Hodge said. “ To see young boys cheering for these young women — to see people of all different sexual orientations, creeds, nationalities, races cheering for these women — was a dream of mine.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12056538\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12056538\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-66-BL_QED-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-66-BL_QED-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-66-BL_QED-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/250917-VALKYRIESPLAYOFFS-66-BL_QED-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Golden State Valkyries team member Monique Billings looks out to the crowd after losing to the Minnesota Lynx during the WNBA Playoffs at SAP Center in San José on Sept. 17, 2025. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Across the street from SAP Center, it was hard to find a seat on the 9:53 p.m. train headed toward San Francisco. Its cars were packed with fans chatting about the game, but the vibe was anything but downtrodden.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lily Brown hung on to a rail as the train rocked its way down the tracks, with her seven-months-pregnant wife sitting nearby. The San Francisco couple were season ticket holders this year. Next year, they’re planning on investing in a good pair of earmuffs so they can bring their newborn.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "golden-state-valkyries-where-to-watch-the-wnba-playoffs-in-the-san-francisco-bay-area-online-on-tv-and-at-bars",
"title": "Valkyries Playoffs 2025: Where to Watch the WNBA in the San Francisco Bay Area",
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"headTitle": "Valkyries Playoffs 2025: Where to Watch the WNBA in the San Francisco Bay Area | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/golden-state-valkyries\">Golden State Valkyries\u003c/a> made WNBA history as the first expansion team to reach the playoffs in their inaugural season. General public tickets and verified resales for \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/valkyries/p/DOfanNsjSSs/\">their first home game\u003c/a> tonight are still available on \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C006325A934574D\">Ticketmaster\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As the first new team in the franchise in nearly 20 years, the Valkyries faced high expectations. And by finishing among the league’s top eight, they delivered.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Could I be more excited? Impossible,” said San Francisco Valkyries fan Vanessa Hutchinson-Szekely, a teacher and co-host of the podcast \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/valkyriessayless/\">Valkyries Say Less\u003c/a>. “It is amazing, historic, and I am so proud of the journey of these incredible women.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Because when we started this, we had no idea where we were going to go.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Playoffs start on Sunday. Read on to find out where you can follow the game in the coming weeks, whether it is on TV, bars or at San José’s SAP Center.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you’re new to basketball but want to join the Bay Area hype after the team’s big milestone, don’t worry — we’ve got a quick explainer below on what playoffs are.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>KQED also has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12047885/how-to-be-a-valkyries-fan-a-beginners-guide-to-bay-area-wnba-fandom\">a comprehensive guide\u003c/a> to the world of the WNBA and fan culture in the Bay Area for new viewers.\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\u003ch2>So, what \u003cem>are \u003c/em>playoffs?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>After a regular season of basketball, the top eight WNBA teams compete in a tournament. The \u003ca href=\"https://www.wnba.com/standings\">team\u003c/a> standings are:\u003c/p>\n\u003col>\n\u003cli>Minnesota Lynx\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Las Vegas Aces\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Atlanta Dream\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Phoenix Mercury\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>New York Liberty\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Indiana Fever\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Seattle Storm\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Golden State Valkyries\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ol>\n\u003cp>Dates and times are subject to change — or even canceled altogether — depending on how the games go, but the \u003ca href=\"https://www.wnba.com/news/2025-playoffs-and-finals-dates\">tentative schedule\u003c/a> in Pacific Standard Time is \u003ca href=\"https://www.wnba.com/schedule?season=2025&month=all\">as follows\u003c/a>:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Round 1\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003cstrong>Sunday at 10 a.m. on ESPN: Golden State Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx in Minneapolis\u003c/strong>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sunday noon on ABC: Indiana Fever vs. Atlanta Dream\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sunday at 2 p.m. on ESPN: New York Liberty vs. Phoenix Mercury\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sunday at 7 p.m. on ESPN: Seattle Storm vs. Las Vegas Aces\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN: Atlanta Dream vs. Indiana Fever\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN: Las Vegas Aces vs. Seattle Storm\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Wednesday at 5 p.m. on ESPN: Phoenix Mercury vs. New York Liberty\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday at 7 p.m. on ESPN: Minnesota Lynx vs. Golden State Valkyries in San Jose\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sept. 18 on ESPN2: Seattle Storm vs. Las Vegas Aces\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sept. 18 on ESPN2: Indiana Fever vs. Atlanta Dream\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sept. 19. on ESPN2: Golden State Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx in Minneapolis\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sept. 19. on ESPN2: New York Liberty vs. Phoenix Mercury\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Semifinals\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Sept. 21 at 3 p.m. on ABC\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sept. 21 at 5 p.m. on ESPN\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sept. 23 at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sept. 23 at 9:30 p.m. on ESPN\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN2\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sept. 26 at 9:30 p.m. on ESPN2\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sept. 28 at TBD on ESPN\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sept. 28 at 3 p.m. on ABC\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sept. 30 at TBD on ESPNU\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sept. 30 at TBD on ESPNU\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Finals\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Finals 1: Oct. 3 at 8 p.m. on ESPN\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Finals 2: Oct. 5 at 3 p.m. on ABC\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Finals 3: Oct. 8 at 8 p.m. on ESPN\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Finals 4: Oct. 10 at 8 p.m. on ESPN\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Finals 5: Oct. 12 at 3 p.m. on TBD\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Finals 6: Oct. 15 at 8 p.m. on ESPN\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Finals 7: Oct. 17 at 8 p.m. on ESPN\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>“[The] Valkyries have really attracted people [who] have never even watched basketball. And so there’s a learning curve,” said Hutchinson-Szekely’s co-host and fellow teacher, Raina Mast. “Normalize being confused. The structure is confusing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Essentially, Mast and Hutchinson-Szekely explained, each of the eight teams will play their first game on Sunday. In the first round, the highest-seeded teams face the lowest-seeded teams in a best-of-three series. The Valkyries will be facing the Minnesota Lynx, a team they have \u003ca href=\"https://www.espn.com/wnba/team/schedule/_/name/min/minnesota-lynx\">not beaten before\u003c/a>.\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>In the second round, the four remaining teams play a best-of-five series. In the finals, the last two teams compete in a best-of-five series for the championship.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You may see in sports coverage where people refer to a “2-2-1-1” structure. That basically designates where the games are played. So, the first “2” means the first two games are played on the stronger team’s home court. The next “2” means the following two games are played on the weaker team’s home court. And so on.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where can I watch the games?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>ESPN, ESPN2, ESNPU and ABC will be showing the games on TV. You can also get access to the channels through platforms like \u003ca href=\"https://tv.youtube.com/learn/wnba/\">YouTube TV\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.fubo.tv/welcome\">Fubo\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Watch the game in person\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>For fans hoping to see the game in person, know that any Valkyries home games will not be played at Chase Center — better known as “Ballhalla” — where every regular-season home game has \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/valkyries/status/1964507585060753897\">sold out\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Instead, the Valkyries will be playing their first playoff home game on Wednesday at \u003ca href=\"https://www.sapcenter.com/news/detail/sap-center-to-host-first-evergolden-state-valkyrieswnba-playoff-game#:~:text=SAP%20Center%20at%20San%20Jose,Harlem%20Globetrotters%20(multiple%20years).\">San José’s SAP Center\u003c/a>. [aside postID=news_12047885 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/golden-state-valkyries.png']Jess Smith, president of the Golden State Valkyries, announced the arena change to season ticket holders after the team won the Sept. 4 game that secured their spot in the playoffs. Smith said that Chase Center was booked for a tennis tournament years in advance, before the Bay was given a WNBA team.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re already working to ensure our playoff scheduling is protected going forward to prevent scheduling conflicts for future playoff runs in Ballhalla,” the letter reads.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The news left some fans frustrated, considering that being \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/valkyries-move-first-playoff-game-to-san-jose-21032074.php\">pushed out of their home \u003c/a>arena has happened to WNBA teams in the past. As Breanna Stewart, a player and vice president for the Women’s National Basketball Players Association, said to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/valkyries-move-first-playoff-game-to-san-jose-21032074.php\">SFGate\u003c/a>, “You don’t see it happening with the NBA.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Coach Natalie Nakase, for her part, said \u003ca href=\"https://www.si.com/wnba/valkyries/valkyries-coach-opens-up-about-unfortunate-playoff-situation\">in a press conference\u003c/a> that the Valkyries are still playing in their territory.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Even if we’re in San José, that’s still considered the Bay. We know that they’re going to travel, our fans are going to come,” she said. “For us, we’re still at home.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How to get to SAP Center\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you have never been to SAP Center, you’re in luck: downtown San José is very well connected by several public transit agencies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re coming from the city’s Eastside, you can take the light rail VTA from Alum Rock station straight to San José-Diridon, which is only one block away from SAP Center.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12055677\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12055677\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/SAPCenterGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/SAPCenterGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/SAPCenterGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/SAPCenterGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The SAP Center sports arena in San José, California, on July 1, 2025. \u003ccite>(Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Caltrain — which runs from San Francisco through San Mateo County to the South Bay — also stops at San José-Diridon. According to a Caltrain news release, the #416 southbound will feature a Valkyries-themed car, giving passengers the chance to win free merch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Coming in from the East Bay? You can take BART and get off at Berryessa/North San José station and then get on a VTA bus — specifically the Rapid 500 line — which will quickly take you straight to SAP Center.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep in mind that public transportation in San José does not run the whole night. So if you are getting home through transit, be sure of when the last train or bus runs so you don’t get stranded. You can also use \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/trip-planner/view\">trip planners\u003c/a> to \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/planner\">help\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://511.org/transit\">mark your route\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Watch the game at a bar\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you are unable to make it to a game, there are\u003ca href=\"https://wnbaroughnotes.substack.com/p/rough-notes-guide-to-wnba-watch-parties\"> bars and restaurants in the Bay\u003c/a> that show women’s sports.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There will likely be more parties announced as we get closer to the Valkyries’ first game.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>If you can’t get into SAP Center but still want to join the fun, an \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/valkyries/p/DOrhA63kuYt/\">official block party\u003c/a> will take place outside from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/kalwpublicmedia/p/DOrp8-AjjSf/\">\u003cstrong>KALW\u003c/strong> in San Francisco\u003c/a> is hosting a watch party, complete with free pizza.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.thenewparkway.com/\">\u003cstrong>The New Parkway Theater\u003c/strong>\u003c/a> in Oakland is showing Wednesday’s game.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/events/?artist=GSV\">\u003cstrong>Thrive City \u003c/strong>\u003c/a> (the venue connected to Chase Center) hosted a free watch party for Sunday’s game.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13977457/rikkis-first-womens-sports-bar-bay-area-open-castro-sf-valkyries\">\u003cstrong>Rikki’s\u003c/strong>\u003c/a> in San Francisco’s Castro District (the city’s first bar dedicated to women’s sports)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.zekisbar.com/\">\u003cstrong>Zeki’s Bar\u003c/strong>\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/whitehorsebar/?hl=en\">\u003cstrong>White Horse\u003c/strong>\u003c/a> in Oakland\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://line51beer.com/\">\u003cstrong>Line 51 Brewing\u003c/strong>\u003c/a> in Oakland\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/georgeandwaltsbar/?hl=en\">\u003cstrong>George & Walt’s\u003c/strong>\u003c/a> in Oakland\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://xingones.com/\">\u003cstrong>Xingones Cantina\u003c/strong>\u003c/a> in Oakland\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.theacoakland.com/\">\u003cstrong>Athletic Club Oakland\u003c/strong>\u003c/a> in Oakland\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Fan groups like the \u003cstrong>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 the \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/valqueeries/\">Valqueeries’ Instagram\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story originally published on Sept. 12, and contains reporting from KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/ccabreralomeli\">\u003cem>Carlos Cabrera-Lomelí.\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "The Golden State Valkyries made it to the playoffs during their inaugural season. Here’s how you can follow the team in the Bay Area.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/golden-state-valkyries\">Golden State Valkyries\u003c/a> made WNBA history as the first expansion team to reach the playoffs in their inaugural season. General public tickets and verified resales for \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/valkyries/p/DOfanNsjSSs/\">their first home game\u003c/a> tonight are still available on \u003ca href=\"https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C006325A934574D\">Ticketmaster\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As the first new team in the franchise in nearly 20 years, the Valkyries faced high expectations. And by finishing among the league’s top eight, they delivered.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Could I be more excited? Impossible,” said San Francisco Valkyries fan Vanessa Hutchinson-Szekely, a teacher and co-host of the podcast \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/valkyriessayless/\">Valkyries Say Less\u003c/a>. “It is amazing, historic, and I am so proud of the journey of these incredible women.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Because when we started this, we had no idea where we were going to go.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Playoffs start on Sunday. Read on to find out where you can follow the game in the coming weeks, whether it is on TV, bars or at San José’s SAP Center.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you’re new to basketball but want to join the Bay Area hype after the team’s big milestone, don’t worry — we’ve got a quick explainer below on what playoffs are.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>KQED also has \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12047885/how-to-be-a-valkyries-fan-a-beginners-guide-to-bay-area-wnba-fandom\">a comprehensive guide\u003c/a> to the world of the WNBA and fan culture in the Bay Area for new viewers.\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\u003ch2>So, what \u003cem>are \u003c/em>playoffs?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>After a regular season of basketball, the top eight WNBA teams compete in a tournament. The \u003ca href=\"https://www.wnba.com/standings\">team\u003c/a> standings are:\u003c/p>\n\u003col>\n\u003cli>Minnesota Lynx\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Las Vegas Aces\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Atlanta Dream\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Phoenix Mercury\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>New York Liberty\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Indiana Fever\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Seattle Storm\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Golden State Valkyries\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ol>\n\u003cp>Dates and times are subject to change — or even canceled altogether — depending on how the games go, but the \u003ca href=\"https://www.wnba.com/news/2025-playoffs-and-finals-dates\">tentative schedule\u003c/a> in Pacific Standard Time is \u003ca href=\"https://www.wnba.com/schedule?season=2025&month=all\">as follows\u003c/a>:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Round 1\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003cstrong>Sunday at 10 a.m. on ESPN: Golden State Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx in Minneapolis\u003c/strong>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sunday noon on ABC: Indiana Fever vs. Atlanta Dream\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sunday at 2 p.m. on ESPN: New York Liberty vs. Phoenix Mercury\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sunday at 7 p.m. on ESPN: Seattle Storm vs. Las Vegas Aces\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN: Atlanta Dream vs. Indiana Fever\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN: Las Vegas Aces vs. Seattle Storm\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Wednesday at 5 p.m. on ESPN: Phoenix Mercury vs. New York Liberty\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Wednesday at 7 p.m. on ESPN: Minnesota Lynx vs. Golden State Valkyries in San Jose\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sept. 18 on ESPN2: Seattle Storm vs. Las Vegas Aces\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sept. 18 on ESPN2: Indiana Fever vs. Atlanta Dream\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Sept. 19. on ESPN2: Golden State Valkyries vs. Minnesota Lynx in Minneapolis\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sept. 19. on ESPN2: New York Liberty vs. Phoenix Mercury\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Semifinals\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Sept. 21 at 3 p.m. on ABC\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sept. 21 at 5 p.m. on ESPN\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sept. 23 at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sept. 23 at 9:30 p.m. on ESPN\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN2\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sept. 26 at 9:30 p.m. on ESPN2\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sept. 28 at TBD on ESPN\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sept. 28 at 3 p.m. on ABC\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sept. 30 at TBD on ESPNU\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sept. 30 at TBD on ESPNU\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Finals\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Finals 1: Oct. 3 at 8 p.m. on ESPN\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Finals 2: Oct. 5 at 3 p.m. on ABC\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Finals 3: Oct. 8 at 8 p.m. on ESPN\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Finals 4: Oct. 10 at 8 p.m. on ESPN\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Finals 5: Oct. 12 at 3 p.m. on TBD\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Finals 6: Oct. 15 at 8 p.m. on ESPN\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Finals 7: Oct. 17 at 8 p.m. on ESPN\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>“[The] Valkyries have really attracted people [who] have never even watched basketball. And so there’s a learning curve,” said Hutchinson-Szekely’s co-host and fellow teacher, Raina Mast. “Normalize being confused. The structure is confusing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Essentially, Mast and Hutchinson-Szekely explained, each of the eight teams will play their first game on Sunday. In the first round, the highest-seeded teams face the lowest-seeded teams in a best-of-three series. The Valkyries will be facing the Minnesota Lynx, a team they have \u003ca href=\"https://www.espn.com/wnba/team/schedule/_/name/min/minnesota-lynx\">not beaten before\u003c/a>.\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>In the second round, the four remaining teams play a best-of-five series. In the finals, the last two teams compete in a best-of-five series for the championship.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You may see in sports coverage where people refer to a “2-2-1-1” structure. That basically designates where the games are played. So, the first “2” means the first two games are played on the stronger team’s home court. The next “2” means the following two games are played on the weaker team’s home court. And so on.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where can I watch the games?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>ESPN, ESPN2, ESNPU and ABC will be showing the games on TV. You can also get access to the channels through platforms like \u003ca href=\"https://tv.youtube.com/learn/wnba/\">YouTube TV\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.fubo.tv/welcome\">Fubo\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Watch the game in person\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>For fans hoping to see the game in person, know that any Valkyries home games will not be played at Chase Center — better known as “Ballhalla” — where every regular-season home game has \u003ca href=\"https://x.com/valkyries/status/1964507585060753897\">sold out\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Instead, the Valkyries will be playing their first playoff home game on Wednesday at \u003ca href=\"https://www.sapcenter.com/news/detail/sap-center-to-host-first-evergolden-state-valkyrieswnba-playoff-game#:~:text=SAP%20Center%20at%20San%20Jose,Harlem%20Globetrotters%20(multiple%20years).\">San José’s SAP Center\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Jess Smith, president of the Golden State Valkyries, announced the arena change to season ticket holders after the team won the Sept. 4 game that secured their spot in the playoffs. Smith said that Chase Center was booked for a tennis tournament years in advance, before the Bay was given a WNBA team.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re already working to ensure our playoff scheduling is protected going forward to prevent scheduling conflicts for future playoff runs in Ballhalla,” the letter reads.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The news left some fans frustrated, considering that being \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/valkyries-move-first-playoff-game-to-san-jose-21032074.php\">pushed out of their home \u003c/a>arena has happened to WNBA teams in the past. As Breanna Stewart, a player and vice president for the Women’s National Basketball Players Association, said to \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/valkyries-move-first-playoff-game-to-san-jose-21032074.php\">SFGate\u003c/a>, “You don’t see it happening with the NBA.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Coach Natalie Nakase, for her part, said \u003ca href=\"https://www.si.com/wnba/valkyries/valkyries-coach-opens-up-about-unfortunate-playoff-situation\">in a press conference\u003c/a> that the Valkyries are still playing in their territory.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Even if we’re in San José, that’s still considered the Bay. We know that they’re going to travel, our fans are going to come,” she said. “For us, we’re still at home.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How to get to SAP Center\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you have never been to SAP Center, you’re in luck: downtown San José is very well connected by several public transit agencies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re coming from the city’s Eastside, you can take the light rail VTA from Alum Rock station straight to San José-Diridon, which is only one block away from SAP Center.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12055677\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12055677\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/SAPCenterGetty.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/SAPCenterGetty.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/SAPCenterGetty-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/09/SAPCenterGetty-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">The SAP Center sports arena in San José, California, on July 1, 2025. \u003ccite>(Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Caltrain — which runs from San Francisco through San Mateo County to the South Bay — also stops at San José-Diridon. According to a Caltrain news release, the #416 southbound will feature a Valkyries-themed car, giving passengers the chance to win free merch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Coming in from the East Bay? You can take BART and get off at Berryessa/North San José station and then get on a VTA bus — specifically the Rapid 500 line — which will quickly take you straight to SAP Center.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep in mind that public transportation in San José does not run the whole night. So if you are getting home through transit, be sure of when the last train or bus runs so you don’t get stranded. You can also use \u003ca href=\"https://www.caltrain.com/trip-planner/view\">trip planners\u003c/a> to \u003ca href=\"https://www.bart.gov/planner\">help\u003c/a> \u003ca href=\"https://511.org/transit\">mark your route\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Watch the game at a bar\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you are unable to make it to a game, there are\u003ca href=\"https://wnbaroughnotes.substack.com/p/rough-notes-guide-to-wnba-watch-parties\"> bars and restaurants in the Bay\u003c/a> that show women’s sports.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There will likely be more parties announced as we get closer to the Valkyries’ first game.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>If you can’t get into SAP Center but still want to join the fun, an \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/valkyries/p/DOrhA63kuYt/\">official block party\u003c/a> will take place outside from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/kalwpublicmedia/p/DOrp8-AjjSf/\">\u003cstrong>KALW\u003c/strong> in San Francisco\u003c/a> is hosting a watch party, complete with free pizza.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.thenewparkway.com/\">\u003cstrong>The New Parkway Theater\u003c/strong>\u003c/a> in Oakland is showing Wednesday’s game.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.chasecenter.com/events/?artist=GSV\">\u003cstrong>Thrive City \u003c/strong>\u003c/a> (the venue connected to Chase Center) hosted a free watch party for Sunday’s game.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13977457/rikkis-first-womens-sports-bar-bay-area-open-castro-sf-valkyries\">\u003cstrong>Rikki’s\u003c/strong>\u003c/a> in San Francisco’s Castro District (the city’s first bar dedicated to women’s sports)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.zekisbar.com/\">\u003cstrong>Zeki’s Bar\u003c/strong>\u003c/a> in San Francisco\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/whitehorsebar/?hl=en\">\u003cstrong>White Horse\u003c/strong>\u003c/a> in Oakland\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://line51beer.com/\">\u003cstrong>Line 51 Brewing\u003c/strong>\u003c/a> in Oakland\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/georgeandwaltsbar/?hl=en\">\u003cstrong>George & Walt’s\u003c/strong>\u003c/a> in Oakland\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://xingones.com/\">\u003cstrong>Xingones Cantina\u003c/strong>\u003c/a> in Oakland\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.theacoakland.com/\">\u003cstrong>Athletic Club Oakland\u003c/strong>\u003c/a> in Oakland\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Fan groups like the \u003cstrong>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 the \u003ca href=\"https://www.instagram.com/valqueeries/\">Valqueeries’ Instagram\u003c/a>.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story originally published on Sept. 12, and contains reporting from KQED’s \u003c/em>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/ccabreralomeli\">\u003cem>Carlos Cabrera-Lomelí.\u003c/em>\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "valkyries-fans-fly-south-for-historic-make-or-break-playoff-game",
"title": "Valkyries Fans Fly South for Historic Make-or-Break Playoff Game",
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"content": "\u003cp>Nervous.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s how \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12047885/how-to-be-a-valkyries-fan-a-beginners-guide-to-bay-area-wnba-fandom\">Golden State Valkyries\u003c/a> fan Raina Mast said she’s feeling about Wednesday’s WNBA playoff game against the Minnesota Lynx in San José.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I imagine I’m going to be crying whether they lose or win,” Mast said. “ We never thought that an expansion team would go this far.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After losing by 29 points to the top-seeded Lynx in Sunday’s Game 1 of the best-of-three quarterfinals, the Valkyries must win Wednesday to keep their underdog \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12055670/where-to-watch-the-wnba-playoffs-in-the-san-francisco-bay-area-online-on-tv-and-at-bars\">playoff run\u003c/a> alive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Although a scheduling issue is forcing the expansion team to play its first playoff “home game” at San José’s SAP Center instead of San Francisco’s Chase Center, fans are getting pumped to see their team’s first playoff appearance in the Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Getting into the playoffs proves what we already knew. The Valks are magic,” fan Vanessa Hutchinson-Szekely said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wednesday night also marks a historic moment for Bay Area sports: the first WNBA playoff game in the region.[aside postID=news_12055670 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/250712-valkyries101_00420_TV_qed.jpg']The Valkyries have been nothing short of a cultural phenomenon in their inaugural season. The team set the all-time WNBA record for average attendance (18,064) and for total fans (397,408) during the regular season. They also sold out all 22 regular-season home games. Mast said she’s enjoyed seeing the Bay Area create its own \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13980855/golden-state-valkyries-wnba-bay-area-djs-ladyryan-shellheart-chase-center\">basketball culture\u003c/a> around the team from scratch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ Everyone’s stitching their own sweaters, pulling out purple and white and mixing them together, putting on makeup and creating their own Valkyrie crowns and just putting whatever they have out there to express their support for this amazing team and this awesome organization,” Mast said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Valkyries faithful will be denied a true home court advantage, however. Chase Center booked the Laver Cup, an international tennis tournament, for Sept. 18-21 before Golden State was awarded the WNBA expansion team. Team officials were unable to find a way to accommodate both the Valkyries’ playoff game and the preparation needed to hold the tennis tournament.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Diehard Valkyries fans who live in San Francisco said the fact that they are willing to trek down to San José to cheer on their team is a testament to how much they appreciate them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m just really excited to be able to support the team, and see them go as far as they can,” Alejandra Niebla said.\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 against the Los Angeles Sparks at Chase Center on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Fans traveling by Caltrain will have the opportunity to celebrate on the trip down. The southbound #416 will run as a Valkyries-themed train with giveaways on Wednesday as it heads down to SAP Center, according to Caltrain public information officer Dan Lieberman.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Valkyries have put the Bay Area at the center of a rapidly expanding WNBA, which is set to add five more teams over the next five years. New franchises slated to come to Toronto, Portland, Oregon, Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia will bring the total number of teams in the league to 18.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mast said she’s stitched a message into her cardigan: “We are Ballhalla.” It’s a reference to the Valkyries’ nickname for Chase Center, but also a nod to the fans that make a Valkyries game unique.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ The fans are going to show up,” Mast said, “and we’re going to play our hardest against a really amazing team.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Game 2 between the Minnesota Lynx and the Golden State Valkyries tips off at 7 p.m. at SAP Center in San José. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Nervous.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s how \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12047885/how-to-be-a-valkyries-fan-a-beginners-guide-to-bay-area-wnba-fandom\">Golden State Valkyries\u003c/a> fan Raina Mast said she’s feeling about Wednesday’s WNBA playoff game against the Minnesota Lynx in San José.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I imagine I’m going to be crying whether they lose or win,” Mast said. “ We never thought that an expansion team would go this far.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After losing by 29 points to the top-seeded Lynx in Sunday’s Game 1 of the best-of-three quarterfinals, the Valkyries must win Wednesday to keep their underdog \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12055670/where-to-watch-the-wnba-playoffs-in-the-san-francisco-bay-area-online-on-tv-and-at-bars\">playoff run\u003c/a> alive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Although a scheduling issue is forcing the expansion team to play its first playoff “home game” at San José’s SAP Center instead of San Francisco’s Chase Center, fans are getting pumped to see their team’s first playoff appearance in the Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Getting into the playoffs proves what we already knew. The Valks are magic,” fan Vanessa Hutchinson-Szekely said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wednesday night also marks a historic moment for Bay Area sports: the first WNBA playoff game in the region.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The Valkyries have been nothing short of a cultural phenomenon in their inaugural season. The team set the all-time WNBA record for average attendance (18,064) and for total fans (397,408) during the regular season. They also sold out all 22 regular-season home games. Mast said she’s enjoyed seeing the Bay Area create its own \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13980855/golden-state-valkyries-wnba-bay-area-djs-ladyryan-shellheart-chase-center\">basketball culture\u003c/a> around the team from scratch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ Everyone’s stitching their own sweaters, pulling out purple and white and mixing them together, putting on makeup and creating their own Valkyrie crowns and just putting whatever they have out there to express their support for this amazing team and this awesome organization,” Mast said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Valkyries faithful will be denied a true home court advantage, however. Chase Center booked the Laver Cup, an international tennis tournament, for Sept. 18-21 before Golden State was awarded the WNBA expansion team. Team officials were unable to find a way to accommodate both the Valkyries’ playoff game and the preparation needed to hold the tennis tournament.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Diehard Valkyries fans who live in San Francisco said the fact that they are willing to trek down to San José to cheer on their team is a testament to how much they appreciate them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m just really excited to be able to support the team, and see them go as far as they can,” Alejandra Niebla said.\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 against the Los Angeles Sparks at Chase Center on May 16, 2025. \u003ccite>(Gina Castro/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Fans traveling by Caltrain will have the opportunity to celebrate on the trip down. The southbound #416 will run as a Valkyries-themed train with giveaways on Wednesday as it heads down to SAP Center, according to Caltrain public information officer Dan Lieberman.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Valkyries have put the Bay Area at the center of a rapidly expanding WNBA, which is set to add five more teams over the next five years. New franchises slated to come to Toronto, Portland, Oregon, Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia will bring the total number of teams in the league to 18.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Mast said she’s stitched a message into her cardigan: “We are Ballhalla.” It’s a reference to the Valkyries’ nickname for Chase Center, but also a nod to the fans that make a Valkyries game unique.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“ The fans are going to show up,” Mast said, “and we’re going to play our hardest against a really amazing team.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Game 2 between the Minnesota Lynx and the Golden State Valkyries tips off at 7 p.m. at SAP Center in San José. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Golden State Valkyries’ first season has been a huge success. Next week, they’ll be the first WNBA expansion team to appear in the playoffs. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Valkyries aren’t just good; they’re fun to watch. \u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Part of their appeal is the community around the team, which embraces women and LGBTQ people. \u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">This is also reflected in the team’s official DJs, whose job it is to set the mood at Chase Center, AKA Balhalla.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Links:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13980855/golden-state-valkyries-wnba-bay-area-djs-ladyryan-shellheart-chase-center\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Meet the DJs Bringing the Pride and the Party to the Valkyries’ Ballhalla\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003ci>Some members of the KQED podcast team are represented by The Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. San Francisco Northern California Local.\u003c/i>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https://playlist.megaphone.fm?e=KQINC4817522082&light=true\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp data-encore-id=\"text\" data-slate-node=\"element\" data-slate-fragment=\"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\">\u003cem>This transcript is computer-generated. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nastia Voynovskaya \u003c/strong>[00:00:05] I’ve always like kind of casually watched the Warriors, but I’m not a huge sports head.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:00:11] This is Nastia Voynovskaya. She’s the Associate Editor of Arts and Culture here at KQED. And her gateway into sports fandom was the Golden State Valkyries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nastia Voynovskaya \u003c/strong>[00:00:25] It feels so amazing to go to an arena of 18,000 people where they’re all celebrating women’s strength and agility and skill. And I had never experienced that before. And I was just like, wow, this is how men must feel all the time watching the NBA. So I think a lot of people feel that way too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:00:46] The Valkyries just wrapped up their first season, and next week, they’ll be the first WNBA expansion team to appear in the playoffs. And they aren’t just good, they’re fun. Part of their appeal is the women-forward and queer-friendly community the team creates. It’s a community that’s very much represented by the team’s official DJs, whose job is to set the mood at Chase Center, AKA Ballhalla.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:01:37] Today, the Valkyries’ official DJs and how they make Balhalla roar.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:01:52] Kind of embarrassed to say I still actually haven’t gone to a Valkyries game yet, but I’ve heard a lot about them. I mean, how would you describe what it’s like going to a Valkyries game?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nastia Voynovskaya \u003c/strong>[00:02:05] There’s this huge super celebratory energy and it’s so different from going to a Warriors game because you can just see the sheer numbers of women and queer people in the stands. Everyone’s wearing really cute outfits. Everyone’s in purple. There’s families with little kids, lots of families with girls who play sports, and it’s just incredible vibes. I know a lot of people that don’t really like basketball that much, but they go for the vibes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:02:44] I’m curious for this story, there’s so many things about the Valkyries that are kind of groundbreaking, but why did you want to focus on the DJ specifically?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nastia Voynovskaya \u003c/strong>[00:02:53] Well, I think the Valkyries have made really savvy moves just tapping into various Bay Area cultural communities and just making fans in the Bay feel really part of their rise and the excitement. And I cover music and nightlife a lot, I cover LGBTQ culture a lot. And I was really excited when they announced that Lady Ryan and DJ Shellheart were the DJs because both of them have been killing it in the bay areas music scene for years and are really influential.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:03:22] So it sounds like they both have roots and connections in the Bay Area already. Tell me a little bit more about them and who they are, starting with DJ Shellheart.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nastia Voynovskaya \u003c/strong>[00:03:32] For sure, so DJ Shellheart has been DJing for 11 years. It’s hard work, hard work literally working years after years after years and being seen. She is the tour DJ for Rexx Life Raj, who’s a really popular rapper who was born and raised in Berkeley. She’s really big in the hip-hop scene. She has shared stages with people like DJ Jazzy Jeff and Anderson Paak recently.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>DJ Shellheart \u003c/strong>[00:03:58] The club is fun. But it’s just like I get to I feel like I get a little bit more motivated being around sports.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nastia Voynovskaya \u003c/strong>[00:04:07] And Lady Ryan has been DJing in the scene since 2006.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Lady Ryan \u003c/strong>[00:04:12] You know, when people are there at their first game, you know and you can, you catch that vibe, you know? So it makes you want to be involved in this major unison of excitement and celebration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nastia Voynovskaya \u003c/strong>[00:04:24] And she is one of the most influential people I would say in the LGBTQ nightlife scene. She co-founded a couple of really popular parties called So Lovely and Sweet Spot that are just banner events of Oakland queer nightlife. And she and her partner Denise actually just opened their own bar and it’s called Golden ratio in downtown Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:04:48] How do they get this gig? I feel like it’s like the coolest possible DJ gig you could get in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nastia Voynovskaya \u003c/strong>[00:04:55] Yeah, I think it was sort of through, I think, connections in the DJ world. So Lady Ryan told me she kind of entered the sports DJ orbit, filling in for the Giants official DJ, Umami, who also DJs for the Warriors sometimes. And then Shellheart filled in for Warriors DJ, D-Sharp. And he was a champion of both Lady Ryan and Shellheart and sort of a mentor to them both.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:05:22] And are they themselves basketball heads or do they consider themselves basketball heads?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nastia Voynovskaya \u003c/strong>[00:05:27] Yeah, they both said that they grew up watching basketball and are huge WNBA fans and Shellheart in particular told me that she has been watching some of the Valkyries players like Tiffany Hayes since they were college players.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>DJ Shellheart \u003c/strong>[00:05:39] Now I’m at the age where I understand that I watched these people from high school to college. I’m like, oh, okay, yeah. It’s more fun when you know where the players came from.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:05:54] I know you went to Chase before one of the games as the team was doing their warmups and the DJs were there too. What was that like?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nastia Voynovskaya \u003c/strong>[00:06:03] Yeah, it was really cool. I met up with DJ Shellheart during the warm-ups.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>DJ Shellheart \u003c/strong>[00:06:09] I love songs about sneakers and stuff.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nastia Voynovskaya \u003c/strong>[00:06:12] She had her DJ booth set up on the court and the Valkyries were warming up on one side, the Phoenix Mercury were warming on the other side, so I got to see the players foam rolling and doing all these exercises. She kind of has to set the mood, you know, for them to get in the mindset to win. So she was playing stuff like Drake, Glorilla, also Bay Area songs from E40 and Lecrae. And it was awesome seeing her get acknowledgement from the players, like Kate Martin jogged by and fist bumped her. And you could really tell the music was kind of adding to them getting in the zone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:06:55] How do they think about their role as DJs? And how do they know that they’re doing their job well, I guess?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nastia Voynovskaya \u003c/strong>[00:07:03] Yeah, I mean, their job is to keep the crowd hyped, you know, from before the game to the moment the players run out on the court. The DJs are spinning during the players’ warmup. Then they’re playing music as people kind of trickle into the stadium. Then they play the Valkyries song that they run out to, which the most recent one I heard was Blow the Whistle by T-Short. And then they’re pretty much playing during all the time outs, all the interactive moments where they’re throwing t-shirts or prizes, halftime. And sometimes the camera goes to the DJ and they have to, you know, bring that energy hyping up the crowd. So they’re definitely an integral part to the hype that happens at Ballhalla.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>DJ Shellheart \u003c/strong>[00:07:52] Yeah, I just try to play turnt up music, man. Because when I first started, I was like, OK, I’m going to play some cool shit. And then I’m like, that’s not what they want. I had to figure it out. They want some up-tempo. They’re about to play a whole game. Like, the crowd is coming in for a game. So I’m, like, these are the songs that I’m going to every time I DJ.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:08:15] We’ll I’m so curious about what they’re playing at the games. I have a friend who was like, I feel like they play a lot of female artists.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nastia Voynovskaya \u003c/strong>[00:08:37] They do, yeah, definitely. Both of them told me Doechii is in heavy rotation. Songs like My House by Beyonce. I’ve heard Kamiya in there. So yeah, I would say it’s a mix. It’s like Bay Area girl power is the vibe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:09:08] Is it different also from DJing, I guess like a usual DJ event at like a club or something? Do they think about that differently as well?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nastia Voynovskaya \u003c/strong>[00:09:18] I think it’s pretty different because it’s not a continuous, you know, one or two hour set like a DJ would have at a club. You’re kind of interspersing, you’re injecting the game with energy during these really particular moments. Like timeouts and things like that are when they’re deliberating different rough calls like you have to keep the energy of the crowd up during those moments.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:09:40] Wow, that’s a hard job.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nastia Voynovskaya \u003c/strong>[00:09:43] It is, but yeah, I’ve heard from WNBA fans and just basketball fans in general, but they really haven’t seen anything like the energy at Chase Center during Valkyries game in a long time. And people have compared it to Oracle or Roaracle during the Warriors championship run.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:10:01] They have a really big role in setting the vibe of the stadium. And I feel like it’s a pretty, very outward role as well. Like, how do they talk about that?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nastia Voynovskaya \u003c/strong>[00:10:13] Both of them told me that it’s really empowering and exciting to be in this stadium that really celebrates women and queer women especially, and Lady Ryan talked about this.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Lady Ryan \u003c/strong>[00:10:26] In a way, this is my life, like it feels regular, but it definitely feels empowering.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nastia Voynovskaya \u003c/strong>[00:10:32] And it comes at a time where the WNBA has really come to embrace its queer identity, which has not always been the case, but I think around 30% of players are openly queer. And back when the league debuted in the late 90s, it was marketed with this very feminine, straight image. Now the league has a culture where players are really allowed to be themselves and that they embrace their queer fan base that comes out in droves, and I think the DJs are just part of that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:11:12] I mean, Nastia, it’s been a very historic season for the Valkyries. They’ve sold out every single one of their home games. What do Shellheart and Lady Ryan just tell you about what it means to be part of all of that?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nastia Voynovskaya \u003c/strong>[00:11:26] Yeah, they both told me they’re so grateful for this incredible opportunity and they want to do it again next year. And Shellheart in particular told me that she loves inspiring fans, especially little kids. A little boy came up to her for an autograph at her second game. And I think that makes it especially meaningful for both of them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>DJ Shellheart \u003c/strong>[00:11:48] That’s why I love this, and then coming in here playing for all these fans, playing for an arena is a dream come true.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:11:58] Well, Nastia, thank you so much for sharing your reporting with us. I appreciate it.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Golden State Valkyries’ first season has been a huge success. Next week, they’ll be the first WNBA expansion team to appear in the playoffs. \u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Valkyries aren’t just good; they’re fun to watch. \u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Part of their appeal is the community around the team, which embraces women and LGBTQ people. \u003c/span>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">This is also reflected in the team’s official DJs, whose job it is to set the mood at Chase Center, AKA Balhalla.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Links:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13980855/golden-state-valkyries-wnba-bay-area-djs-ladyryan-shellheart-chase-center\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Meet the DJs Bringing the Pride and the Party to the Valkyries’ Ballhalla\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003ci>Some members of the KQED podcast team are represented by The Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. San Francisco Northern California Local.\u003c/i>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https://playlist.megaphone.fm?e=KQINC4817522082&light=true\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp data-encore-id=\"text\" data-slate-node=\"element\" data-slate-fragment=\"JTVCJTdCJTIydHlwZSUyMiUzQSUyMnBhcmFncmFwaCUyMiUyQyUyMmNoaWxkcmVuJTIyJTNBJTVCJTdCJTIydGV4dCUyMiUzQSUyMkVhcmxpZXIlMjB0aGlzJTIwU3ByaW5nJTJDJTIwdGhlJTIwVHJ1bXAlMjBBZG1pbmlzdHJhdGlvbiUyMGlzc3VlZCUyMGFuJTIwRXhlY3V0aXZlJTIwT3JkZXIlMjB0ZWxsaW5nJTIwVS5TLiUyME5hdGlvbmFsJTIwUGFyayUyMFNlcnZpY2UlMjBzdGFmZiUyQyUyMGluY2x1ZGluZyUyMHRob3NlJTIwaW4lMjBDYWxpZm9ybmlhJTJDJTIwdG8lMjBzY3J1YiUyMHBhcmtzJTIwb2YlMjBhbnklMjBtYXRlcmlhbHMlMjB0aGF0JTIwJUUyJTgwJTlDaW5hcHByb3ByaWF0ZWx5JTIwZGlzcGFyYWdlJTIwQW1lcmljYW5zJTIwcGFzdCUyMG9yJTIwbGl2aW5nLiVFMiU4MCU5RCUyMEFkdm9jYXRlcyUyMGFuZCUyMHBhcmslMjB3b3JrZXJzJTIwc2F5JTIwZm9sbG93aW5nJTIwdGhyb3VnaCUyMGhhcyUyMGJlZW4lMjBjb25mdXNpbmclMjBhbmQlMjBjaGFvdGljJTJDJTIwYW5kJTIwbWFueSUyMHdvcnJ5JTIwdGhhdCUyMGElMjB0cnVlJTIwcmVjb3JkJTIwb2YlMjBDYWxpZm9ybmlhJUUyJTgwJTk5cyUyMGhpc3RvcnklMjBpcyUyMGF0JTIwc3Rha2UuJUMyJUEwJTIyJTdEJTVEJTdEJTJDJTdCJTIydHlwZSUyMiUzQSUyMnBhcmFncmFwaCUyMiUyQyUyMmNoaWxkcmVuJTIyJTNBJTVCJTdCJTIydGV4dCUyMiUzQSUyMiUyMiUyQyUyMmJyJTIyJTNBdHJ1ZSU3RCU1RCU3RCUyQyU3QiUyMnR5cGUlMjIlM0ElMjJwYXJhZ3JhcGglMjIlMkMlMjJjaGlsZHJlbiUyMiUzQSU1QiU3QiUyMnRleHQlMjIlM0ElMjJUaGlzJTIwZXBpc29kZSUyMHdhcyUyMGhvc3RlZCUyMGJ5JTIwRXJpY2thJTIwQ3J1eiUyMEd1ZXZhcnJhJTIwYW5kJTIwcHJvZHVjZWQlMjBieSUyMEplc3NpY2ElMjBLYXJpaXNhJTIwYW5kJTIwQWxhbiUyME1vbnRlY2lsbG8lMjIlMkMlMjJiciUyMiUzQXRydWUlMkMlMjJpdGFsaWMlMjIlM0F0cnVlJTdEJTJDJTdCJTIyYnIlMjIlM0F0cnVlJTJDJTIydGV4dCUyMiUzQSUyMiU1Q24lNUNuJTIyJTdEJTVEJTdEJTVE\">\u003cem>This transcript is computer-generated. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nastia Voynovskaya \u003c/strong>[00:00:05] I’ve always like kind of casually watched the Warriors, but I’m not a huge sports head.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:00:11] This is Nastia Voynovskaya. She’s the Associate Editor of Arts and Culture here at KQED. And her gateway into sports fandom was the Golden State Valkyries.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nastia Voynovskaya \u003c/strong>[00:00:25] It feels so amazing to go to an arena of 18,000 people where they’re all celebrating women’s strength and agility and skill. And I had never experienced that before. And I was just like, wow, this is how men must feel all the time watching the NBA. So I think a lot of people feel that way too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:00:46] The Valkyries just wrapped up their first season, and next week, they’ll be the first WNBA expansion team to appear in the playoffs. And they aren’t just good, they’re fun. Part of their appeal is the women-forward and queer-friendly community the team creates. It’s a community that’s very much represented by the team’s official DJs, whose job is to set the mood at Chase Center, AKA Ballhalla.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:01:37] Today, the Valkyries’ official DJs and how they make Balhalla roar.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:01:52] Kind of embarrassed to say I still actually haven’t gone to a Valkyries game yet, but I’ve heard a lot about them. I mean, how would you describe what it’s like going to a Valkyries game?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nastia Voynovskaya \u003c/strong>[00:02:05] There’s this huge super celebratory energy and it’s so different from going to a Warriors game because you can just see the sheer numbers of women and queer people in the stands. Everyone’s wearing really cute outfits. Everyone’s in purple. There’s families with little kids, lots of families with girls who play sports, and it’s just incredible vibes. I know a lot of people that don’t really like basketball that much, but they go for the vibes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:02:44] I’m curious for this story, there’s so many things about the Valkyries that are kind of groundbreaking, but why did you want to focus on the DJ specifically?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nastia Voynovskaya \u003c/strong>[00:02:53] Well, I think the Valkyries have made really savvy moves just tapping into various Bay Area cultural communities and just making fans in the Bay feel really part of their rise and the excitement. And I cover music and nightlife a lot, I cover LGBTQ culture a lot. And I was really excited when they announced that Lady Ryan and DJ Shellheart were the DJs because both of them have been killing it in the bay areas music scene for years and are really influential.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:03:22] So it sounds like they both have roots and connections in the Bay Area already. Tell me a little bit more about them and who they are, starting with DJ Shellheart.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nastia Voynovskaya \u003c/strong>[00:03:32] For sure, so DJ Shellheart has been DJing for 11 years. It’s hard work, hard work literally working years after years after years and being seen. She is the tour DJ for Rexx Life Raj, who’s a really popular rapper who was born and raised in Berkeley. She’s really big in the hip-hop scene. She has shared stages with people like DJ Jazzy Jeff and Anderson Paak recently.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>DJ Shellheart \u003c/strong>[00:03:58] The club is fun. But it’s just like I get to I feel like I get a little bit more motivated being around sports.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nastia Voynovskaya \u003c/strong>[00:04:07] And Lady Ryan has been DJing in the scene since 2006.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Lady Ryan \u003c/strong>[00:04:12] You know, when people are there at their first game, you know and you can, you catch that vibe, you know? So it makes you want to be involved in this major unison of excitement and celebration.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nastia Voynovskaya \u003c/strong>[00:04:24] And she is one of the most influential people I would say in the LGBTQ nightlife scene. She co-founded a couple of really popular parties called So Lovely and Sweet Spot that are just banner events of Oakland queer nightlife. And she and her partner Denise actually just opened their own bar and it’s called Golden ratio in downtown Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:04:48] How do they get this gig? I feel like it’s like the coolest possible DJ gig you could get in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nastia Voynovskaya \u003c/strong>[00:04:55] Yeah, I think it was sort of through, I think, connections in the DJ world. So Lady Ryan told me she kind of entered the sports DJ orbit, filling in for the Giants official DJ, Umami, who also DJs for the Warriors sometimes. And then Shellheart filled in for Warriors DJ, D-Sharp. And he was a champion of both Lady Ryan and Shellheart and sort of a mentor to them both.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:05:22] And are they themselves basketball heads or do they consider themselves basketball heads?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nastia Voynovskaya \u003c/strong>[00:05:27] Yeah, they both said that they grew up watching basketball and are huge WNBA fans and Shellheart in particular told me that she has been watching some of the Valkyries players like Tiffany Hayes since they were college players.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>DJ Shellheart \u003c/strong>[00:05:39] Now I’m at the age where I understand that I watched these people from high school to college. I’m like, oh, okay, yeah. It’s more fun when you know where the players came from.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:05:54] I know you went to Chase before one of the games as the team was doing their warmups and the DJs were there too. What was that like?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nastia Voynovskaya \u003c/strong>[00:06:03] Yeah, it was really cool. I met up with DJ Shellheart during the warm-ups.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>DJ Shellheart \u003c/strong>[00:06:09] I love songs about sneakers and stuff.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nastia Voynovskaya \u003c/strong>[00:06:12] She had her DJ booth set up on the court and the Valkyries were warming up on one side, the Phoenix Mercury were warming on the other side, so I got to see the players foam rolling and doing all these exercises. She kind of has to set the mood, you know, for them to get in the mindset to win. So she was playing stuff like Drake, Glorilla, also Bay Area songs from E40 and Lecrae. And it was awesome seeing her get acknowledgement from the players, like Kate Martin jogged by and fist bumped her. And you could really tell the music was kind of adding to them getting in the zone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:06:55] How do they think about their role as DJs? And how do they know that they’re doing their job well, I guess?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nastia Voynovskaya \u003c/strong>[00:07:03] Yeah, I mean, their job is to keep the crowd hyped, you know, from before the game to the moment the players run out on the court. The DJs are spinning during the players’ warmup. Then they’re playing music as people kind of trickle into the stadium. Then they play the Valkyries song that they run out to, which the most recent one I heard was Blow the Whistle by T-Short. And then they’re pretty much playing during all the time outs, all the interactive moments where they’re throwing t-shirts or prizes, halftime. And sometimes the camera goes to the DJ and they have to, you know, bring that energy hyping up the crowd. So they’re definitely an integral part to the hype that happens at Ballhalla.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>DJ Shellheart \u003c/strong>[00:07:52] Yeah, I just try to play turnt up music, man. Because when I first started, I was like, OK, I’m going to play some cool shit. And then I’m like, that’s not what they want. I had to figure it out. They want some up-tempo. They’re about to play a whole game. Like, the crowd is coming in for a game. So I’m, like, these are the songs that I’m going to every time I DJ.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:08:15] We’ll I’m so curious about what they’re playing at the games. I have a friend who was like, I feel like they play a lot of female artists.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nastia Voynovskaya \u003c/strong>[00:08:37] They do, yeah, definitely. Both of them told me Doechii is in heavy rotation. Songs like My House by Beyonce. I’ve heard Kamiya in there. So yeah, I would say it’s a mix. It’s like Bay Area girl power is the vibe.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:09:08] Is it different also from DJing, I guess like a usual DJ event at like a club or something? Do they think about that differently as well?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nastia Voynovskaya \u003c/strong>[00:09:18] I think it’s pretty different because it’s not a continuous, you know, one or two hour set like a DJ would have at a club. You’re kind of interspersing, you’re injecting the game with energy during these really particular moments. Like timeouts and things like that are when they’re deliberating different rough calls like you have to keep the energy of the crowd up during those moments.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:09:40] Wow, that’s a hard job.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nastia Voynovskaya \u003c/strong>[00:09:43] It is, but yeah, I’ve heard from WNBA fans and just basketball fans in general, but they really haven’t seen anything like the energy at Chase Center during Valkyries game in a long time. And people have compared it to Oracle or Roaracle during the Warriors championship run.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:10:01] They have a really big role in setting the vibe of the stadium. And I feel like it’s a pretty, very outward role as well. Like, how do they talk about that?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nastia Voynovskaya \u003c/strong>[00:10:13] Both of them told me that it’s really empowering and exciting to be in this stadium that really celebrates women and queer women especially, and Lady Ryan talked about this.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Lady Ryan \u003c/strong>[00:10:26] In a way, this is my life, like it feels regular, but it definitely feels empowering.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nastia Voynovskaya \u003c/strong>[00:10:32] And it comes at a time where the WNBA has really come to embrace its queer identity, which has not always been the case, but I think around 30% of players are openly queer. And back when the league debuted in the late 90s, it was marketed with this very feminine, straight image. Now the league has a culture where players are really allowed to be themselves and that they embrace their queer fan base that comes out in droves, and I think the DJs are just part of that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:11:12] I mean, Nastia, it’s been a very historic season for the Valkyries. They’ve sold out every single one of their home games. What do Shellheart and Lady Ryan just tell you about what it means to be part of all of that?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Nastia Voynovskaya \u003c/strong>[00:11:26] Yeah, they both told me they’re so grateful for this incredible opportunity and they want to do it again next year. And Shellheart in particular told me that she loves inspiring fans, especially little kids. A little boy came up to her for an autograph at her second game. And I think that makes it especially meaningful for both of them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>DJ Shellheart \u003c/strong>[00:11:48] That’s why I love this, and then coming in here playing for all these fans, playing for an arena is a dream come true.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:11:58] Well, Nastia, thank you so much for sharing your reporting with us. I appreciate it.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "Injury Ends Valkyries Star Thornton’s Season, Raising Questions About Playoff Hopes",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12047885/golden-state-valkyries-wnba-schedule-fandom-chase-center-san-francisco-ballhalla\">Golden State Valkyries\u003c/a> forward Kayla Thornton is out for the remainder of the team’s inaugural season after suffering a serious injury during practice earlier this week, the Valkyries announced Friday.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Over the last few months, Thornton has become a fan favorite among the thousands who visit “Ballhalla” — a nickname for the Chase Center — to watch her and her teammates play. Some of Thornton’s supporters are concerned about what her absence could mean for the team as playoffs approach.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A spokesperson for the Valkyries said in a statement that Thornton’s surgery on Friday was successful and that she will begin her rehabilitation process immediately. The team did not confirm whether Thornton is expected to return next season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m just gutted for her,” said Lindsay Myers, one of the team’s many die-hard fans. While Myers resides in Sacramento, she and her wife are proud season ticket holders and frequently travel to San Francisco to watch the Valkyries play. “[Thornton] is having a career season. … For that season to be cut short, it’s really heartbreaking.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s been an incredible season for Thornton. In addition to playing a career-high 30 minutes per game, she was named an All-Star earlier this month for the first time in her nine-year WNBA career. It’s also the first time that Thornton has been in a starting lineup, a “leadership role” that Myers said the forward has flourished in.\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>Myers said she’s worried about the Valkyries’ chances of getting to the playoffs with Thornton off the court. While she has faith in the team’s grit, she said it’s going to be a lot harder as the players deal with unexpected changes to their roster and the loss of a key player.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You’re at a point where you want your team to start really gelling, and that takes leadership and relationships and time,” Myers said. “But these women must have all gone in 100% to go as hard as they’ve gone. … We just have to trust them to keep doing that.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since their introduction as the league’s newest team in nearly 20 years, the Valkyries have had an intense season both on and off the court. They sold out 11 home games at the Chase Center and have the ninth-best record in the WNBA at 10–12. They play against Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings at “Ballhalla” on Friday.[aside postID=news_12047885 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/07/golden-state-valkyries.png']There have been some bumps along the way, however. The Valkyries faced criticism from fans earlier this month after Belgian player Julie Vanloo was waived from the team following her temporary departure to play in the EuroBasket Tournament. Shyanne Sellers, another fan favorite, was also cut from the team in May.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With Thornton sidelined, the team could see more changes in the coming weeks. The Valkyries recently added center Iliana Rupert from France, and she is expected to appear in Friday’s game.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While Myers said she’s disappointed she won’t see Thornton on the court again this season, she’s still excited to see how the rest of the team performs. One thing she loves about being a Valkyries fan is the community’s support — for both the players and each other.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At a time when there is so much political tension and fear, Myers said she feels fortunate whenever she has the chance to be in the stands, having fun and watching the Valkyries. It’s a source of light during a dark time, she added.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s just an amazing space because we’re at a really perfect nexus of appreciating female athletes, sports and just the beauty of this game,” Myers said. “Having it be in our backyard is so fantastic.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I’m just gutted for her,” said Lindsay Myers, one of the team’s many die-hard fans. While Myers resides in Sacramento, she and her wife are proud season ticket holders and frequently travel to San Francisco to watch the Valkyries play. “[Thornton] is having a career season. … For that season to be cut short, it’s really heartbreaking.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s been an incredible season for Thornton. In addition to playing a career-high 30 minutes per game, she was named an All-Star earlier this month for the first time in her nine-year WNBA career. It’s also the first time that Thornton has been in a starting lineup, a “leadership role” that Myers said the forward has flourished in.\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>Myers said she’s worried about the Valkyries’ chances of getting to the playoffs with Thornton off the court. While she has faith in the team’s grit, she said it’s going to be a lot harder as the players deal with unexpected changes to their roster and the loss of a key player.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You’re at a point where you want your team to start really gelling, and that takes leadership and relationships and time,” Myers said. “But these women must have all gone in 100% to go as hard as they’ve gone. … We just have to trust them to keep doing that.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since their introduction as the league’s newest team in nearly 20 years, the Valkyries have had an intense season both on and off the court. They sold out 11 home games at the Chase Center and have the ninth-best record in the WNBA at 10–12. They play against Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings at “Ballhalla” on Friday.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>There have been some bumps along the way, however. The Valkyries faced criticism from fans earlier this month after Belgian player Julie Vanloo was waived from the team following her temporary departure to play in the EuroBasket Tournament. Shyanne Sellers, another fan favorite, was also cut from the team in May.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With Thornton sidelined, the team could see more changes in the coming weeks. The Valkyries recently added center Iliana Rupert from France, and she is expected to appear in Friday’s game.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While Myers said she’s disappointed she won’t see Thornton on the court again this season, she’s still excited to see how the rest of the team performs. One thing she loves about being a Valkyries fan is the community’s support — for both the players and each other.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At a time when there is so much political tension and fear, Myers said she feels fortunate whenever she has the chance to be in the stands, having fun and watching the Valkyries. It’s a source of light during a dark time, she added.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s just an amazing space because we’re at a really perfect nexus of appreciating female athletes, sports and just the beauty of this game,” Myers said. “Having it be in our backyard is so fantastic.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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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-new-home-for-womens-sports-stanford-scales-back-trans-care-for-minors-and-why-some-sf-malls-are-thriving",
"title": "A New Home For Women’s Sports, Stanford Scales Back Trans Care for Minors, and Why Some SF Malls Are Thriving",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">On this month’s edition of The Bay’s news roundup, we introduce you to the Bay Area’s first women’s sports bar, discuss Stanford’s scaling back of gender-related surgical procedures for minors, and the secret sauce of the San Francisco malls defying the ‘doom loop’ narrative.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https://playlist.megaphone.fm?e=KQINC2905167660\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Links:\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13977457/rikkis-first-womens-sports-bar-bay-area-open-castro-sf-valkyries\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Bay Area’s First Women’s Sports Bar Is Open for Business\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1997491/stanford-scales-back-trans-care-for-minors-amid-federal-crackdown\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Stanford Scales Back Trans Care for Minors Amid Federal Crackdown\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13977860/asian-food-bay-area-malls-jagalchi-serramonte-stonestown-westfield-valley-fair\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Asian Food Is Coming to Save a Mall Near You\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">SF Chronicle:\u003c/span> \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/japantown-stonestown-galleria-mall-20331459.php\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">These S.F. malls are experiencing a ‘renaissance’ that defies the doom loop. Here’s their secret\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This is a computer-generated transcript. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:00:04] I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra and welcome to The Bay, local news to keep you rooted and welcome to The Bay’s June News Roundup where I sit down with the rest of The Bay team to talk about some of the other stories that we have been following this month. I’m joined today by our producer Jessica Kariisa and our beloved intern Mel Velasquez.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:00:32] I mean, I can’t believe it’s already halfway through the year here, which is really crazy. We’ve got a lot of news going on around the world and also around the Bay, but also we’ve got some big news from our team this month, which I’ll get to shortly, but just a quick look back at some of the stories that we’ve done this month. I mean obviously immigration has really been the big story. Nationally and at the local level, we talked about the role that local soccer leagues have been playing for immigrant youth coming here to Alameda County in particular. We talked about Berkeley’s approach to probably one of the more challenging forms of homelessness in the Bay area, folks living in RVs, and this really successful program they’ve been running there, offering money to people living in RVs to get them on the path to more permanent housing. We talked about Suisun City’s effort to potentially grow by nine times its current size, and we also talked about local theater in a free fall here in the Bay Area. So as always, quite the range from us at the Bay, but there’s really been a lot going on.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jessica Kariisa \u003c/strong>[00:01:52] Yeah, I mean, it’s been a really crazy month. You know, there were a lot of protests, spontaneous protests that happened all across the country, especially here in the Bay Area. And there was obviously the huge, you know, King’s protest. We’re all in different parts of the Bay, but we were texting each other that day, like, oh, wow, like in every corner of the Bay, something is going on. Alan was in Chicago and there was obviously a lot going on there too. So it’s definitely been an active month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:02:21] Also just a lot kind of going on for us here on the Bay team. This month is our intern Mel Velasquez’s last month with us on the show. Mel has been a really, really huge part of the team. You all don’t get to see it, but for us in the background, Mel brings this really just fun energy and so much light to the team. It really, I think, helped us get through these last couple of weeks in the news cycle. Honestly, Mel, how are you feeling? How are you thinking about the last couple of months working with us on the show?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mel Velasquez \u003c/strong>[00:02:59] It’s been incredible. I mean, you guys are like the best team I’ve worked with. Everyone has just been so helpful and I look forward to coming here and like working with you all. I’ve had some great experiences like when we went to Six Flags for the thousandth episode that was so much fun. And then actually the more recent one that I had a lot of fun with was going to Aurora Theater in Berkeley for that episode. That was also really fun. It’s been nice to work with you all and I’m very sad that this will be my last episode. I’ve had such a just a really incredible time. I can’t emphasize that enough.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jessica Kariisa \u003c/strong>[00:03:49] I mean, I can’t believe that the six months is already up. Like, I can’t wrap my head around that. But I also want to point out that Mel also produced her own episode for us on Central American students at Berkeley, pushing for a department. And to see you work through that process of, you know, getting the idea and really pushing through and getting to produce such a great episode was just like a joy to watch and I hope that everyone who hasn’t already listened to it goes and listens to it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:04:20] Yes, definitely listen to it if you haven’t already. That’s also another one of the stories that we covered on the show this month. I should also mention that in addition to Mel leaving us, we are preparing to take our July break from producing new episodes. We’ll be spending that time just kind of regrouping and reflecting and cooking up some other things that we want to make for you all when we get back. So we will be taking a break from making episodes. We’ll be back in August. But more news on that later. But in the meantime, Mel, this episode is definitely a love letter to you. We appreciate you so much. And we really enjoyed working with you. Thanks for everything.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mel Velasquez \u003c/strong>[00:05:12] Aw, thank you guys for everything.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:05:19] Well Mel, before we let you go, we want to start off with you and the story that you’ve been following this month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mel Velasquez \u003c/strong>[00:05:26] Well, I feel like I’ve been following this for a lot longer than June, but the first women’s sports bar in the Bay Area opened on June 11th, right in time for Pride Month, and it’s called Rikki’s, and I mean, it’s been getting a lot of attention right now, but yeah, I got to go, and it was really fun.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:05:51] Yeah, I mean I feel like their timing is, I mean, is perfect. It’s Pride Month. We’ve also been covering on this show, you know, the Bay Area getting a pro women’s basketball team. We talked about Bay FC and I know you talked with the actual owners of Rikki’s. What did they tell you about, like, why they wanted to open this bar?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mel Velasquez \u003c/strong>[00:06:13] Yeah, so I got to talk to one of the co-founders of Rikki’s, Sarah Yergovich, and the other co-founder, her name is Danielle Tho, but they just wanted a place where they could watch women’s sports. I know that for a lot of like women’s-sports fans, and in particular, my partner has had this experience often. Where they go to a sports bar, they wanna watch a game, whether that be the WNBA championships or just an important game, like a Bay FC game. It was hard for them to find a place where they could go into a bar, sit down, and have the game on the TV. And if they do let you change the TV to a women’s sports game, oftentimes the volume isn’t gonna be on, so you’re kind of just watching a muted game. And sometimes they just won’t play it. This is like a place exclusively for women’s sports and also just a place that everyone can feel welcome and safe and I know that women’s sport is a huge part of like the LGBTQ community here and they really want to emphasize that inclusivity part.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jessica Kariisa \u003c/strong>[00:07:31] Definitely heard about Rikki’s. I haven’t had the chance to go. I’m actually going to my first Valkyries game on Sunday. I’m really excited about that. But I’m curious about your experience at Rikki’s, what was it like when you went there?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mel Velasquez \u003c/strong>[00:07:44] It was crazy because there actually wasn’t like a game from like a Bay Area team on any of the TVs, but there were like a lot of people. I went last Sunday. There’s tons of like sports memorabilia from Bay FC and the Valkyries. A lot of people had this like combo of like Bay FC hat and Valkyrie’s shirt. I feel like that was a pattern that I saw a lot. But yeah, there is a full bar. I had like this roasted cabbage dish. It was kind of fancy for a sports bar, but it was like really good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jessica Kariisa \u003c/strong>[00:08:24] That’s really cool, and I’m also curious, why is it called Rikki’s? Is it named after somebody?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mel Velasquez \u003c/strong>[00:08:30] Yeah, so it’s named after Rikki Streicher, who was an LGBTQ activist, and she opened up a lot of lesbian bars in San Francisco, and was just like a huge advocate for equal rights before same-sex couples were able to get married.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:08:49] Well, I’m sure there will be lots to see at Rikki’s in the coming months and years to come. Mel, thanks so much for bringing this story.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mel Velasquez \u003c/strong>[00:09:01] Of course, thank you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:09:27] And welcome back to the Bay’s June news roundup where I sit down with the rest of the Bay team to talk about some of the other stories that we have been following this month. Producer Jessica Kariisa, I wanna turn to you first. What story have you been following?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jessica Kariisa \u003c/strong>[00:09:41] I’m following a story down in Palo Alto specifically around Stanford Medicine and trans care and basically effective June 2nd in response to increased scrutiny at the federal level on gender affirming care, Stanford Medicine decided to pause gender related surgical procedures for patients under 19 years old as a way to avoid legal action and potential loss of funding. I should mention that I’m referring to reporting that was done by KQD’s Lesley McClurg and The Chronicle’s Catherine Ho.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:10:22] Yeah, I mean, what does this mean exactly? What kind of procedures are we talking about?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jessica Kariisa \u003c/strong>[00:10:30] Surgeries for minors are on hold, but Stanford’s LGBTQ health program will continue to offer other services, including hormone therapy, behavioral health support, voice training, and primary care. But surgeries in particular, for people under 19 years old, that’s what’s going be on hold for now.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mel Velasquez \u003c/strong>[00:10:56] So how did we get here in the first place? How did we to this decision?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jessica Kariisa \u003c/strong>[00:11:03] Basically, back in January, President Trump signed an executive order that directed federal agencies to, quote, not fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support so-called transition of a child from one sex to another. And this was going to affect hospitals and medical schools that receive federal grants. The order was blocked by a federal judge in March. But then in May, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services, sent a letter to hospitals asking about, you know, how they treat gender dysphoria, asking about their protocols around consent and outcome tracking and financial data. And so I think a lot of medical centers figure that they might need to be proactive to avoid retaliation from the federal government. And it should be mentioned that, you, know, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association have said that, like, gender-affirming care, including surgery in some cases, is medically necessary and life-saving. And generally, surgery is not recommended for minors and it’s reserved for older teens with extreme gender dysphoria. The Chronicle reported, they said experts in transgender care have estimated that it’s really not that many surgeries that are actually happening every year. It’s just become a lightning rod issue, especially for the Trump administration, and so it’s unfortunately led to this decision.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:12:36] Where does this leave people seeking this care? I mean, do they have any other options here in the Bay Area absent Stanford?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jessica Kariisa \u003c/strong>[00:12:48] Yeah, so UCSF actually is one of the few places that is still offering gender-affirming surgeries to teenagers under the age of 19. And it should be noted that, you know, in February, the attorney general of the state of California, Rob Bonta, did warn hospitals that like denying or pausing care for trans youth could potentially violate state law. Back in 2022, California passed a sanctuary law protecting families who travel to California for gender affirming care. So, you know, I think that it remains to be seen, but there are some things happening at the state level to try and protect trans youth who are seeking care. So we’ll just have to see how it all plays out with the friction with the federal level, but there a few options.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:13:44] Well, definitely something to follow as this story continues to develop. Jessica, thank you so much. And we are going to shift the tone a little bit with my story here. I have been thinking a lot lately about malls. I don’t know about you all and your hometown malls, but mine is just really not what it once was. I think this is really part of a national trend of retailers that have been really struggling with the rise of Amazon and COVID. And I think downtown San Francisco and the malls in downtown San Fransisco are probably one of the biggest representations of that. Union Square and San Francisco Center are really not doing very well, but I have been following this story from the San Francisco Chronicle about these San Francisco malls that are actually experiencing a renaissance that, in their words, really defies the doom loop narrative of San Francisco right now, and the really interesting story of their secret sauce, which is, they write, rising Asian cultural power.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jessica Kariisa \u003c/strong>[00:15:03] I feel like, especially in my hometown, back in North Carolina, it’s just kind of sad to see empty malls. And over here, I’ve definitely seen a lot of them. But tell us more about this secret sauce. What exactly is happening in these malls?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:15:20] As far as successful malls experiencing a renaissance right now. Stonestown in San Francisco and also the Japan Town shopping center are doing amazing. Stonestown which is near SF State, a bunch of high schools, you know, it’s really concentrated around a lot of students. That mall has experienced a record high traffic last year. It’s up by 6% in just the last 12 months. And sales per square foot at that mall are up by 20% since 2019. Japantown similarly has been experiencing record high foot traffic. That mall’s parking garage has also become the agency’s busiest last year. So those are just some of the numbers that show just how successful they’ve been. And the secret sauce is really this new wave of Asian retailers. At these malls, at Stone’s Town in particular, you’ve seen the rise of Pop Mart, where you could get blind boxes. There’s a Miniso there now, a Daiso. And then, I mean, not even to mention the food, there’s Supreme Dumpling, there’s Hot Pot, there’s Vietnamese food. And a lot of the folks who are running these mall are saying that even the legacy businesses at some of these mall have been really following suit and trying to appeal to Gen Z, which is really the folks who are really coming out and supporting these malls.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mel Velasquez \u003c/strong>[00:16:57] We used to be a proper country and we used to have flourishing malls where we could walk around and browse. I love to browse, personally. Um, so, like, why are these other malls struggling?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:17:14] You know, when we think about Union Square and the San Francisco Center, which are both located downtown, I think these are both areas that used to attract a lot of foot traffic and just aren’t doing that anymore. You know we’ve been talking a lot about, over the last couple of years, about San Francisco’s downtown really struggling to come back. And you could really see that at the San Fransisco Center. I mean, over half of that mall is now empty. It’s lost dozens of retailers in recent years, including some pretty big ones like Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s. Another thing I’d say too is the role of perception and how the perception of downtown San Francisco as being unsafe and BART being unsafe has played a big role in why people aren’t coming to downtown. And I’d say that the reason why I think a lot of people are going to Stonestown and Japantown, according to the article, is this perception of safety. I think a lot of people feel Stonestown and Japan Town are located in sort of safer areas. You know, Stonestown has a pretty robust parking lot, which is also a huge appeal. Whether or not the perception of safety around downtown is true or not, just that feeling, as we’ve talked about on this show a ton is strong enough to either get people to show up or get people not to show up. So I think the story of Stonestown and Japantown are really representative of that.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">On this month’s edition of The Bay’s news roundup, we introduce you to the Bay Area’s first women’s sports bar, discuss Stanford’s scaling back of gender-related surgical procedures for minors, and the secret sauce of the San Francisco malls defying the ‘doom loop’ narrative.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"200\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https://playlist.megaphone.fm?e=KQINC2905167660\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Links:\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13977457/rikkis-first-womens-sports-bar-bay-area-open-castro-sf-valkyries\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Bay Area’s First Women’s Sports Bar Is Open for Business\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1997491/stanford-scales-back-trans-care-for-minors-amid-federal-crackdown\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Stanford Scales Back Trans Care for Minors Amid Federal Crackdown\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13977860/asian-food-bay-area-malls-jagalchi-serramonte-stonestown-westfield-valley-fair\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">Asian Food Is Coming to Save a Mall Near You\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">SF Chronicle:\u003c/span> \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/japantown-stonestown-galleria-mall-20331459.php\">\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400\">These S.F. malls are experiencing a ‘renaissance’ that defies the doom loop. Here’s their secret\u003c/span>\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This is a computer-generated transcript. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:00:04] I’m Ericka Cruz Guevarra and welcome to The Bay, local news to keep you rooted and welcome to The Bay’s June News Roundup where I sit down with the rest of The Bay team to talk about some of the other stories that we have been following this month. I’m joined today by our producer Jessica Kariisa and our beloved intern Mel Velasquez.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:00:32] I mean, I can’t believe it’s already halfway through the year here, which is really crazy. We’ve got a lot of news going on around the world and also around the Bay, but also we’ve got some big news from our team this month, which I’ll get to shortly, but just a quick look back at some of the stories that we’ve done this month. I mean obviously immigration has really been the big story. Nationally and at the local level, we talked about the role that local soccer leagues have been playing for immigrant youth coming here to Alameda County in particular. We talked about Berkeley’s approach to probably one of the more challenging forms of homelessness in the Bay area, folks living in RVs, and this really successful program they’ve been running there, offering money to people living in RVs to get them on the path to more permanent housing. We talked about Suisun City’s effort to potentially grow by nine times its current size, and we also talked about local theater in a free fall here in the Bay Area. So as always, quite the range from us at the Bay, but there’s really been a lot going on.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jessica Kariisa \u003c/strong>[00:01:52] Yeah, I mean, it’s been a really crazy month. You know, there were a lot of protests, spontaneous protests that happened all across the country, especially here in the Bay Area. And there was obviously the huge, you know, King’s protest. We’re all in different parts of the Bay, but we were texting each other that day, like, oh, wow, like in every corner of the Bay, something is going on. Alan was in Chicago and there was obviously a lot going on there too. So it’s definitely been an active month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:02:21] Also just a lot kind of going on for us here on the Bay team. This month is our intern Mel Velasquez’s last month with us on the show. Mel has been a really, really huge part of the team. You all don’t get to see it, but for us in the background, Mel brings this really just fun energy and so much light to the team. It really, I think, helped us get through these last couple of weeks in the news cycle. Honestly, Mel, how are you feeling? How are you thinking about the last couple of months working with us on the show?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mel Velasquez \u003c/strong>[00:02:59] It’s been incredible. I mean, you guys are like the best team I’ve worked with. Everyone has just been so helpful and I look forward to coming here and like working with you all. I’ve had some great experiences like when we went to Six Flags for the thousandth episode that was so much fun. And then actually the more recent one that I had a lot of fun with was going to Aurora Theater in Berkeley for that episode. That was also really fun. It’s been nice to work with you all and I’m very sad that this will be my last episode. I’ve had such a just a really incredible time. I can’t emphasize that enough.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jessica Kariisa \u003c/strong>[00:03:49] I mean, I can’t believe that the six months is already up. Like, I can’t wrap my head around that. But I also want to point out that Mel also produced her own episode for us on Central American students at Berkeley, pushing for a department. And to see you work through that process of, you know, getting the idea and really pushing through and getting to produce such a great episode was just like a joy to watch and I hope that everyone who hasn’t already listened to it goes and listens to it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:04:20] Yes, definitely listen to it if you haven’t already. That’s also another one of the stories that we covered on the show this month. I should also mention that in addition to Mel leaving us, we are preparing to take our July break from producing new episodes. We’ll be spending that time just kind of regrouping and reflecting and cooking up some other things that we want to make for you all when we get back. So we will be taking a break from making episodes. We’ll be back in August. But more news on that later. But in the meantime, Mel, this episode is definitely a love letter to you. We appreciate you so much. And we really enjoyed working with you. Thanks for everything.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mel Velasquez \u003c/strong>[00:05:12] Aw, thank you guys for everything.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:05:19] Well Mel, before we let you go, we want to start off with you and the story that you’ve been following this month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mel Velasquez \u003c/strong>[00:05:26] Well, I feel like I’ve been following this for a lot longer than June, but the first women’s sports bar in the Bay Area opened on June 11th, right in time for Pride Month, and it’s called Rikki’s, and I mean, it’s been getting a lot of attention right now, but yeah, I got to go, and it was really fun.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:05:51] Yeah, I mean I feel like their timing is, I mean, is perfect. It’s Pride Month. We’ve also been covering on this show, you know, the Bay Area getting a pro women’s basketball team. We talked about Bay FC and I know you talked with the actual owners of Rikki’s. What did they tell you about, like, why they wanted to open this bar?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mel Velasquez \u003c/strong>[00:06:13] Yeah, so I got to talk to one of the co-founders of Rikki’s, Sarah Yergovich, and the other co-founder, her name is Danielle Tho, but they just wanted a place where they could watch women’s sports. I know that for a lot of like women’s-sports fans, and in particular, my partner has had this experience often. Where they go to a sports bar, they wanna watch a game, whether that be the WNBA championships or just an important game, like a Bay FC game. It was hard for them to find a place where they could go into a bar, sit down, and have the game on the TV. And if they do let you change the TV to a women’s sports game, oftentimes the volume isn’t gonna be on, so you’re kind of just watching a muted game. And sometimes they just won’t play it. This is like a place exclusively for women’s sports and also just a place that everyone can feel welcome and safe and I know that women’s sport is a huge part of like the LGBTQ community here and they really want to emphasize that inclusivity part.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jessica Kariisa \u003c/strong>[00:07:31] Definitely heard about Rikki’s. I haven’t had the chance to go. I’m actually going to my first Valkyries game on Sunday. I’m really excited about that. But I’m curious about your experience at Rikki’s, what was it like when you went there?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mel Velasquez \u003c/strong>[00:07:44] It was crazy because there actually wasn’t like a game from like a Bay Area team on any of the TVs, but there were like a lot of people. I went last Sunday. There’s tons of like sports memorabilia from Bay FC and the Valkyries. A lot of people had this like combo of like Bay FC hat and Valkyrie’s shirt. I feel like that was a pattern that I saw a lot. But yeah, there is a full bar. I had like this roasted cabbage dish. It was kind of fancy for a sports bar, but it was like really good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jessica Kariisa \u003c/strong>[00:08:24] That’s really cool, and I’m also curious, why is it called Rikki’s? Is it named after somebody?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mel Velasquez \u003c/strong>[00:08:30] Yeah, so it’s named after Rikki Streicher, who was an LGBTQ activist, and she opened up a lot of lesbian bars in San Francisco, and was just like a huge advocate for equal rights before same-sex couples were able to get married.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:08:49] Well, I’m sure there will be lots to see at Rikki’s in the coming months and years to come. Mel, thanks so much for bringing this story.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mel Velasquez \u003c/strong>[00:09:01] Of course, thank you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:09:27] And welcome back to the Bay’s June news roundup where I sit down with the rest of the Bay team to talk about some of the other stories that we have been following this month. Producer Jessica Kariisa, I wanna turn to you first. What story have you been following?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jessica Kariisa \u003c/strong>[00:09:41] I’m following a story down in Palo Alto specifically around Stanford Medicine and trans care and basically effective June 2nd in response to increased scrutiny at the federal level on gender affirming care, Stanford Medicine decided to pause gender related surgical procedures for patients under 19 years old as a way to avoid legal action and potential loss of funding. I should mention that I’m referring to reporting that was done by KQD’s Lesley McClurg and The Chronicle’s Catherine Ho.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:10:22] Yeah, I mean, what does this mean exactly? What kind of procedures are we talking about?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jessica Kariisa \u003c/strong>[00:10:30] Surgeries for minors are on hold, but Stanford’s LGBTQ health program will continue to offer other services, including hormone therapy, behavioral health support, voice training, and primary care. But surgeries in particular, for people under 19 years old, that’s what’s going be on hold for now.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mel Velasquez \u003c/strong>[00:10:56] So how did we get here in the first place? How did we to this decision?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jessica Kariisa \u003c/strong>[00:11:03] Basically, back in January, President Trump signed an executive order that directed federal agencies to, quote, not fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support so-called transition of a child from one sex to another. And this was going to affect hospitals and medical schools that receive federal grants. The order was blocked by a federal judge in March. But then in May, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services, sent a letter to hospitals asking about, you know, how they treat gender dysphoria, asking about their protocols around consent and outcome tracking and financial data. And so I think a lot of medical centers figure that they might need to be proactive to avoid retaliation from the federal government. And it should be mentioned that, you, know, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association have said that, like, gender-affirming care, including surgery in some cases, is medically necessary and life-saving. And generally, surgery is not recommended for minors and it’s reserved for older teens with extreme gender dysphoria. The Chronicle reported, they said experts in transgender care have estimated that it’s really not that many surgeries that are actually happening every year. It’s just become a lightning rod issue, especially for the Trump administration, and so it’s unfortunately led to this decision.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:12:36] Where does this leave people seeking this care? I mean, do they have any other options here in the Bay Area absent Stanford?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jessica Kariisa \u003c/strong>[00:12:48] Yeah, so UCSF actually is one of the few places that is still offering gender-affirming surgeries to teenagers under the age of 19. And it should be noted that, you know, in February, the attorney general of the state of California, Rob Bonta, did warn hospitals that like denying or pausing care for trans youth could potentially violate state law. Back in 2022, California passed a sanctuary law protecting families who travel to California for gender affirming care. So, you know, I think that it remains to be seen, but there are some things happening at the state level to try and protect trans youth who are seeking care. So we’ll just have to see how it all plays out with the friction with the federal level, but there a few options.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:13:44] Well, definitely something to follow as this story continues to develop. Jessica, thank you so much. And we are going to shift the tone a little bit with my story here. I have been thinking a lot lately about malls. I don’t know about you all and your hometown malls, but mine is just really not what it once was. I think this is really part of a national trend of retailers that have been really struggling with the rise of Amazon and COVID. And I think downtown San Francisco and the malls in downtown San Fransisco are probably one of the biggest representations of that. Union Square and San Francisco Center are really not doing very well, but I have been following this story from the San Francisco Chronicle about these San Francisco malls that are actually experiencing a renaissance that, in their words, really defies the doom loop narrative of San Francisco right now, and the really interesting story of their secret sauce, which is, they write, rising Asian cultural power.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jessica Kariisa \u003c/strong>[00:15:03] I feel like, especially in my hometown, back in North Carolina, it’s just kind of sad to see empty malls. And over here, I’ve definitely seen a lot of them. But tell us more about this secret sauce. What exactly is happening in these malls?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:15:20] As far as successful malls experiencing a renaissance right now. Stonestown in San Francisco and also the Japan Town shopping center are doing amazing. Stonestown which is near SF State, a bunch of high schools, you know, it’s really concentrated around a lot of students. That mall has experienced a record high traffic last year. It’s up by 6% in just the last 12 months. And sales per square foot at that mall are up by 20% since 2019. Japantown similarly has been experiencing record high foot traffic. That mall’s parking garage has also become the agency’s busiest last year. So those are just some of the numbers that show just how successful they’ve been. And the secret sauce is really this new wave of Asian retailers. At these malls, at Stone’s Town in particular, you’ve seen the rise of Pop Mart, where you could get blind boxes. There’s a Miniso there now, a Daiso. And then, I mean, not even to mention the food, there’s Supreme Dumpling, there’s Hot Pot, there’s Vietnamese food. And a lot of the folks who are running these mall are saying that even the legacy businesses at some of these mall have been really following suit and trying to appeal to Gen Z, which is really the folks who are really coming out and supporting these malls.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Mel Velasquez \u003c/strong>[00:16:57] We used to be a proper country and we used to have flourishing malls where we could walk around and browse. I love to browse, personally. Um, so, like, why are these other malls struggling?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:17:14] You know, when we think about Union Square and the San Francisco Center, which are both located downtown, I think these are both areas that used to attract a lot of foot traffic and just aren’t doing that anymore. You know we’ve been talking a lot about, over the last couple of years, about San Francisco’s downtown really struggling to come back. And you could really see that at the San Fransisco Center. I mean, over half of that mall is now empty. It’s lost dozens of retailers in recent years, including some pretty big ones like Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s. Another thing I’d say too is the role of perception and how the perception of downtown San Francisco as being unsafe and BART being unsafe has played a big role in why people aren’t coming to downtown. And I’d say that the reason why I think a lot of people are going to Stonestown and Japantown, according to the article, is this perception of safety. I think a lot of people feel Stonestown and Japan Town are located in sort of safer areas. You know, Stonestown has a pretty robust parking lot, which is also a huge appeal. Whether or not the perception of safety around downtown is true or not, just that feeling, as we’ve talked about on this show a ton is strong enough to either get people to show up or get people not to show up. So I think the story of Stonestown and Japantown are really representative of that.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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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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"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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"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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"marketplace": {
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"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",
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"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>",
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"info": "For decades, the process for how police police themselves has been inconsistent – if not opaque. In some states, like California, these proceedings were completely hidden. After a new police transparency law unsealed scores of internal affairs files, our reporters set out to examine these cases and the shadow world of police discipline. On Our Watch brings listeners into the rooms where officers are questioned and witnesses are interrogated to find out who this system is really protecting. Is it the officers, or the public they've sworn to serve?",
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"info": "Our weekly podcast explores how the media 'sausage' is made, casts an incisive eye on fluctuations in the marketplace of ideas, and examines threats to the freedom of information and expression in America and abroad. For one hour a week, the show tries to lift the veil from the process of \"making media,\" especially news media, because it's through that lens that we see the world and the world sees us",
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"politicalbreakdown": {
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"title": "Political Breakdown",
"tagline": "Politics from a personal perspective",
"info": "Political Breakdown is a new series that explores the political intersection of California and the nation. Each week hosts Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos are joined with a new special guest to unpack politics -- with personality — and offer an insider’s glimpse at how politics happens.",
"airtime": "THU 6:30pm-7pm",
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"possible": {
"id": "possible",
"title": "Possible",
"info": "Possible is hosted by entrepreneur Reid Hoffman and writer Aria Finger. Together in Possible, Hoffman and Finger lead enlightening discussions about building a brighter collective future. The show features interviews with visionary guests like Trevor Noah, Sam Altman and Janette Sadik-Khan. Possible paints an optimistic portrait of the world we can create through science, policy, business, art and our shared humanity. It asks: What if everything goes right for once? How can we get there? Each episode also includes a short fiction story generated by advanced AI GPT-4, serving as a thought-provoking springboard to speculate how humanity could leverage technology for good.",
"airtime": "SUN 2pm",
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"pri-the-world": {
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"title": "PRI's The World: Latest Edition",
"info": "Each weekday, host Marco Werman and his team of producers bring you the world's most interesting stories in an hour of radio that reminds us just how small our planet really is.",
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"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-World-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
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"radiolab": {
"id": "radiolab",
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"info": "A two-time Peabody Award-winner, Radiolab is an investigation told through sounds and stories, and centered around one big idea. In the Radiolab world, information sounds like music and science and culture collide. Hosted by Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich, the show is designed for listeners who demand skepticism, but appreciate wonder. WNYC Studios is the producer of other leading podcasts including Freakonomics Radio, Death, Sex & Money, On the Media and many more.",
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"reveal": {
"id": "reveal",
"title": "Reveal",
"info": "Created by The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX, Reveal is public radios first one-hour weekly radio show and podcast dedicated to investigative reporting. Credible, fact based and without a partisan agenda, Reveal combines the power and artistry of driveway moment storytelling with data-rich reporting on critically important issues. The result is stories that inform and inspire, arming our listeners with information to right injustices, hold the powerful accountable and improve lives.Reveal is hosted by Al Letson and showcases the award-winning work of CIR and newsrooms large and small across the nation. In a radio and podcast market crowded with choices, Reveal focuses on important and often surprising stories that illuminate the world for our listeners.",
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},
"rightnowish": {
"id": "rightnowish",
"title": "Rightnowish",
"tagline": "Art is where you find it",
"info": "Rightnowish digs into life in the Bay Area right now… ish. Journalist Pendarvis Harshaw takes us to galleries painted on the sides of liquor stores in West Oakland. We'll dance in warehouses in the Bayview, make smoothies with kids in South Berkeley, and listen to classical music in a 1984 Cutlass Supreme in Richmond. Every week, Pen talks to movers and shakers about how the Bay Area shapes what they create, and how they shape the place we call home.",
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},
"science-friday": {
"id": "science-friday",
"title": "Science Friday",
"info": "Science Friday is a weekly science talk show, broadcast live over public radio stations nationwide. Each week, the show focuses on science topics that are in the news and tries to bring an educated, balanced discussion to bear on the scientific issues at hand. Panels of expert guests join host Ira Flatow, a veteran science journalist, to discuss science and to take questions from listeners during the call-in portion of the program.",
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"snap-judgment": {
"id": "snap-judgment",
"title": "Snap Judgment",
"tagline": "Real stories with killer beats",
"info": "The Snap Judgment radio show and podcast mixes real stories with killer beats to produce cinematic, dramatic radio. Snap's musical brand of storytelling dares listeners to see the world through the eyes of another. This is storytelling... with a BEAT!! Snap first aired on public radio stations nationwide in July 2010. Today, Snap Judgment airs on over 450 public radio stations and is brought to the airwaves by KQED & PRX.",
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},
"soldout": {
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