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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": "\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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"title": "‘Better Than I Ever Dreamed’: Valkyries Fans Reflect on Historic First Season | KQED",
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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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"title": "Valkyries Playoffs 2025: Where to Watch the WNBA in the San Francisco Bay Area | KQED",
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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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"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>\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>\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>\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>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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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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"headTitle": "Golden State Valkyries: Level Up Your Bay Area WNBA Fandom With Our Primer | KQED",
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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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"slug": "the-golden-state-valkyries-begin-their-first-season",
"title": "The Golden State Valkyries Begin Their First Season",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cspan data-slate-fragment=\"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\">The Bay Area is home to the WNBA’s newest team. Tonight, the Golden State Valkyries play their first-ever regular season game at Chase Center. And for women’s sports fans across the region, it’s been a long time coming. The Chronicle’s Marisa Ingemi joins us to preview the Valkyries’ inaugural season.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\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=KQINC4980678843&light=true\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\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>Mel Velasquez \u003c/strong>[00:00:10] Hello, I’m Mel Velasquez. I’m the intern for The Bay and I’m here at Standard Deviant in the Mission. We’re here for the Valkyries preseason game! It’s hosted by Ricky’s, which will be a women’s sports bar that’s opening up in the Castro. And I’m gonna talk to some folks here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marlo Rodriguez \u003c/strong>[00:00:42] My name is Marlo, M-A-R-L-O, and my last name is Rodriguez. And I’m from Oakland, California, and I’m super pumped. I’m really excited about the Valkyries, it’s a long time coming for women’s sports and for the Bay Area to have a team. I love the name. Valkyrie means a woman warrior in Norse language. And it’s very intentional. And I love the colors. It’s just a great representation of women’s sports and the Bay Area and being the sister team for the Warriors. I’m pumped up about the Valkyries and let’s f***ing go!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sean Sandhu \u003c/strong>[00:01:22] My name is Sean Sandhu. Initially I was excited and then I got a little apprehensive and then we watched the pre-season game and I am so pumped now. Because that game was, I mean, at least the second half with so much energy, is some of the best basketball I’ve ever seen.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sarah Yergovich \u003c/strong>[00:01:40] My name is Sarah Yergovich. I feel like the San Francisco Bay Area has such a strong women’s sports community and really strong athletes that come from the Bay Area. We just haven’t had that professional basketball team that is kind of the next step following up. So I’m super psyched and super psyched that we’re getting such awesome players on the team and finally seeing them like play their best. So cool.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:02:04] The Golden State Valkyries will make their debut tonight as the Bay Area’s first WNBA team. And the Valkyries are part of a wave of energy and investment finally going into women’s sports. And the Bay Area is leading the way. Today, we talk with the San Francisco Chronicle’s women’s sports reporter, Marisa Ingemi. About what we can expect from the Valkyries’ inaugural season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:02:41] I guess to start, Marisa, the Bay Area now has a WNBA team. It’s sort of been a long time coming, right?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:02:49] It’s been a minute since there was an expansion team. The last one was 2008 with the Atlanta Dream. So when the league was first talking about expansion, the Bay Area was always one of the markets that was brought up first. So the WNBA opened their expansion process, they were looking for bids. And the one they picked was the bid from the Golden State Warriors. Joe Lacob, the Warrior’s owner, he used to own a professional women’s basketball team in the ’90s that actually predated the WNBA, so he’s always been very involved in that. So it kind of seemed like a natural fit. So in the next two years, there’s going to be a wave of WNBA expansion. Next year Toronto Tempo and the unnamed Portland team are coming into the league and the Golden State Valkyries are kind of the first team of that wave. This is kind of the blueprint for everyone else right now with two expansion teams coming in next year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:03:46] I mean, why has, I guess, the Bay Area been thought of as one of the first to do this.?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:03:54] Yeah, well, the women’s basketball market is really strong. You have Stanford, you have Cal, and they continuously draw strong audiences for their women’s basketball games. And then just like TV marketability as well like, if you look at like the ratings of which markets are drawing for WNBA games, the Bay Area has consistently been one of the highest out of market ratings. And then a lot of talent has come out of here too. Between Stanford, between Cal. Just local players, Sabrina Ionescu, who’s one of the best players in the WNBA for the New York Liberty, is from here. She’s from Walnut Creek. Chelsea Gray is from here. She just won a championship MVP with the Las Vegas Aces a couple of years ago. So it’s also just one of the bigger markets that didn’t have a team period. But they’re kind of trying to fill out gaps of where there isn’t a presence, and this was kind of one of the more obvious ones.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:04:43] Let’s talk about the team first. How would you describe the team as it stands right now?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:04:49] Expansion teams tend to not play so well. It kind of takes a minute to come together. Expectations should be tempered a little bit. I do think the Valkyries are going to be a very fun team to watch. Their head coach Natalie Nakase, who came over from coaching as an assistant coach with Las Vegas where she won a couple of championships, she’s really wanted an approach of a team that shoots a lot of three-pointers is really aggressive on defense and strong in transition And that’s kind of the way they’ve built their roster. So nine of the players who made the, 12 player opening date roster were taken in the expansion draft. So they really relied on that to take league experience players because some of the players they have are brand new to the league. They wanted to be able to have that veteran presence.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:05:32] They have a lot of role players. So players who have come off the bench and produced without that starring role. They have only one player who started more than 30 games last season. So there’s a lot stepping into roles they’ve never had before, which is exciting because you have a few international players who are making their WNBA debuts. People who have watched international women’s basketball are gonna know some of those names or seen them in the Olympics. If you watched the US women’s national team in the Olympics in 2024, when they beat France in the gold medal game, like two of those players are on the Valkyries now after training camp. I think they’ll be a very fun team to watch. I think they’re gonna get some scrappy wins. I think it could surprise some people. I do think people are going to really enjoy watching this team.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:06:12] Any players from the Bay Area?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:06:15] No one from the Bay Area specifically, but there are some names that people are going to recognize. Kate Martin is probably the most recognizable name on the roster. She comes from the Las Vegas Aces. She kind of had this viral moment in the WNBA draft in 2024 when she went to support her Iowa teammate Caitlin Clark as a top overall pick, and then she ended up being drafted in the second round. She had the fifth highest selling jersey in the league last season despite being a bench player.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kayla Thornton comes over from the New York Liberty where she just won a championship last year. She was one of their best bench players, really strong defender, shoots a lot of threes, really exciting player. And then I think people are going to really enjoy watching.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Julie Vanloo. She’s a Belgian point guard and she’s 32 years old, but it’s only her second WNBA season. She played for the Washington Mystics last season and was seventh in the WNBA in assists. Really strong distributor, really creative playmaker, can shoot a little bit. It’s interesting because their general manager Ohemaa Nyanin talked recently about how they don’t really have a face of the franchise. And that is kind of true, like Kate Martin a little bit is filling that role just because people know who she is. But for the most part, like this team’s really gonna be able to create your identity as a group and we’ll see who emerges.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:07:57] I know another sort of notable name you mentioned earlier was their coach, Natalie Nakase. I know you’ve interviewed her before. I mean, what’s she like?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:08:06] Very intense. She loves basketball. You can tell like how much this means to her.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Natalie Nakase \u003c/strong>[00:08:11] That’s what sports is about, right? That’s the beauty of sports is that you wanna be number one, you wanna be a champion. No one kind of goes back and is like in five years I wanna be number two.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:08:21] She’s a former player at UCLA. She had to retire early in her professional career because of knee injuries and she’s gotten into coaching, she’s coached on the men’s side in the NBA with the Los Angeles Clippers. She coached under Becky Hammond at the Las Vegas Aces and Hammond was the first woman to be on an NBA coaching staff when she was a coach for the assistant coach for San Antonio Spurs in the 2010s. She Ggoes over to the Aces and really just kind of builds a dynasty over there, and Nakase has kind of been her protege. She has a very specific style she wants to play. She’s very direct. Um, she wants to be that three and D team, as they call it, of a three point shooting team, get those rebounds, play a strong defense. And yeah, she’s been very clear of what she’s looking for from this team. And we’ll see what it looks like with her first year as a head coach.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Natalie Nakase \u003c/strong>[00:09:07] Again, like, my dad taught me when I was young, like you always got to be the best. And so I almost feel like he has trained me in a way, or he’s raised me you know, to be where I am today. And so I can’t wait to get get to work. Obviously, this is day one, but I’m just ready to get to work and start achieving that goal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:09:25] And there have already been some pre-season games, right? I mean, what’s it been like to watch them play, so far, what’s their vibe?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:09:33] They had one preseason game at Chase Center where it was more than 17,000 people. I keep telling people I had high expectations and I was blown away. It felt like being at a Warriors game, like it just felt so intense and so real. And that was just a preseason game. We didn’t learn as much as I think we could have hoped in this preseason. Like two games is really short, especially for an expansion team. The whole of camp was less than 21 days. That’s not a lot of time for a brand new professional team to come together. I think we’re going to learn a lot the first few games about what they’re actually going to look like and what their real vibe on the court’s going to be.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:10:40] Seems like your main takeaway from the pre-season game so far is really about the fan base and what that sort of looked like. I mean, I feel like I’ve already seen a lot of Valkyries gear out in the wild. And it just feels like people are feeling really excited and really, I mean, already deciding to sort of invest in the team here in the Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:11:03] Yeah, I mean, people have been asking for a WNBA team here for a long time and people are kind of all in. We kind of saw last year with Bay FC and the NWSL where there was a pretty strong fan base, even when they struggled kind of early on, people were just so bought in, and I think that the Valkyries fan base is going to be so exciting. It’s going to be very similar where you’re just happy to have a team to support. People have bought into the branding, the vibe of the team. There are so many jerseys out there already. People will have jerseys a couple days after a player signs, and I’m like, how do you have that already? I remember the day they announced their logo and their branding. The next day I saw somebody in a Valkyries hoodie and I was like, how do you have that already? We’ve seen season ticket sales are already the highest they’ve ever been for a WNBA team with more than 10,000 sold. They have the highest median ticket price in the league now, which is significant because they have a big arena. So you would think you’re going to be able to have cheaper tickets because there’s going to more access to a Valkyries game, but the demand is still so high that the ticket prices are high and it’s not necessarily a great thing for people to- not have that access, but it does just show that the demand exists, people are so excited.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:12:10] I feel like it’s not often that we’re talking about a real investment in women’s sports, I mean, it seems like the Valkyries owners are really investing in this WNBA team, and that seems sort of notable.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:12:26] Yeah, and that’s kind of been the trend in recent years has been for there to be a more significant investment in women’s sports. Like in the past couple of years, we’ve seen Seattle, Phoenix build the state of the art practice facilities, in Las Vegas as well. And they’ve really mentioned like we need that to keep up as a recruiting tool to get top players to want to come here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So we’re kind of at this weird inflection point in women’s sports right now, where of like the past and the present and the future. Where like very clearly like the audience and the demand are outgrowing the infrastructure that has existed in women’s sports. The ratings are there, the demand is there, the audience is there. And it’s still like taking a minute for like some of these national broadcasters to like put all the games on TV even just like these small little access things that are such like a given in men’s sports? Men’s sports are growing but at a smaller rate. Where women in sports, you’re seeing like crazy numbers as far as it’s like. What percentage audience is growing, what percentage of ticket sales are growing and that investment has to exist just to be competitive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:13:34] So is it just that there is an appetite for more women’s sports? Is that really what’s sort of at the heart of what’s driving this change?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:13:42] Yeah, and I think there’s been an appetite for a long time, and it’s kind of been suppressed. Like, I don’t think it’s all of a sudden, like, oh, people care about women’s sports all of the sudden for no reason. Until very recently you couldn’t watch every WNBA game. You couldn’t watch every NWSL game. You used to have to like go online and go to random websites or I remember watching WNBA games on YouTube like those access points just didn’t exist. And now that they do, the audience is reflecting that. And I don’t think that means that like there’s this random appetite for women’s sports as much as like there has been a demand and it’s finally being met.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:14:17] And what’s your sense of the fan base for the WNBA team so far compared to maybe the men’s basketball teams.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:14:27] Yeah, it’s a little bit different. Like there’s definitely going to be Valkyries fans who are Warriors fans, 49ers fans, because like it’s their local team and they’re excited. Like that definitely exists. But I think that sometimes people don’t realize, the audience for women’s sports can be significantly different because if you’re a 49ers, Giants, Warriors fan, there’s a good chance that was passed down to you, you’re from here, there’s that history, like your parents went to games, season tickets in your family, whatever. Where for women, sports, professional teams, like that hasn’t existed for as long, so like you have to make an active choice to be a part of a women’s sports fandom. So I think a lot of people come into women’s sports for different reasons because they enjoy the players on social media. They enjoy their personalities. They enjoy being in a sports space that doesn’t feel so masculine to them. So you’re going to see some people who are just Valkyries fans or Valkyries Bay FC fans or whatever. A lot of the time, women’s sports fan bases are looking for a lot more accountability. They’re looking for a lot more social change, they’re looking for a lot more of players being accessible as people. Women sports fans are asking for different things and it’s going to be really interesting to see how the Bay kind of evolves and learns from that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:15:37] Well, it seems like a really great time, Marisa, to be a women’s sports writer here in the Bay Area. What are you going to be watching for as the Valkyries start their first season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:15:48] Yeah, it’s going to be interesting just to see how they do on the court. It’s going be interesting to see which rotations on the floor, who works well with each other, which players emerge, like I said. They have so many role players who are being asked to step up, like which ones really do? I think that whoever does, whoever really kind of steps up and produces in big moments are going to be those players that fans learn to love. How much are they going to go try to be more competitive if they’re not? How do they look towards next season? We’re going to learn a lot about the future of this franchise in the next few months.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cspan data-slate-fragment=\"JTVCJTdCJTIydHlwZSUyMiUzQSUyMnBhcmFncmFwaCUyMiUyQyUyMmNoaWxkcmVuJTIyJTNBJTVCJTdCJTIydGV4dCUyMiUzQSUyMlRoZSUyMEJheSUyMEFyZWElMjBpcyUyMGhvbWUlMjB0byUyMHRoZSUyMFdOQkElRTIlODAlOTlzJTIwbmV3ZXN0JTIwdGVhbS4lMjBUb25pZ2h0JTJDJTIwdGhlJTIwR29sZGVuJTIwU3RhdGUlMjBWYWxreXJpZXMlMjBwbGF5JTIwdGhlaXIlMjBmaXJzdC1ldmVyJTIwcmVndWxhciUyMHNlYXNvbiUyMGdhbWUlMjBhdCUyMENoYXNlJTIwQ2VudGVyLiUyMEFuZCUyMGZvciUyMHdvbWVuJUUyJTgwJTk5cyUyMHNwb3J0cyUyMGZhbnMlMjBhY3Jvc3MlMjB0aGUlMjByZWdpb24lMkMlMjBpdCVFMiU4MCU5OXMlMjBiZWVuJTIwYSUyMGxvbmclMjB0aW1lJTIwY29taW5nLiVDMiVBMFRoZSUyMENocm9uaWNsZSdzJTIwTWFyaXNhJTIwSW5nZW1pJTIwam9pbnMlMjB1cyUyMHRvJTIwcHJldmlldyUyMHRoZSUyMFZhbGt5cmllcyclMjBpbmF1Z3VyYWwlMjBzZWFzb24uJTIyJTdEJTVEJTdEJTVE\">The Bay Area is home to the WNBA’s newest team. Tonight, the Golden State Valkyries play their first-ever regular season game at Chase Center. And for women’s sports fans across the region, it’s been a long time coming. The Chronicle’s Marisa Ingemi joins us to preview the Valkyries’ inaugural season.\u003c/span>\u003c/p>\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=KQINC4980678843&light=true\" width=\"100%\" class=\"iframe-class\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\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>Mel Velasquez \u003c/strong>[00:00:10] Hello, I’m Mel Velasquez. I’m the intern for The Bay and I’m here at Standard Deviant in the Mission. We’re here for the Valkyries preseason game! It’s hosted by Ricky’s, which will be a women’s sports bar that’s opening up in the Castro. And I’m gonna talk to some folks here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marlo Rodriguez \u003c/strong>[00:00:42] My name is Marlo, M-A-R-L-O, and my last name is Rodriguez. And I’m from Oakland, California, and I’m super pumped. I’m really excited about the Valkyries, it’s a long time coming for women’s sports and for the Bay Area to have a team. I love the name. Valkyrie means a woman warrior in Norse language. And it’s very intentional. And I love the colors. It’s just a great representation of women’s sports and the Bay Area and being the sister team for the Warriors. I’m pumped up about the Valkyries and let’s f***ing go!\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sean Sandhu \u003c/strong>[00:01:22] My name is Sean Sandhu. Initially I was excited and then I got a little apprehensive and then we watched the pre-season game and I am so pumped now. Because that game was, I mean, at least the second half with so much energy, is some of the best basketball I’ve ever seen.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Sarah Yergovich \u003c/strong>[00:01:40] My name is Sarah Yergovich. I feel like the San Francisco Bay Area has such a strong women’s sports community and really strong athletes that come from the Bay Area. We just haven’t had that professional basketball team that is kind of the next step following up. So I’m super psyched and super psyched that we’re getting such awesome players on the team and finally seeing them like play their best. So cool.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:02:04] The Golden State Valkyries will make their debut tonight as the Bay Area’s first WNBA team. And the Valkyries are part of a wave of energy and investment finally going into women’s sports. And the Bay Area is leading the way. Today, we talk with the San Francisco Chronicle’s women’s sports reporter, Marisa Ingemi. About what we can expect from the Valkyries’ inaugural season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:02:41] I guess to start, Marisa, the Bay Area now has a WNBA team. It’s sort of been a long time coming, right?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:02:49] It’s been a minute since there was an expansion team. The last one was 2008 with the Atlanta Dream. So when the league was first talking about expansion, the Bay Area was always one of the markets that was brought up first. So the WNBA opened their expansion process, they were looking for bids. And the one they picked was the bid from the Golden State Warriors. Joe Lacob, the Warrior’s owner, he used to own a professional women’s basketball team in the ’90s that actually predated the WNBA, so he’s always been very involved in that. So it kind of seemed like a natural fit. So in the next two years, there’s going to be a wave of WNBA expansion. Next year Toronto Tempo and the unnamed Portland team are coming into the league and the Golden State Valkyries are kind of the first team of that wave. This is kind of the blueprint for everyone else right now with two expansion teams coming in next year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:03:46] I mean, why has, I guess, the Bay Area been thought of as one of the first to do this.?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:03:54] Yeah, well, the women’s basketball market is really strong. You have Stanford, you have Cal, and they continuously draw strong audiences for their women’s basketball games. And then just like TV marketability as well like, if you look at like the ratings of which markets are drawing for WNBA games, the Bay Area has consistently been one of the highest out of market ratings. And then a lot of talent has come out of here too. Between Stanford, between Cal. Just local players, Sabrina Ionescu, who’s one of the best players in the WNBA for the New York Liberty, is from here. She’s from Walnut Creek. Chelsea Gray is from here. She just won a championship MVP with the Las Vegas Aces a couple of years ago. So it’s also just one of the bigger markets that didn’t have a team period. But they’re kind of trying to fill out gaps of where there isn’t a presence, and this was kind of one of the more obvious ones.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:04:43] Let’s talk about the team first. How would you describe the team as it stands right now?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:04:49] Expansion teams tend to not play so well. It kind of takes a minute to come together. Expectations should be tempered a little bit. I do think the Valkyries are going to be a very fun team to watch. Their head coach Natalie Nakase, who came over from coaching as an assistant coach with Las Vegas where she won a couple of championships, she’s really wanted an approach of a team that shoots a lot of three-pointers is really aggressive on defense and strong in transition And that’s kind of the way they’ve built their roster. So nine of the players who made the, 12 player opening date roster were taken in the expansion draft. So they really relied on that to take league experience players because some of the players they have are brand new to the league. They wanted to be able to have that veteran presence.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:05:32] They have a lot of role players. So players who have come off the bench and produced without that starring role. They have only one player who started more than 30 games last season. So there’s a lot stepping into roles they’ve never had before, which is exciting because you have a few international players who are making their WNBA debuts. People who have watched international women’s basketball are gonna know some of those names or seen them in the Olympics. If you watched the US women’s national team in the Olympics in 2024, when they beat France in the gold medal game, like two of those players are on the Valkyries now after training camp. I think they’ll be a very fun team to watch. I think they’re gonna get some scrappy wins. I think it could surprise some people. I do think people are going to really enjoy watching this team.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:06:12] Any players from the Bay Area?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:06:15] No one from the Bay Area specifically, but there are some names that people are going to recognize. Kate Martin is probably the most recognizable name on the roster. She comes from the Las Vegas Aces. She kind of had this viral moment in the WNBA draft in 2024 when she went to support her Iowa teammate Caitlin Clark as a top overall pick, and then she ended up being drafted in the second round. She had the fifth highest selling jersey in the league last season despite being a bench player.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kayla Thornton comes over from the New York Liberty where she just won a championship last year. She was one of their best bench players, really strong defender, shoots a lot of threes, really exciting player. And then I think people are going to really enjoy watching.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Julie Vanloo. She’s a Belgian point guard and she’s 32 years old, but it’s only her second WNBA season. She played for the Washington Mystics last season and was seventh in the WNBA in assists. Really strong distributor, really creative playmaker, can shoot a little bit. It’s interesting because their general manager Ohemaa Nyanin talked recently about how they don’t really have a face of the franchise. And that is kind of true, like Kate Martin a little bit is filling that role just because people know who she is. But for the most part, like this team’s really gonna be able to create your identity as a group and we’ll see who emerges.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:07:57] I know another sort of notable name you mentioned earlier was their coach, Natalie Nakase. I know you’ve interviewed her before. I mean, what’s she like?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:08:06] Very intense. She loves basketball. You can tell like how much this means to her.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Natalie Nakase \u003c/strong>[00:08:11] That’s what sports is about, right? That’s the beauty of sports is that you wanna be number one, you wanna be a champion. No one kind of goes back and is like in five years I wanna be number two.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:08:21] She’s a former player at UCLA. She had to retire early in her professional career because of knee injuries and she’s gotten into coaching, she’s coached on the men’s side in the NBA with the Los Angeles Clippers. She coached under Becky Hammond at the Las Vegas Aces and Hammond was the first woman to be on an NBA coaching staff when she was a coach for the assistant coach for San Antonio Spurs in the 2010s. She Ggoes over to the Aces and really just kind of builds a dynasty over there, and Nakase has kind of been her protege. She has a very specific style she wants to play. She’s very direct. Um, she wants to be that three and D team, as they call it, of a three point shooting team, get those rebounds, play a strong defense. And yeah, she’s been very clear of what she’s looking for from this team. And we’ll see what it looks like with her first year as a head coach.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Natalie Nakase \u003c/strong>[00:09:07] Again, like, my dad taught me when I was young, like you always got to be the best. And so I almost feel like he has trained me in a way, or he’s raised me you know, to be where I am today. And so I can’t wait to get get to work. Obviously, this is day one, but I’m just ready to get to work and start achieving that goal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:09:25] And there have already been some pre-season games, right? I mean, what’s it been like to watch them play, so far, what’s their vibe?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:09:33] They had one preseason game at Chase Center where it was more than 17,000 people. I keep telling people I had high expectations and I was blown away. It felt like being at a Warriors game, like it just felt so intense and so real. And that was just a preseason game. We didn’t learn as much as I think we could have hoped in this preseason. Like two games is really short, especially for an expansion team. The whole of camp was less than 21 days. That’s not a lot of time for a brand new professional team to come together. I think we’re going to learn a lot the first few games about what they’re actually going to look like and what their real vibe on the court’s going to be.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:10:40] Seems like your main takeaway from the pre-season game so far is really about the fan base and what that sort of looked like. I mean, I feel like I’ve already seen a lot of Valkyries gear out in the wild. And it just feels like people are feeling really excited and really, I mean, already deciding to sort of invest in the team here in the Bay.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:11:03] Yeah, I mean, people have been asking for a WNBA team here for a long time and people are kind of all in. We kind of saw last year with Bay FC and the NWSL where there was a pretty strong fan base, even when they struggled kind of early on, people were just so bought in, and I think that the Valkyries fan base is going to be so exciting. It’s going to be very similar where you’re just happy to have a team to support. People have bought into the branding, the vibe of the team. There are so many jerseys out there already. People will have jerseys a couple days after a player signs, and I’m like, how do you have that already? I remember the day they announced their logo and their branding. The next day I saw somebody in a Valkyries hoodie and I was like, how do you have that already? We’ve seen season ticket sales are already the highest they’ve ever been for a WNBA team with more than 10,000 sold. They have the highest median ticket price in the league now, which is significant because they have a big arena. So you would think you’re going to be able to have cheaper tickets because there’s going to more access to a Valkyries game, but the demand is still so high that the ticket prices are high and it’s not necessarily a great thing for people to- not have that access, but it does just show that the demand exists, people are so excited.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:12:10] I feel like it’s not often that we’re talking about a real investment in women’s sports, I mean, it seems like the Valkyries owners are really investing in this WNBA team, and that seems sort of notable.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:12:26] Yeah, and that’s kind of been the trend in recent years has been for there to be a more significant investment in women’s sports. Like in the past couple of years, we’ve seen Seattle, Phoenix build the state of the art practice facilities, in Las Vegas as well. And they’ve really mentioned like we need that to keep up as a recruiting tool to get top players to want to come here.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So we’re kind of at this weird inflection point in women’s sports right now, where of like the past and the present and the future. Where like very clearly like the audience and the demand are outgrowing the infrastructure that has existed in women’s sports. The ratings are there, the demand is there, the audience is there. And it’s still like taking a minute for like some of these national broadcasters to like put all the games on TV even just like these small little access things that are such like a given in men’s sports? Men’s sports are growing but at a smaller rate. Where women in sports, you’re seeing like crazy numbers as far as it’s like. What percentage audience is growing, what percentage of ticket sales are growing and that investment has to exist just to be competitive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:13:34] So is it just that there is an appetite for more women’s sports? Is that really what’s sort of at the heart of what’s driving this change?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:13:42] Yeah, and I think there’s been an appetite for a long time, and it’s kind of been suppressed. Like, I don’t think it’s all of a sudden, like, oh, people care about women’s sports all of the sudden for no reason. Until very recently you couldn’t watch every WNBA game. You couldn’t watch every NWSL game. You used to have to like go online and go to random websites or I remember watching WNBA games on YouTube like those access points just didn’t exist. And now that they do, the audience is reflecting that. And I don’t think that means that like there’s this random appetite for women’s sports as much as like there has been a demand and it’s finally being met.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:14:17] And what’s your sense of the fan base for the WNBA team so far compared to maybe the men’s basketball teams.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Marisa Ingemi \u003c/strong>[00:14:27] Yeah, it’s a little bit different. Like there’s definitely going to be Valkyries fans who are Warriors fans, 49ers fans, because like it’s their local team and they’re excited. Like that definitely exists. But I think that sometimes people don’t realize, the audience for women’s sports can be significantly different because if you’re a 49ers, Giants, Warriors fan, there’s a good chance that was passed down to you, you’re from here, there’s that history, like your parents went to games, season tickets in your family, whatever. Where for women, sports, professional teams, like that hasn’t existed for as long, so like you have to make an active choice to be a part of a women’s sports fandom. So I think a lot of people come into women’s sports for different reasons because they enjoy the players on social media. They enjoy their personalities. They enjoy being in a sports space that doesn’t feel so masculine to them. So you’re going to see some people who are just Valkyries fans or Valkyries Bay FC fans or whatever. A lot of the time, women’s sports fan bases are looking for a lot more accountability. They’re looking for a lot more social change, they’re looking for a lot more of players being accessible as people. Women sports fans are asking for different things and it’s going to be really interesting to see how the Bay kind of evolves and learns from that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ericka Cruz Guevarra \u003c/strong>[00:15:37] Well, it seems like a really great time, Marisa, to be a women’s sports writer here in the Bay Area. What are you going to be watching for as the Valkyries start their first season.\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>[00:15:48] Yeah, it’s going to be interesting just to see how they do on the court. It’s going be interesting to see which rotations on the floor, who works well with each other, which players emerge, like I said. They have so many role players who are being asked to step up, like which ones really do? I think that whoever does, whoever really kind of steps up and produces in big moments are going to be those players that fans learn to love. How much are they going to go try to be more competitive if they’re not? How do they look towards next season? We’re going to learn a lot about the future of this franchise in the next few months.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>Draymond Green proudly rocks a Golden State Valkyries No. 25 jersey, signifying the WNBA’s return to Northern California in 2025.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Warriors coach Steve Kerr regularly takes the podium for interviews wearing the expansion franchise’s signature purple T-shirts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With 5-year-old Chase Center under the spotlight during \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/nba-all-star-weekend-2025-b8cb2af8440ab648a65d3db0f396bf99\">NBA All-Star Weekend\u003c/a>, many eyes are also on the women’s game. \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/clark-nba-all-star-three-point-shootout-992de93647d88e5ee32304be971f2a8d\">Caitlin Clark made headlines for not participating\u003c/a>. A’ja Wilson and other WNBA players are making headlines with their presence.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And yes, the WNBA’s new expansion franchise that is coming to the bay is also getting a good look during All-Star Weekend.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Warriors power forward Gui Santos can feel the energy of the WNBA.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You see the All-Star, you see the WNBA team coming up and you see how the Bay Area community is enjoying that, everybody’s watching the teams,” said Santos, who had a side broadcasting gig Saturday with the NBA. “You have everything going at the same time, it’s very good for the Bay Area. The Warriors, the whole organization, are trying to help them, trying to make all the Golden State fans turn into Valkyries fans and we all want to be one together because we are representing the Bay Area, we are representing the people that live here.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>WNBA players have not been hard to find, holding seminars with Jr. NBA kids, participating in a 2-on-2 game and showcasing their skills in the \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/all-star-nba-celebrities-rome-flynn-d78b6b4e09a36e66d3f90801c0726967\">celebrity game\u003c/a>. Bay Area native Sabrina Ionescu was seen at community events despite the league not being able to work out details for another \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/stephen-curry-sabrina-ionescu-allstar-game-486db6c9f10183c72432da12847e50fe\">Ionescu-Stephen Curry shootout\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Valkyries unveiled their new locker room at the arena leading up to the festivities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young said it’s hard to believe there wasn’t a WNBA team here earlier given all of Golden State’s success over the past decade, when the Warriors won four NBA championships.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is one of the elite franchises in the league today, the NBA,” Young said. “It’s a no-brainer to have a WNBA franchise out here. I’m surprised already that there’s not.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While the timing coincides with the global growth of women’s sports, longtime Golden State owner Joe Lacob fell in love with women’s basketball when he watched the 1996 Olympic team. He admired Hall of Fame Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer leading the unbeaten Americans to the gold medal in Atlanta.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>An original investor in the former American Basketball League, Lacob has planned to bring a WNBA franchise here all along — then once Chase Center opened in 2019 it became a top priority.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/golden-state-wnba-expansion-franchise-warriors-ef65eb9d90d36595f87468f0647c1980\">The expansion team became official in October 2023\u003c/a>.[aside tag=\"wnba, basketball\" label=\"More Related Stories\"]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I want them to understand the opportunity that they have to come and be historians,” Valkyries general manager Ohemaa Nyanin said after the expansion draft Dec. 6. “Once you get to put on that jersey and you get to sit in front of a packed Chase Center, your whole experience is going to change.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The WNBA is back for the first time since the Sacramento Monarchs folded following the 2009 season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Earlier this month the Valkyries unveiled their new 31,800-square foot training center in what used to be the Warriors’ practice facility in downtown Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The plan all along was to find ways to still honor the Warriors’ deep history while building something special from scratch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We want them to feel that, too,” Valkyries President Jess Smith said. “Entering this organization knowing the greatness around them that’s here to help them in any way, shape or form. … It’s a really special place, and that won’t lose itself regardless of the branding because of the history that’s taken place here.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even coming from Brazil, Santos has a sense of how much the San Francisco area loves women’s basketball.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They’re going to have a lot of support here,” he said. “Especially because the Warriors in the last 10 years they have made so much progress with that and now we have a lot of people who love basketball in the Bay Area so it’s not going to be different for the Valkyries.”\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Draymond Green proudly rocks a Golden State Valkyries No. 25 jersey, signifying the WNBA’s return to Northern California in 2025.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Warriors coach Steve Kerr regularly takes the podium for interviews wearing the expansion franchise’s signature purple T-shirts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With 5-year-old Chase Center under the spotlight during \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/nba-all-star-weekend-2025-b8cb2af8440ab648a65d3db0f396bf99\">NBA All-Star Weekend\u003c/a>, many eyes are also on the women’s game. \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/clark-nba-all-star-three-point-shootout-992de93647d88e5ee32304be971f2a8d\">Caitlin Clark made headlines for not participating\u003c/a>. A’ja Wilson and other WNBA players are making headlines with their presence.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And yes, the WNBA’s new expansion franchise that is coming to the bay is also getting a good look during All-Star Weekend.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Warriors power forward Gui Santos can feel the energy of the WNBA.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You see the All-Star, you see the WNBA team coming up and you see how the Bay Area community is enjoying that, everybody’s watching the teams,” said Santos, who had a side broadcasting gig Saturday with the NBA. “You have everything going at the same time, it’s very good for the Bay Area. The Warriors, the whole organization, are trying to help them, trying to make all the Golden State fans turn into Valkyries fans and we all want to be one together because we are representing the Bay Area, we are representing the people that live here.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>WNBA players have not been hard to find, holding seminars with Jr. NBA kids, participating in a 2-on-2 game and showcasing their skills in the \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/all-star-nba-celebrities-rome-flynn-d78b6b4e09a36e66d3f90801c0726967\">celebrity game\u003c/a>. Bay Area native Sabrina Ionescu was seen at community events despite the league not being able to work out details for another \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/stephen-curry-sabrina-ionescu-allstar-game-486db6c9f10183c72432da12847e50fe\">Ionescu-Stephen Curry shootout\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Valkyries unveiled their new locker room at the arena leading up to the festivities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young said it’s hard to believe there wasn’t a WNBA team here earlier given all of Golden State’s success over the past decade, when the Warriors won four NBA championships.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is one of the elite franchises in the league today, the NBA,” Young said. “It’s a no-brainer to have a WNBA franchise out here. I’m surprised already that there’s not.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While the timing coincides with the global growth of women’s sports, longtime Golden State owner Joe Lacob fell in love with women’s basketball when he watched the 1996 Olympic team. He admired Hall of Fame Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer leading the unbeaten Americans to the gold medal in Atlanta.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>An original investor in the former American Basketball League, Lacob has planned to bring a WNBA franchise here all along — then once Chase Center opened in 2019 it became a top priority.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/golden-state-wnba-expansion-franchise-warriors-ef65eb9d90d36595f87468f0647c1980\">The expansion team became official in October 2023\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I want them to understand the opportunity that they have to come and be historians,” Valkyries general manager Ohemaa Nyanin said after the expansion draft Dec. 6. “Once you get to put on that jersey and you get to sit in front of a packed Chase Center, your whole experience is going to change.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The WNBA is back for the first time since the Sacramento Monarchs folded following the 2009 season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Earlier this month the Valkyries unveiled their new 31,800-square foot training center in what used to be the Warriors’ practice facility in downtown Oakland.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The plan all along was to find ways to still honor the Warriors’ deep history while building something special from scratch.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We want them to feel that, too,” Valkyries President Jess Smith said. “Entering this organization knowing the greatness around them that’s here to help them in any way, shape or form. … It’s a really special place, and that won’t lose itself regardless of the branding because of the history that’s taken place here.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even coming from Brazil, Santos has a sense of how much the San Francisco area loves women’s basketball.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“They’re going to have a lot of support here,” he said. “Especially because the Warriors in the last 10 years they have made so much progress with that and now we have a lot of people who love basketball in the Bay Area so it’s not going to be different for the Valkyries.”\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"title": "Get Ready for the Golden State Valkyries, Bay Area's New WNBA Team",
"headTitle": "Get Ready for the Golden State Valkyries, Bay Area’s New WNBA Team | KQED",
"content": "\u003cp>The WNBA’s 28th season tips off on Tuesday, but Bay Area basketball fans already have their eyes on next year as the Golden State Valkyries, the league’s newest franchise, unveiled its team name, logo and colors.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Named after the female warriors who rode horses and carried swords onto battlefields to guide slain fighters to Valhalla in Norse mythology, \u003ca href=\"https://valkyries.com/\">the WNBA’s Valkyries\u003c/a> will step onto the basketball court to play their inaugural season in 2025.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The team will wear violet and black uniforms with a V-shaped logo depicting the Bay Bridge. According to a team press release, “the bridge tower doubles as a sword — a symbol of courage, power and authority.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://twitter.com/wnbagoldenstate/status/1790359326496014557?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1790359326496014557%7Ctwgr%5Ea351cd7635703862c5d23203678880a6f2b63f9b%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsportsbayarea.com%2Fwnba%2Fgolden-state-valkyries-team-name-announced%2F1734751%2F\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Valkyries are the first WNBA expansion team since 2008, joining the league’s existing 12 teams as the popularity of women’s basketball soars. They will play at the Chase Center, home of the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors became the sixth NBA franchise to have a WNBA team with their announcement in October 2023.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Golden State will start play as women’s basketball has reached unprecedented heights thanks to players such as Caitlin Clark, a flamethrowing guard who scored more points — 3,951 — than any college player, woman or man, in history. Clark led Iowa to the championship game of this year’s NCAA tournament before falling to South Carolina, which went undefeated to claim its third title in program history.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>More than \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2024/04/10/1243801501/womens-ncaa-championship-tv-ratings#:~:text=Women's%20NCAA%20championship%20TV%20ratings%20crush%20the%20men's%20competition&text=Morry%20Gash%2FAP-,An%20average%20of%20about%2018.7%20million%20viewers%20tuned%20in%20to,Basketball%20National%20Championship%20on%20Sunday.\">24 million people tuned in\u003c/a>, making it the most-watched basketball game — college or professional, men’s or women’s — since 2019. It was also the first time more viewers tuned into a women’s final than a men’s. Clark, who will start her professional career with the Indiana Fever, was the top pick in the WNBA draft.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ohemaa Nyanin, named general manager last week, will build the Valkyries. Nyanin, who previously served as the New York Liberty’s assistant general manager, will oversee all basketball operations for the team.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She was the second woman to join the WNBA expansion team since it was announced last October. Jess Smith was named the squad’s president in January. Soon after, construction began on women’s locker rooms at both Chase Center and the Oakland Arena. The team has already garnered 7,500 deposits for season tickets, \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/14/us/wnba-golden-state-valkyries.html\">according to the \u003cem>New York Times\u003c/em>\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bonnie Morris, a professor of women’s sports history at UC Berkeley, believes increasing leadership roles for women in college basketball has contributed to the league’s success. She said doing the same in the WNBA is key.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The participation of women and girls in sports has exploded, but we don’t see women dominating in leadership,” Morris said. “In the next generation, what we’re going to see is more women leading athletic departments at universities, and that will make a big difference in terms of athletic dollars going into women’s sports.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That is very much part of the role that universities play in helping women into professional careers as athletes as well.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11985094\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11985094\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240506-GOLDEN-STATE-WNBA-ANNOUNCEMENT-MD-04-KQED_2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240506-GOLDEN-STATE-WNBA-ANNOUNCEMENT-MD-04-KQED_2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240506-GOLDEN-STATE-WNBA-ANNOUNCEMENT-MD-04-KQED_2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240506-GOLDEN-STATE-WNBA-ANNOUNCEMENT-MD-04-KQED_2-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240506-GOLDEN-STATE-WNBA-ANNOUNCEMENT-MD-04-KQED_2-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240506-GOLDEN-STATE-WNBA-ANNOUNCEMENT-MD-04-KQED_2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240506-GOLDEN-STATE-WNBA-ANNOUNCEMENT-MD-04-KQED_2-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ohemaa Nyanin (center) and Joe Lacob (left) at a press conference announcing Nyanin as the team’s new general manager at the Chase Center in San Francisco on May 6, 2024. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In 2023, women held 75% of head coaching positions in the WNBA.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nyanin previously worked as USA Basketball’s assistant director of the women’s national team and serves as FIBA America’s World Cup Qualifier Technical Delegate and Manager. During her time with the Liberty, she helped the team to three playoff appearances, including in the WNBA finals last season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Liberty are led by two of the game’s best, Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu. During the 2024 NBA All-Star weekend, Ionescu had a thrilling three-point shooting exhibition with the Warriors’ Stephen Curry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the coming months, Nyanin’s priority will be hiring a head coach. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced earlier this year that she anticipates an expansion draft — when Golden State will be given the opportunity to nab players from existing franchises — in December.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>The Valkyries are the first WNBA expansion team since 2008, joining the league’s existing 12 teams as the popularity of women’s basketball soars. They will play at the Chase Center, home of the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors became the sixth NBA franchise to have a WNBA team with their announcement in October 2023.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Golden State will start play as women’s basketball has reached unprecedented heights thanks to players such as Caitlin Clark, a flamethrowing guard who scored more points — 3,951 — than any college player, woman or man, in history. Clark led Iowa to the championship game of this year’s NCAA tournament before falling to South Carolina, which went undefeated to claim its third title in program history.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>More than \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2024/04/10/1243801501/womens-ncaa-championship-tv-ratings#:~:text=Women's%20NCAA%20championship%20TV%20ratings%20crush%20the%20men's%20competition&text=Morry%20Gash%2FAP-,An%20average%20of%20about%2018.7%20million%20viewers%20tuned%20in%20to,Basketball%20National%20Championship%20on%20Sunday.\">24 million people tuned in\u003c/a>, making it the most-watched basketball game — college or professional, men’s or women’s — since 2019. It was also the first time more viewers tuned into a women’s final than a men’s. Clark, who will start her professional career with the Indiana Fever, was the top pick in the WNBA draft.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ohemaa Nyanin, named general manager last week, will build the Valkyries. Nyanin, who previously served as the New York Liberty’s assistant general manager, will oversee all basketball operations for the team.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>She was the second woman to join the WNBA expansion team since it was announced last October. Jess Smith was named the squad’s president in January. Soon after, construction began on women’s locker rooms at both Chase Center and the Oakland Arena. The team has already garnered 7,500 deposits for season tickets, \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/14/us/wnba-golden-state-valkyries.html\">according to the \u003cem>New York Times\u003c/em>\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bonnie Morris, a professor of women’s sports history at UC Berkeley, believes increasing leadership roles for women in college basketball has contributed to the league’s success. She said doing the same in the WNBA is key.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The participation of women and girls in sports has exploded, but we don’t see women dominating in leadership,” Morris said. “In the next generation, what we’re going to see is more women leading athletic departments at universities, and that will make a big difference in terms of athletic dollars going into women’s sports.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That is very much part of the role that universities play in helping women into professional careers as athletes as well.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11985094\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11985094\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240506-GOLDEN-STATE-WNBA-ANNOUNCEMENT-MD-04-KQED_2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240506-GOLDEN-STATE-WNBA-ANNOUNCEMENT-MD-04-KQED_2.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240506-GOLDEN-STATE-WNBA-ANNOUNCEMENT-MD-04-KQED_2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240506-GOLDEN-STATE-WNBA-ANNOUNCEMENT-MD-04-KQED_2-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240506-GOLDEN-STATE-WNBA-ANNOUNCEMENT-MD-04-KQED_2-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240506-GOLDEN-STATE-WNBA-ANNOUNCEMENT-MD-04-KQED_2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/240506-GOLDEN-STATE-WNBA-ANNOUNCEMENT-MD-04-KQED_2-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ohemaa Nyanin (center) and Joe Lacob (left) at a press conference announcing Nyanin as the team’s new general manager at the Chase Center in San Francisco on May 6, 2024. \u003ccite>(Martin do Nascimento/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>In 2023, women held 75% of head coaching positions in the WNBA.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nyanin previously worked as USA Basketball’s assistant director of the women’s national team and serves as FIBA America’s World Cup Qualifier Technical Delegate and Manager. During her time with the Liberty, she helped the team to three playoff appearances, including in the WNBA finals last season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Liberty are led by two of the game’s best, Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu. During the 2024 NBA All-Star weekend, Ionescu had a thrilling three-point shooting exhibition with the Warriors’ Stephen Curry.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the coming months, Nyanin’s priority will be hiring a head coach. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced earlier this year that she anticipates an expansion draft — when Golden State will be given the opportunity to nab players from existing franchises — in December.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"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": "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.",
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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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"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.",
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"possible": {
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"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.",
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"pri-the-world": {
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"radiolab": {
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"reveal": {
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},
"rightnowish": {
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"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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"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": {
"id": "soldout",
"title": "SOLD OUT: Rethinking Housing in America",
"tagline": "A new future for housing",
"info": "Sold Out: Rethinking Housing in America",
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