Written By Mauricio Segura // Photo: Golden Bay Times Graphics Dept.
SEP 26, 2025
When the Golden State Valkyries first tipped off, skeptics wondered if the Bay Area’s shiny new WNBA franchise could build something meaningful in year one. By the end of the summer, the doubts had vanished. Not only did the Valkyries sell out all 22 home games at Chase Center, they strung together a highlight reel of milestones that turned their debut season into one of the most memorable launches in league history. What made it work was not a single superstar carrying the banner but a blend of grit, role-player heroics, and a relentless defense that defined their identity.
Their opening win over Washington wasn’t pretty, but it set the tone. Poor shooting numbers didn’t matter when the Valkyries locked down defensively, proving effort can trump efficiency. The first real statement came weeks later, when they dismantled the two-time champion Las Vegas Aces by 27 points on national television. For head coach Natalie Nakase, facing her old team, it was a night that validated both her system and the franchise’s direction. Just days later, Kayla Thornton’s overtime dagger against Los Angeles showed Golden State could handle pressure in hostile arenas. Each moment layered into the team’s reputation for resilience.
One of the most symbolic victories came against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever. While Clark’s rookie season had turned road venues into traveling fan festivals, Chase Center belonged to Golden State. The Valkyries held Clark to 3-for-14 shooting and silenced the hype machine with a disciplined defensive display. Later, role players like Kate Martin and Kaitlyn Chen brought the crowd to its feet by closing out the Chicago Sky alongside Thornton’s career-high performance. It was the kind of homegrown chemistry that forges lifelong fan attachments.
Thornton’s selection as the team’s first All-Star was both an individual and organizational breakthrough. A decade into her career, she had never received the honor, and now she wore Golden State’s purple on the national stage. That recognition gave the franchise credibility and provided its young fan base with a face to rally around. Soon after, Cecilia Zandalasini buried a buzzer-beater to topple Atlanta, another notch on the belt of late-game dramatics. It wasn’t just about winning, it was about proving they belonged in moments that mattered.
The story continued with a playoff berth, something expansion teams rarely sniff in year one. That achievement crystallized how quickly the Valkyries turned enthusiasm into substance. From the stands, where every seat filled and energy never dipped, to the court, where depth players became cult favorites, the Bay Area’s newest sports team stitched itself into the fabric of local culture. The narrative of their first season wasn’t simply a list of wins and losses, it was the rapid construction of an identity.
As the offseason unfolds, the Valkyries’ management faces questions about how to build on this foundation. Do they chase a marquee star to become the franchise face, or double down on their collective approach? Regardless, they’ve already secured the most valuable commodity in sports: relevance. In a market saturated with professional teams, the Valkyries carved out their place in record time. For a franchise in its infancy, that may be the most extraordinary moment of all.
