The Valkyries Queer Lovefest Continues as Team Heads to Playoffs

Now heading into the WNBA playoffs, the Golden State Valkyries in mere months have become one of the most successful, lucrative teams in women’s sports. The passion and devotion of their fan base is arguably the strongest and most evident in the entire world of sports. Like a “SwiftQuake” caused by the measurable massive energy of crowds at Taylor Swift concerts, Valkyries fans create their own electrifying energy at Chase Center, Ballhalla, during games. Even the cheers from fans at Rikki’s during Valkyries games echo through the Castro to the offices of the San Francisco Bay Times, helping to spread the palpable joy and excitement.

To say that many women, and particularly many LGBTQ+ women, were awaiting such a team would be an understatement. When the Golden State Warriors announced on October 5, 2023, that they had been awarded a WNBA expansion franchise, the news rippled through the queer community like a Biblical savior harbinger. After decades of pent-up interest, at last a WNBA team would be coming to the Bay Area.

Even with that excitement, few could have predicted the team’s level of success in all respects. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, however, (a former captain of her university’s women’s basketball team) has been closely watching the Valkyries from the beginning, knowing of the Warriors’ golden touch. As she said from the outset, “We are thrilled about expanding to the Bay Area and bringing the WNBA to a region with passionate basketball fans and a strong history of supporting women’s basketball. Joe Lacob, Peter Guber, and their leadership team know how to build and operate a world-class organization, as witnessed by the immense success the Warriors’ franchise has enjoyed from both a business and basketball perspective over the last decade. Their interest in joining the WNBA family is yet another sign of the league’s growth potential.”

Surprising Connection to a Sporty Republican

There are some women investors in the WNBA. Interestingly, former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice—who has been actively involved in golf and other sports in Northern California for years—is one of the league’s top investors. She is part of a group that includes Nike, which invested $75 million in February 2022 to help fuel the league’s growth. Rice remains an equity partner in the WNBA.

She and other supporters helped pave the financial way for the Warriors to become the sixth NBA franchise to have a WNBA team, joining the Indiana Pacers (Indiana Fever), Minnesota Timberwolves (Minnesota Lynx), Brooklyn Nets (New York Liberty,) Phoenix Suns (Phoenix Mercury), and Washington Wizards (Washington Mystics). Jess Smith was named the team’s president on January 30, 2024, and Ohemaa Nyanin was announced as Golden State’s general manager on May 6, 2024. Natalie Nakase was announced as the franchise’s first head coach back in October 2024.

Head Coach Nakase Helps Establish the Valkyries Identity

Nakase took the directional helm of the Valkyries following over 16 years of coaching professional basketball, including 10 seasons in the NBA with the Los Angeles Clippers, and three seasons as first assistant coach with the Las Vegas Aces. She is the first Asian American head coach in the WNBA, and was the first female coach to sit on an NBA team’s bench when she was an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers during the 2014 summer league.

From day one on the job, Nakase has emphasized a defensive-first identity and coaching philosophy. The Valkyries players’ respect for Nakase and willingness to be flexible has allowed her to better instill the approach. This defensive mindset allows the team to push the pace on offense, but the toughness, communication, and constant effort of the players are the foundational elements of their performance. 

Nakase is also known for instilling a relentless hard work ethic with an emphasis on selflessness, which is a refreshing rarity in often ego-fueled professional sports. The supportive team ethos has been a crucial factor in the success of the Valkyries and carries over to fans too.

Unforgettable Times at Ballhalla

San Francisco Bay Times sports columnist Beth Schnitzer, who was a former president of Women in Sports and Events, lights up recalling her experiences at Valkyries’ games. “The magic starts from the minute you enter Chase, since there are so many great activations. The DJ (often the amazing DJ LadyRyan) helps build the already high energy, as does the In-Arena Host (Ari Waller), who is responsible for the crowd engagement and directing cheers.”

Schnitzer added that more music is played at Valkyries games than she has heard at other sports events. “There is music for different plays and during games,” she says. “It adds to the energy and I love it.”

At games she has met fans from all over the U.S. and world, who are so loyal to particular players and teams that they will travel seemingly any distance to cheer their favorites on. There is a running joke about how lesbians will go to similar lengths for a love interest, and it seems like that dedication has spilled over to the Valkyries fan base.

Schnitzer, who has been front and center with the players and coaches before and after games, has noticed how generous the players are with fans. “They are always smiling and enjoying the experience,” she says. “You can tell that it is not an obligation for them. They truly appreciate interacting with fans.”

More recently, she has also noticed that the Jumbotron during halftime is sharing personal messages, such as statements about birthdays and anniversaries. That’s a hallmark of other major arenas and she hopes will continue to increase at Chase. She also loves the newly revealed mascot, Violet, a violet-colored raven whose exuberance is unmistakable.

‘Home’ Games at SAP

The Valkyries will play their first-ever home playoff game at the SAP Center in San Jose either on Tuesday, September 16, or Wednesday, September 17. (The exact date is not known as of this writing.) The new location is due to a scheduling conflict at the Valkyries usual home arena, Chase, which is hosting the Laver Cup tennis tournament. Schnitzer plans somehow to attend both, and is already excitedly looking forward to heading out to SAP for the Valkyries’ historic playoff run.

“I suspect that other fans here (in San Francisco and the central Bay Area) will make the trek to San Jose, which may even help expand the Valkyries’ base in the South Bay,” she says.

For those of us without those coveted tickets, Rikki’s in the Castro, the White Horse Bar in Oakland, and other Valkyries hotspots will be a draw. In fact, Schnitzer has noticed that many fans who go to Ballhalla are in larger groups. There’s a loyal lesbian group from Rossmoor, for example, and various businesses have arranged for blocks of tickets. The bar scene, however, sometimes allows for greater socializing with fellow fans, including those who are single.

SAP or Rikki’s, win or lose, the LGBTQ+ community will continue to show up for the Valkyries, who have brought joy, hope, and excitement to the Bay Area. As Janelle Salaün exclaimed, emotions high after an epic night at Ballhalla, “Let’s gooooooooo!!!”

https://valkyries.wnba.com/tickets

Valkyries Post Season
Published on September 11, 2025