The Golden State Valkyries are headed to the WNBA Finals, but the franchise’s incredible story dates back to the 1990s.
asserted
story → head → 1990s
Valkyries owner Joe Lacob had already attempted to back a professional women’s sports team before Golden State was added to the WNBA as an expansion franchise in 2025.
asserted
State → attempt → 2025
The ABL folded two years later in 1998, but Lacob never gave up on owning a winning women’s basketball team.
asserted
Lacob → fold → team
In 2014, Lacob publicly shared he was looking to bring a WNBA team to the Bay Area.
asserted
he → share → Area
In 2023, San Francisco was awarded a WNBA expansion team that was set to begin play in 2025.
asserted
that → award → 2025
Since its inception in 2025, the Valkyries have sold out every single regular-season home game.
asserted
Valkyries → sell → game
That’s 44 consecutive sellouts at Chase Center, which was nicknamed Ballhalla for the Valkyries.
asserted
which → ’ → Valkyries
In their first season, Golden State became the first team in WNBA history to average over 18,000 fans per game across a full season.
asserted
State → become → season
The Valkyries also reached the playoffs in their inaugural season.
asserted
Valkyries → reach → season
In their second year, the Valkyries swept the defending champions Las Vegas Aces in three games to reach the WNBA Finals.
asserted
Valkyries → sweep → Finals
Unlike the Aces, the Valkyries built its team around a defense-first mindset.
asserted
Valkyries → build → mindset
Las Vegas’ roster holds several All-Stars and MVP A’ja Wilson.
asserted
roster → hold → Stars
The Valkyries chose not to focus on scoring superstars, but instead chose two-way players to help create a culture.
asserted
Valkyries → choose → culture
The front office, the coaching staff and roster were all curated with a specific goal.
asserted
office → curate → goal
Natalie Nakase spearheaded the vision for the Valkyries as the first head coach in franchise history.
asserted
Nakase → spearhead → history
“How I create my team culture is choosing 12 players that have a very competitive mindset, who work extremely hard,” Nakase said at the start of her Valkyries tenure.
asserted
Nakase → create → tenure
“The baseline is just being a great human being, you don’t always just think about yourself but you think about your teammates constantly.
asserted
you → think → teammates
That’s pretty much going to be my motto is team over self with anything on or off the court.
asserted
motto → go → court
Nakase joined the Valkyries with an impressive basketball resume.
asserted
Nakase → join → resume
The former UCLA player spent three years as an assistant coach with the Aces, when Las Vegas won back-to-back WNBA championships in 2022 and 2023.
asserted
Vegas → spend → 2022
Prior to her three years with the Aces, Nakase spent 10 seasons in a player development role and as an assistant with the Los Angeles Clippers.
asserted
Nakase → spend → Clippers
Nakase’s mindset has gotten the Valkyries to the biggest stage in women’s basketball.
asserted
mindset → get → basketball
Winning has only been a piece of the puzzle for the Valkyries, an organization that has quickly established a true identity and community.
asserted
that → establish → identity
The Valkyries are valued at $1 billion, making Golden State the first-ever billion dollar franchise in the history of women’s sports.
asserted
State → value → sports
In his first Valkyries press conference, Lacob promised fans a WNBA championship in the first five years of the franchise.
asserted
Lacob → promise → franchise
Golden State is four wins away from making good on that promise in just its second season.
asserted
State → make → season
The Aporia
