As the WNBA continues to rise in popularity, it is set to make its first expansion since 2008 with the Golden State Valkyries from the Bay Area. Based in Oakland and playing home games at the Chase Center, the Valkyries’ initial season will begin in May 2024. It is evident that the team already has a passionate fan base, as over 2,000 season ticket deposits were placed within the first few hours of the team’s announcement.

The team’s conception arose when owners of the Golden State Warriors Joe Lacob and Peter Guber agreed to start a WNBA team in the Bay Area. They now are the owners of the Valkyries, and to help maintain and lead this team, they’ve hired an experienced, strong team including Jess Smith, Ohemaa Nyanin, and Natalie Nakase. 

Jess Smith is the newly appointed president of the Valkyries. As the previous Head of Revenue with the Angel City Soccer League, the team seems to have strong leadership. Ohemaa Nyanin is set to become the general manager of the Valkyries, previously serving as the general manager of the New York Liberty and the USA’s women’s basketball team. Her accomplishments include three playoff appearances and a trip to the WNBA finals during her time with the Liberty. Elected as the head coach, Natalie Nakase has over 16 years of coaching professional basketball. She was previously an assistant coach for the Las Vegas Aces and played a pivotal role in their WNBA titles in 2022 and 2023. 

The Valkyries have been chosen to draft 5th. As they have no prior experience or records, they did not partake in the lottery system which determines which teams pick players first based on the prior season record. To accommodate for their lack of players, they also have an expansion draft this December where they get to choose 1 player from each existing team. While each team is allowed to protect 6 players, the Valkyries are free to pick off other members. Some of the prominent players that are being eyed in the expansion draft are Atlanta Dream’s Haley Jones, Chicago Sky’s Diamond Deshields, and Connecticut Sun’s Olivia Nelson-Ododa. 

The Valkyries notable branding is based on Norse Mythology, with the Valkyries being fearless and unwavering warrior women. The Bay Bridge is also depicted in the logo, which is a route between San Francisco and Oakland, a homage to the team’s foundation in the Bay Area. The thirteen lines on the V represent the Valkyries becoming the 13th team in the WNBA. The color scheme is purple and black, named Valkyrie violet. Merch has already been released, collaborating with top-end brands like Nike, FISLL, Playa Society, The Wild Collective, WEAR by Erin Andrews, and Wilson.

The WNBA has been gaining more exposure and traction, and the Bay will now contribute to that growth. The increasing number of teams in the WNBA catalyzes the growth, visibility, and voice of women’s sports. The formation of this new team is sure to inspire young female basketball players in the bay and across the nation.