The Golden State Valkyries history starts with their 2025 debut as the WNBA’s newest expansion team. Owned by the Golden State Warriors, the franchise is building a competitive roster. Key Golden State Valkyries players bring a mix of youth and experience, creating a strong foundation for women’s professional basketball in the Bay Area.
Established
2025
City
San Francisco
League History
2025 – Present / Women’s National Basketball Association
Team History
2025 – Present / Golden State Valkyries
Nickname
Valkyries – The nickname "Golden State Valkyries" originates from Norse mythology, depicting Valkyries as fearless warrior women. This name was chosen to symbolize strength, boldness, and fierceness, reflecting the team's and its players' characteristics.
Golden State Valkyries Origin
The team's logo features the Bay Bridge, symbolizing the connection between San Francisco and Oakland. The bridge cables double as wings, and the tower doubles as a sword. The thirteen lines from the sword represent the Valkyries as the thirteenth team in the league, and the wings split the space into five triangles to represent the ten players on the court.
The Golden State Valkyries are set to begin play in 2025 as a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) member, marking the league's 13th active team and first expansion franchise since 2008. The team will play its home games at the Chase Center in San Francisco while headquartered in Oakland.
The team's brand identity is described as a combination of strength and grace. It aims to write the next chapter in the epic tale of the WNBA, a league that has transcended limitations and norms over the last 27 years.
The name was partly developed as a tie-in to the NBA team's nickname, as the Golden State Valkyries share ownership and a similar name with the Golden State Warriors. The intention is to lean into the existing brand while developing its identity.
The Golden State Valkyries' nickname was officially announced on May 14, 2024, and the team's brand identity was unveiled as a modern interpretation of Valkyries: strong, bold, and fierce.
The Golden State Valkyries' nickname originates from Norse mythology and symbolizes strength, boldness, and fierceness, reflecting the team's and its players' characteristics. The name was chosen to create synergy with the NBA team's nickname and develop the team's identity within the league.
Championship
WNBA Championships 0
Arena
2025 - Present / Chase Center
Owner
2025 – Present / Joe Lacob, Peter Guber
- 2024
- 2025
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Valkyries Unveil Roster From Expansion Draft
The Golden State Valkyries have announced the team’s WNBA Expansion Draft selections, presented by CarMax, the first step in building out its inaugural roster ahead of the 2025 WNBA season on ecember 6, at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Golden State will participate in its first WNBA draft in 2025. The Golden State Valkyries formed their 2025 roster ... -
Valkyrie’s Bold Entrance into the WNBA
The Golden State Valkyries are an American professional basketball team based in San Francisco, California. The team is scheduled to begin play in 2025 as a member of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), being the first expansion team in the WNBA since the Atlanta Dream in 2008. A WNBA expansion draft occurred in early December 2024, and Golden State ...
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Golden State Valkyries History
The Golden State Valkyries history began with the WNBA’s decision to award a new expansion franchise to the Bay Area in October 2023. Owned by the Golden State Warriors’ leadership group, this team became the league’s 13th franchise and the first new club since 2008. The creation of the Valkyries restored women’s professional basketball to Northern California and marked an exciting new chapter for fans eager to support a home team.
In May 2024, the franchise revealed its identity, name, and branding. The Golden State Valkyries history is reflected in their powerful name, inspired by Norse mythology to symbolize strength and courage. The logo showcases the Bay Bridge and winged cables, tying the team to its Bay Area roots. The team split operations between Oakland, where its practice facility and offices are located, and San Francisco’s Chase Center, where home games are played.
The front office quickly began to build a strong foundation for Golden State Valkyries basketball. Jess Smith became the team’s first president, and Ohemaa Nyanin was named general manager. Natalie Nakase, a longtime assistant with the Warriors, was appointed as the first head coach. With this leadership in place, the franchise moved ahead with the 2024 WNBA Expansion Draft and the 2025 WNBA Draft to form a competitive roster of talented Golden State Valkyries players.
When the 2025 WNBA season began, the Golden State Valkyries history took another significant step forward. Unlike many new teams, they exceeded expectations from the start. With a carefully built roster of veteran leaders and rising stars, the Valkyries broke records for attendance, ticket sales, and community engagement. The enthusiasm from fans at Chase Center, nicknamed “Ballhalla” during games, gave the Golden State Valkyries players a powerful home-court advantage.
Valkyries Achievements
During their debut season, the Valkyries achieved milestones never before seen by an expansion team. They became the first WNBA expansion team to make the playoffs in its inaugural year, setting a new standard for success. Several Golden State Valkyries players emerged as standouts, including Kayla Thornton, who became the first All-Star in franchise history. The team also scored its first 100-point game, adding more highlights to the growing Golden State Valkyries history.
Beyond the wins, the Golden State Valkyries history is also about building a long-term identity. The franchise has committed to developing local community programs, inspiring young athletes, and creating opportunities for women in sports leadership. With talented Golden State Valkyries players leading the way on the court, the team’s future looks promising. Their early achievements show that this new Bay Area franchise is already shaping the next era of WNBA excellence.
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Meet the Golden State Valkyries: The WNBA’s Newest Franchise
The WNBA is expanding, and the Golden State Valkyries are leading the charge. In this video, we introduce you to the league’s newest franchise — the Golden State Valkyries. From the team’s name and branding to where they’ll play and what fans can expect...
Retired Number
*Blue is this team’s history