The Golden State Valkyries will become the WNBA’s newest team when they officially take to the floor for the first time in May 2025.
There’s a lot to get through before the Valkyries even hit the hardwood for the first time, leaving fans wondering what to expect from the inaugural season and when we could realistically see Golden State reach the playoffs and challenge for a WNBA championship.
Of course, it’s difficult to answer those questions without a playing roster to analyze – those first steps will be taken on December 6 when the expansion draft gets underway. Until then, there are some factors that could give us an indication, including the history of expansion teams in the league.
History of expansion teams in the WNBA
There’s been no shortage of expansion teams since the league's first year in 1997. Let’s have a look at each of them and if the Valkyries should try to follow a similar path of results and success.
*The Las Vegas Aces aren't included as their original routes date back to the league's inception as the Utah Starzz.
Detroit Shock/Tulsa Shock/Dallas Wings, 1998
The Detroit Shock joined the league in its second season, going 17-13 but failing to make the playoffs. They would make the postseason just once in the first five years before an extraordinary run of success, making seven straight playoff appearances that included four trips to the Finals and three WNBA championships.
They moved and became the Tulsa Shock prior to the 2010 season yet failed to reach the playoffs until 2015 when they lost the Conference Semifinals. Since 2016, they’ve been the Dallas Wings, having made the playoffs in five of the last nine years but without going past the second round.
Washington Mystics, 1998
The Washington Mystics were a dismal 3-27 in their debut season in 1998, and a 12-20 record the following year didn't inspire much either. They broke through for their first playoff appearance in 2000 but would have to wait until 2002 for their first series victory.
It would be another 15 years before the Mystics won another series, reaching the semifinals in 2017 before losing in the Finals the following year. They won their maiden championship in 2019, but it's been slimmer pickings since with no playoff series victories in the past five years despite three appearances.
Minnesota Lynx, 1999
It took a while for the Minnesota Lynx to have success, having seen just two playoff series in their first 12 years. Since then, they’ve been dominant under Cheryl Reeve, making the postseason every year since 2011, including the WNBA championship on four occasions. Most recently, they narrowly lost to the New York Liberty in the Finals.
Golden State may be hoping for far greater success than Minnesota saw in their first dozen years, but four titles in 25 years would still be a great result.
Orlando Miracle/Connecticut Sun, 1999
The Orlando Miracle debuted in the 1999 season, ultimately playing just one playoff series in four years before the team was relocated and changed to the Connecticut Sun in 2003.
The Sun immediately found success with six straight playoff appearances, including back-to-back Finals losses in 2004 and 2005. Connecticut would then spend six of the next eight years out of the playoff picture before a strong return that’s now seen them reach the postseason in eight consecutive seasons under Curt Miller and now Stephanie White.
Two more Finals losses have only added to the disappointment though, with the Sun having been unable to capture that elusive WNBA championship.
Indiana Fever, 2000
The Indiana Fever joined in 2000, winning just 19 of 45 games in their first two years and making the playoffs just once in their first five years. It’s been feast or famine since – they made 12 straight appearances from 2005-2016 (losing in the Finals twice), before missing the playoffs in the following seven seasons. The addition of Caitlin Clark saw them break that drought this year, but the Fever are still looking for their first title.
Seattle Storm, 2000
The Seattle Storm went 6-26 in their debut season in 2000 before making the playoffs for the first time in 2002. That would be the first of 11 postseason appearances in 12 years, including the 2004 and 2010 WNBA championships.
The Storm have won two additional titles in 2018 and 2020, having made the playoffs in 19 of their 25 seasons. If there's an expansion team whose sustained success Golden State would like to replicate, it's probably Seattle.
Miami Sol, 2000
The Miami Sol lasted just three years before folding due to financial issues, having made the playoffs just once during their second year in 2001.
Chicago Sky, 2006
The Chicago Sky debuted in 2006 and finished with a 5-29 record. By their third year, they were onto their third head coach, and it took until 2013 for them to eventually make their first appearance in the playoffs.
That was the start of a four-year playoff run that included a trip to the Finals in 2014, but it wasn’t until 2021 that the Sky broke through for their first championship. They have a losing record in both the regular season and the playoffs through 19 seasons, but that 2021 title will never be taken away.
Atlanta Dream, 2008
Following their first season in 2008 that yielded just a 4-30 record, a significant overhaul of the roster led the Atlanta Dream to their first playoff appearance in just their second year.
While they would lose the Conference Semifinals to the Detroit Shock, they would go on to reach the WNBA Finals in each of the following two seasons, losing to the Seattle Storm and Minnesota Lynx respectively.
They would lose in the Finals again in 2013 as part of six straight trips to the playoffs and eight in 10 years. The Dream then had a disappointing four-year absence from 2019-22 before losing in the first round in each of the past two seasons.