Why the Golden State Valkyries will immediately lead WNBA in this huge area

Dallas Mavericks v Golden State Warriors - Emirates NBA Cup
Dallas Mavericks v Golden State Warriors - Emirates NBA Cup | Ezra Shaw/GettyImages

In 2025, the Golden State Valkyries will be joining the WNBA as the newest kids on the block.

Head coach Natalie Nakase and GM Ohemaa Nyanin will have the opportunity to select their roster through the expansion draft on December 6, with them also having the 5th pick in the WNBA Draft set to take place on April 14, 2025.

Despite not having a roster in place, the Valkyries will immediately lead the WNBA in one uniquely special way.

The Valkyries will have the WNBA's best home crowd right off the bat

Without a roster or game under their belt, the Valkyries already have huge support and a massive following, with the Bay Area really getting behind the newest team in the WNBA. In September, The Athletic reported they were the first professional women's sports team to surpass 17,000 season-ticket deposits.

One month later, that number grew by 3,000 more.

To put those numbers into perspective, the Indiana Fever were the only team with an average attendance of over 17,000 fans last season. Meanwhile, the New York Liberty, Las Vegas Aces, Seattle Storm, and Los Angeles Sparks are the only other teams that averaged over 11,000 fans per game.

A season ticket deposit does not guarantee a full season ticket. However, the sheer enthusiasm around the WNBA with attendance, viewership, and overall attention is a good sign for the Valkyries, and there is clear interest from the locals of Northern California.

The optimism and excitement of a new franchise will draw fans in waves, but the basketball product will also need to match, and the owners will be more than willing to spend to become a winning franchise.

They will play their home games at the $1.4 billion Chase Center and have released renderings for their practice facility and locker room in Oakland as they look to build a winning culture and a mentality of striving for excellence.

They may be entering at the right time with the boom of the WNBA, and the Golden State Valkyries will certainly have one of the best home crowds in all of women's sports immediately.