The Golden State Valkyries unveiled the team's court design at the Chase Center on Monday, one day before they hit the court for the first time in a preseason game against the Los Angeles Sparks — and there's a lot for fans to be excited about.
The violet and black color scheme is a solid departure from the blue and gold fans are used to seeing at the Chase Center, and the Valkyries' signature chevron design — a nod to the V in Valkyries — adorns the court floor and jumbotron.
Everything about the court design adheres to the identity the team has worked hard to craft in the months between December's Expansion Draft and the beginning of the WNBA season May 16. "The Valkyries court at Chase Center will be the centerpiece of franchise-defining moments," said Valkyries Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Kimberly Veale in a press release. "Our inaugural tip-off, our first game-winning buzzer-beater, the first standing ovation from a sold-out crowd—this court will witness it all. We're thrilled to finally share with our fans a signature design that will represent this era of the Valkyries basketball.”
The Golden State Valkyries have built a team identity piece by piece
The court is reflective of the Valkyries' ethos and team identity, and, just like the team, that identity has been built piece by piece. The Valkyries aren't following anyone else's rules or guidelines for how to build an expansion team, and Golden State is okay making decisions that not everyone will appreciate (such as waiving second-round pick Shyanne Sellers days before the team's first preseason game).
Building an identity that will last is about more than complementary colors and cool logos; it's about nurturing the hearts and minds of the players on the court and the front office leading them. “We know when we put on our practice uniform or when we put on our real uniform on game day, we don’t take that lightly,” Kate Martin told the East Bay Times in an interview published May 4. “We know we’re a part of history and we know that it’s something super special. So, we’re just going to make the most of every opportunity that we have.”
The Valkyries can learn a lot from the Atlanta Dream
The Valkyries are the first expansion team to enter the WNBA since the Atlanta Dream joined in 2008, and there's a lot that Golden State can learn from the team's experience. For starters, building a community is a crucial first step to making sure fans will come see you play, and that's something Golden State has clearly prioritized — in March, the team became the first to hit 10,000 seaon passes in WNBA history.
The Valkyries will also need to immediately capitalize on any and all wins. A lot of people are counting Golden State out before the season begins, and whether they win or lose this year, the team will need to find the right moments to celebrate, both on social media and inside the organization as well. Those wins will bring in more players who have won championships and know what it takes to get there, and will help to ultimately propels the Valkyries to the team's stated goal of a championship in the first five years.