Brief
Golden State Valkyries reach WNBA Finals in just two seasons
The franchise, owned by Joe Lacob, sold out every home game and advanced to the championship after a dominant second season.
By Felo News Desk · Published
The Golden State Valkyries are headed to the WNBA Finals, the New York Post reported on Oct. 11, 2026. The expansion team, which began play in 2025, swept the defending champion Las Vegas Aces in three games to earn the league's championship series berth.
What happened
In their inaugural season the Valkyries sold out all 44 regular‑season home games at Chase Center, averaging over 18,000 fans per game, a first in WNBA history. The team qualified for the playoffs and, in their second year, eliminated the Aces in a three‑game sweep, winning the decisive overtime game 87‑77.
What the report adds
The article notes that owner Joe Lacob had previously tried to back a professional women’s team, first with the San Jose Lasers of the American Basketball League in 1996, before the league folded in 1998. Lacob publicly expressed interest in bringing a WNBA franchise to the Bay Area in 2014, and the league awarded an expansion team to San Francisco in 2023, slated to start in 2025.
What was said
Head coach Natalie Nakase told the Post, “How I create my team culture is choosing 12 players that have a very competitive mindset, who work extremely hard… The baseline is just being a great human being, you don’t always just think about yourself but you think about your teammates constantly. That’s pretty much going to be my motto is team over self with anything on or off the court.”
How it came about
The Valkyries’ rapid rise follows Lacob’s long‑standing commitment to women’s basketball, from the short‑lived ABL team to his 2014 statements about a Bay Area WNBA franchise. The franchise’s defensive‑first philosophy, curated from the top down, contrasts with the Aces’ star‑laden roster featuring All‑Star and MVP A’ja Wilson.
Key facts
- The Golden State Valkyries swept the Las Vegas Aces in three games to reach the WNBA Finals. (nypost.com)
- The team sold out all 44 regular‑season home games in its first season, averaging over 18,000 fans per game. (nypost.com)
- Owner Joe Lacob previously owned the San Jose Lasers of the ABL in 1996. (nypost.com)
- Head coach Natalie Nakase emphasized a team‑over‑self culture in her comments. (nypost.com)
Sources
- [1] nypost.com — originally reported as “How the Golden State Valkyries went from expansion team to the WNBA Finals in two seasons”
