In their very first year, the Golden State Valkyries have redefined what’s possible for an expansion franchise. The team set the all-time WNBA records for both total attendance and average crowd size during the 2025 regular season, drawing 397,408 fans at Chase Center — an average of 18,064 per game — and selling out every home date.
The numbers shattered long-standing league marks, surpassing the Indiana Fever’s total of 349,313 earlier this year and the Washington Mystics’ 2002 average of 16,202. For the WNBA, it signaled a new standard of demand. For the Valkyries, it made their home court — affectionately dubbed “Ballhalla” by fans — the league’s loudest new stage.
“We have the best crowd, and I think we have the best fans in the league, hands down,” Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said.
A Season of Firsts
The record-setting support has been felt across the league. Sellouts at Chase Center have become a staple of national broadcasts, with the noise and energy creating one of the most difficult road environments in the WNBA. Opposing teams have spoken about struggling to communicate in the building, while league officials and players alike have pointed to Golden State’s crowds as a sign of how far the league’s popularity has grown.
“When you see it on TV, you see sold-out games, you see just the energy in the building. Every team wants that,” New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart told SFGATE. “Away teams come here, it’s tough. It’s tough to hear, it’s tough to be on the same page as your teammates. And that’s truly like a sixth woman.”
That atmosphere fueled Golden State earlier in the week, when the Valkyries rallied from a double-digit second-half deficit to defeat the Dallas Wings 84-80. The win clinched the first playoff berth ever for a WNBA expansion team in its inaugural season and gave Golden State its 23rd victory — a new record for a first-year club.
“The energy in Ballhalla tonight was absolutely wild, and this moment belongs to every single one of you who have been part of this incredible journey,” Valkyries president Jess Smith said. “From that first home game in May to tonight’s historic victory, you’ve been the driving force behind something truly special.”
Lynx Spoil Finale
The celebration was tempered Saturday night, when the Valkyries fell, 78-72, to the league-leading Minnesota Lynx in their home finale. Golden State led 36-31 at halftime, but Natisha Hiedeman sparked a decisive third-quarter surge. She scored nine of her season-high 24 points in the frame, part of a 16-0 Minnesota run that swung the game.
Veronica Burton cut the deficit to two with a three-point play in the final minute, but Napheesa Collier responded with a baseline jumper and Kayla McBride sealed the win at the line. Collier finished with 20 points, while Jessica Shepard stepped into the lineup for a resting Alanna Smith and contributed 12 points and 13 rebounds.
Golden State had four starters in double figures. Janelle Salaün, Iliana Rupert and Kaila Charles each scored 15 points, with Salaün and Charles also grabbing eight rebounds. Burton added 14 points and six assists, knocking down her 99th career 3-pointer. The Valkyries outscored Minnesota in three of the four quarters, but couldn’t recover from the third-period swing.
The loss left Golden State in sixth place in the standings, two games behind New York for the fifth seed and one game ahead of Indiana for seventh with two road games remaining.
Playoff Games Moving to San Jose
The WNBA playoffs tip off Sept. 14, but the Valkyries’ first postseason home game will not be at Chase Center. The arena is scheduled to host the Laver Cup men’s tennis tournament Sept. 19–21, a booking secured before the Valkyries existed as a franchise.
As a result, Golden State will host its playoff opener at SAP Center in San Jose, home of the NHL’s Sharks.
“This has been a season of defying expectations, and our fans have been the driving force behind every milestone we’ve achieved,” Smith said. “While we would have loved to host our first playoff game at Chase Center and sought every opportunity to try and make that happen, Ballhalla has never been about just one building — it’s about the incredible community our fans have created. We’re confident that same energy will translate to San Jose.”
A Historic Foundation
Expansion teams have traditionally struggled to establish traction. Until now, none had reached the postseason in their debut campaign. The Valkyries not only broke through but did so while setting attendance records that eclipsed every other franchise in league history.
With a playoff berth secured, 23 wins in the books, and nearly 400,000 fans already behind them, Golden State has built a foundation that extends beyond the standings. Their first season is already one of the most impactful in league history — and it isn’t finished yet.
