Historic firsts took place Friday night in San Francisco as the Golden State Valkyries launched their inaugural WNBA season at home against the Los Angeles Sparks.
The Valkyries are the WNBA’s first expansion team in 17 years, and their head coach, Natalie Nakase, is the first Asian American coach in the league.
“I see it as a big responsibility to open doors for everyone else,” Nakase told NBC Bay Area. “The first is not about me. It’s about how many other doors or positions I can open up for Asian Americans or people who look like me.”
Rapper E-40, a Vallejo native, performed during halftime of Friday night’s opener, and Goapele, an Oakland native, sang the national anthem.
Chase Center was decked out with purple T-shirts that said “First of a lifetime” on every fan’s seat in the arena. The game was a sell-out, and Chase Center was at capacity with 18,064 tickets sold. The energy in the arena was high; fans wore their Valkyries violet gear, leaped to their feet to applaud each field goal, and cheered in the hallways even after the game had ended.
The Valkyries did not get the result they were looking for in their home opener, with the Sparks winning 84-67.
Tiffany Hayes was the Valkyries leading scorer and rebounder with 19 points and 9 boards. Temi Fágbénlé added 15 points and Julie Vanloo scored 14 points.
Kelsey Plum led the Sparks with 37 points.
@nbcbayarea The Bay Area celebrates finally having a WNBA team 🏀 we asked fans what the Golden State Valkyries means to them 💜 #wnba #valkyries #sanfrancisco #bayarea #sports ♬ original sound – NBC Bay Area
Fans told NBC Bay Area they loved the energy at this inaugural Valkyries home opener.
“The vibe is amazing,” said Rohini Desai of Livermore, who has season tickets for the Valkyries. Friday was also her first time at Chase Center.
“What a time in history, in our world right now, to be uplifting women in this way, and cheering them on,” noted Valerie Troutt, who came in from Oakland to see the game.
“It’s such a vibe, it’s beautiful,” Troutt continued.
The Valkyries, similar to their NBA counterpart, the Golden State Warriors, have DJs playing in-house and a team dance squad (Violet Vibes).
A host of notable Bay Area figures were there, from San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie, to Oakland Mayor-elect Barbara Lee, to actress and comedian Ali Wong, retired soccer players and Bay FC co-founders Brandi Chastain and Danielle Slaton, and Milwaukee Bucks head Coach Doc Rivers.
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr sat courtside, and other Warriors, including Brandin Podziemski, Jonathan Kuminga, Kevon Looney, and Buddy Hield, were spotted at the game as well.
Bay Area basketball fans were buzzing Friday ahead of the Golden State Valkyries’ first game of their inaugural season in the WNBA. Christie Smith reports.
