Image Credit: John Hefti-Imagn Images

Golden State Valkyries Close Debut Season With Historic Fan Turnout, Record-Setting Crowds and a Playoff Berth

From overlooked to overbooked

Image Credit: John Hefti-Imagn Images

What a season the Golden State Valkyries have had so far. They had their own share of ups and downs, battling with inexperience and injuries. Needless to say, the expectations and predictions were low for the newcomers.

The Valkyries had a tough start especially with their top draft pick, Juste Jocyte deciding to sit the season out. With lack of fitness, the Golden State found it difficult to keep up with the fast-paced league.

The turnaround came post the All-star break, as the newcomers started stacking wins, one after the other. Timely missteps by rival teams added momentum to the Valkyries’ climb up the standings.

̶E̶x̶p̶a̶n̶s̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶T̶e̶a̶m̶ ̶ Playoff Team.

In our very first season, the Valkyries have clinched a playoff berth — the first expansion team in WNBA history to do it.

2025 Playoffs | @aboutKP pic.twitter.com/swCY2hGEqB
— Golden State Valkyries (@valkyries) September 5, 2025

The Golden State Valkyries fortified their playoffs qualification after a massive turn around against the Dallas Wings this week. They became the first expansion franchise in WNBA history to secure a playoff berth in their debut season.

Record-Setting Crowds For Golden State Valkyries

The Valkyries also set the all-time WNBA record for total attendance across the regular season. They recorded a total 397,408 fans with an average of 18,064 in the regular season at their home games.

The San Francisco City also has the Golden State Warriors in NBA. The basketball fans in the Bay Area were equally excited to see a new WNBA franchise from San Francisco. The Valkyries sold out each of their 22 home games in 2025.

Despite early setbacks, the Valkyries showcased remarkable grit to transform their inaugural campaign into a playoff-worthy run. They are likely to finish at the 6th or the 7th position in the points table, thus drawing a higher seed side in the first round of the playoffs.

Their recent matchup with the Minnesota Lynx ended with a 72-78 defeat, marking an end to a significant home stretch. Their next two games will be against the Seattle Storm, and the Minnesota Lynx next week.