The WNBA officially broke a 23-year-old regular-season attendance record on Friday — and your Golden State Valkyries are right in the center of this historic moment.
Through 226 games in the 2025 season, 2,488,011 fans have already packed arenas across the country. This surpasses the league’s previous record of 2,364,736 set back in 2002 — when the league had 16 teams. And the season isn’t even over yet.
At the heart of this surge? The Bay’s newest team — the Golden State Valkyries.
In their debut season, the Valkyries have sold out all 17 home games at Chase Center. They draw a league-best average of 18,064 fans per game. The energy in San Francisco has been electric. From the “Beat LA” chants to historic individual performances, the WNBA is feeling the impact nationwide.
Under head coach Natalie Nakase, the Valkyries have exceeded every preseason expectation. Despite losing All-Star forward Kayla Thornton to a season-ending injury, Golden State sits at 18–17. They are firmly in the playoff hunt, currently holding seventh place in the standings.
The Valkyries aren’t just building a fan base; they’re redefining what’s possible for an expansion team in the WNBA. From Chase Center sellouts to record-breaking viewership, Golden State’s arrival has helped usher in a new era of growth for women’s basketball.
💜⚔️ The Bay has spoken, and the WNBA is listening. The Valkyries are here to stay — and Valhalla is only getting louder.
