Golden State Valkyries: Know all the details of Roster, Schedule, Tickets, Coaches, and More

After the launch of Atlanta Dream in 2008, the WNBA has gone under another awakening. The league has decided to expand the number of teams in the WNBA from 12 to 15, and they have taken the first step already. The first team that will make its debut, as the 13th team in the league, will be Golden State Valkyries. Under Joe Lacob and Peter Guber’s supervision, it is expected that the team will achieve the success that its NBA counterpart, the Golden State Warriors, has achieved in the NBA.

However, it might be safe to say that the initial years are not going to be easy for the newfound team. The league is already on the top of its evolution, gaining traction and viewership across the platforms across the season. Especially after the arrival of Caitlin Clark, the equations have changed. The competition is now soaring high, and launching a new team in such a situation. But the league and the Golden State Valkyries team owners have taken this bold step. So, let’s get ahead with a little bit of research about this new team, its potential stars, and how they are going to plan their approach for the upcoming debut in the league.

Golden State Valkyries: Team Overview and Location

Like the Golden State Warriors, the new WNBA team, Golden State Valkyries, is based in San Francisco, California. It is an affiliate team of the Golden State Warriors, whose announcement as a new team was made public on October 5, 2023.  The name of the WNBA team includes the term Valkyries which has an origin and special meaning as per WNBA. It originates from Norse mythology, in which Valkyries are a host of warrior women who are fearless and unwavering – flying through air and sea alike. This brand is Golden State’s modern interpretation of Valkyries: strong, bold, and fierce.

Ready for their head start in the 2025 WNBA season, the team is headquartered in Oakland and will play home games at Chase Center in San Francisco. Expectedly, it is the same home arena for the Golden State Warriors as well. It means that the owners are not differentiating between their teams, whether it be the men’s or the women’s team.

Ownership Details

The owners of the Golden State Valkyries are the same as their NBA counterpart team, Golden State Warriors, that is, Joe Lacob and Peter Guber. It is not surprising that Lacob has taken his chance in women’s basketball since he has been involved in the sport for a long time. He even was a co-founder of the American Basketball League, a short-lived WNBA predecessor, in the 1990s, as per the New York Times.

When it comes to the ownership role, General Managers also play a major part, and this time, it is Ohemaa Nyanin for the Golden State Valkyries. Luckily, she is the same general manager who inducted Breanna Stewart, Courtney Vandersloot, and Jonquel Jones to the New York Liberty before the 2023 season. Her vision coordinated with reality, and the franchise won the 2024 WNBA Championship with the former players at the core. So, the Valkyries are definitely arriving with a winning mentality.

Golden State Valkyries Merchandise and Jersey Details for Fans

The team management of the Golden State Valkyries has created a separate space for the sale of merchandise and jerseys to the fans of the new franchise. The team’s theme is already making waves with its violet and black theme syncing with the aspirations of the Gen-Z and Millennials generations. As per the official site space, titled Golden State Valkyries Shop, the purpose of their merchandise is to reflect the spirit and pride of Valks, ensuring you feel part of the team wherever you go.

The apparel items for the fans include the following items:

• T-Shirts
• Hoodies
• Sweat Shirts
• Limited Edition Baseball Jerseys
• Others

The page has started the merchandise for the following categories: Men, Women, Kids, and Babies. Coming to the featured departments of the shop page are Hats, Hoodies & Sweatshirts, and, finally, T-Shirts.

The exclusive department of the merchandise in the Valkyries Shop can be presented as follows:

• Collectibles
• Footwear
• Gift Cards
• Hats
• Home & Office
• Hoodies & Sweatshirts
• Jackets
• Lawn & Outdoors
• Rompers
• Swim Collection
• T-Shirts
• Tailgating

The Valkyries merchandise has also collaborated with major brands to feature on their site like Nike, WinCraft, and New Era. Coming to the price range of the gear and apparels on the site, their price range from minimum $10 to $60 and above for certain items. Do check them out and make your move!

Golden State Valkyries Logo and Branding

The Valkyries logo usually looks like a V-shaped design crafted with the color theme of Violet and Black. However, there are layers to the logo of the Golden State Valkyries, and each detail carries significance to it. It can be divided into six parts to get the whole understanding.

Branding

The Golden State Valkyries’ branding includes a logo, monogram, and uniforms that represent the team’s strength, connection to the Bay Area, and status as the 13th WNBA team. We have gone through the intricacies of the logo. Let’s go ahead with the GSV monogram and their Valkyries’ figure representation and what it represents.

The GSV monogram is a simple, angular design featuring custom typography that establishes a strong, instantly recognizable visual identity. Its ownable, clean, and three-dimensional form adds depth and adaptability, ensuring it stands out in both large and small formats.

The Valkyrie Figure is an intentional design that reinforces the team’s origin story and celebrates the modern interpretation of Valkyries: strong, bold, and fierce. Additionally, Golden State has introduced gold to the team’s color palate to nod back to the Golden State franchise and to highlight the strong, regal ethos of the Valkyries’ brand.

Key elements of the Valkyrie Figure include:

Golden State Valkyries Roster and Draft Picks

Golden State Valkyries selected their inaugural roster through the WNBA Expansion Draft. They had the opportunity to pick a player from each team as per the rules of the WNBA Expansion Draft. However, they only picked 11 players from the Expansion Draft.

Moving ahead, the Golden State Valkyries management has the opportunity to get the remaining players from the main draft that will take place in April 2025. For now, they have three picks in the WNBA Draft 2025. For now, they have the 5th overall pick of the WNBA Draft 2025. So if everything goes well, they can catch a star player from the draft. Also, they have got 17th and 30th overall pick in the second and third rounds of the draft. So they have a chance to get another set of fresh talent in the roster.

Also Read: 2025 WNBA Mock Draft: All Rounds and Top Picks

Further, if the team management still wants to make some changes to the inaugural roster, they might make it through the Free Agency. The Free Agency period will start in February. So it will be worth watching how the Valkyries’ management makes their moves.

WNBA Expansion Draft Dates and Key Players to Watch

The WNBA Expansion Draft took on Friday night, December 6, 2024, at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. The head coach of the Valkyries made the 11 selections of the 12 teams available from the league. The only team that they skipped for selection was Seattle Storm. When the Valkyries coach was asked about why she did not pick up any player from the Storm roster, she confessed to ESPN that she didn’t feel any of the Storm’s available players would make the impact the Valkyries were looking for.

The Key players to watch for in the Golden State Valkyries’ inaugural roster can be listed as follows

The prime purpose behind selecting Temi Fagbenle was the instant collaboration between her and Caitlin Clark during the 2024 season. She was a key player in the defense around the rim but just played 22 games. So, the management is willing to give her a chance as she is returning after three injuries.

For Thornton, the value that she brings is beyond her skills. She was a part of the championship-winning New York Liberty roster in 2024. So she knows what she has to do under the clutch situations and how to handle the pressure of those elite locker rooms. Details about the playoffs and her eight years of experience were also the prime factors in her selection.

Kate Martin has worked with the Valkyries’ head coach before at the Aces during her rookie season. When the Aces were dealing with injuries, Martin shot 37% from the three-point line and proved her mettle. However, after 10 games, the injured players returned, and Martin was not able to contribute much to the team. So the Valkyries management has presented her the opportunity to prove herself.

Insights into the Valkyries’ Expansion Draft Strategy

As per the statement of the Golden State Valkyries GM, Ohemaa Nyanin, “Our goal was to construct a roster that embodies both versatility and depth, bringing in a strong mix of leadership, defense and scoring ability. These players were carefully chosen not only for their skills on the court, but also for their ability to fit into the culture we’re working to build here at Golden State.”

Season Tickets, Schedule, and Stadium Information

The Golden State Valkyries’ home games will be held at the state-of-the-art Chase Center in San Francisco. As per the site, fans interested in securing season tickets can place a non-refundable $25 per seat deposit to secure a priority number on the Golden State Valkyries Season Ticket Wait List for seat selection. If some of you want to submit it right now, you can click on this Link to place your deposit.

How to Purchase Valkyries Tickets

The Valkyries’ official site has already put the tickets for the Golden State Valkyries’ WNBA matches for sale. The fans can make their deposit on the following link. Also, the team is sure to arrange the Premium Suites for the VIP Guests and visitors if they want to book one for the whole season or just a single game.

Exciting Matchups on the Golden State Valkyries Schedule

Here are the details about the schedule of the Golden State Valkyries as per the Ticketmaster data:

Head Coach and Practice Facility of the Valkyries

The head coach of the Golden State Valkyries is Natalie Nakase. She is a UCLA alumnus who was a back-to-back champion with Las Vegas Aces. For the past three years, she has been coaching the Nevada W team in the post of first assistant. When it comes to basketball coaching, she has 16 years of coaching experience. Out of all her pro-basketball wisdom, Nakase has spent 10 years with the NBA team Los Angeles Clippers in the coaching department.

Coming to the practice facility of the Golden State Valkyries is located in Oakland. As per the WNBA data, the Valkyries Practice Facility in Oakland will offer players and coaches full-time access to 31,800 square feet of training and development space. The state-of-the-art facility, located in the heart of Downtown Oakland, is inclusive of two full-size basketball courts, with additional court space, totaling 17 basketball hoops in the gym. The facility, which served as the headquarters of the Golden State Warriors from 1997-2019, boasts a locker room, weight room, training room, hot and cold pools, a dedicated player lounge, and separate player and family lounge, all complete with world-class amenities across the facility.

Golden State Valkyries’ Future Prospects

The Valkyries’ management has picked up the players who have more exposure to the league. Only one of the players on the roster has a rookie contract. The rest of them either lack the star power or are veterans. So it is clear from the inaugural roster that the Golden State Valkyries are going for a win-now situation rather than focusing on a long run with the young players.

However, there are chances that they might change the whole roster in February during the Free Agency period. So it will be worth watching how they utilize the free agency. Also, as per the NYTimes, even Nakase admitted that she is not sure if Maria Conde will come to the States from Spain during the season or not. So, various changes will be awaiting this current Valkyries roster before an actual match. So keep an eye on the updates.

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