The Golden State Valkyries have continued to make history, and, this time, their impact extends beyond the WNBA bubble. The Valkyries have become the first $1 billion franchise in women’s sports.

Last year, the Valkyries, owned by Joe Lacob and Peter Guber—the same people who own the Golden State Warriors—joined the WNBA as the 13th team in the league. 

The Valkyries were immediately welcomed by the city, with all 22 of their 2025 home games at the Chase Center selling out. The team averaged 18,064 attendees per game, setting a league-record 397,408 fans through the season.

“I’ve never been in a place as insane as Ballhalla (the Chase Center)...” said head coach Natalie Nakase during A Touch More’s podcast. “Ballhalla is one of the most uncommon places I’ve ever been around.”

With this fan attendance and a $78 million revenue earning, the franchise saw even more investments through the offseason, helping them continue to make history in the WNBA and in the women’s sports world as a whole.

The team’s historic tenure started last season, when they became the first WNBA team to make the playoffs in their first year as a franchise. Led by 2025 WNBA Coach of the Year, Nakase and the Valkyries worked behind the scenes to become even more competitive than the year prior. From signing athletes to creating an electric fan experience, the Valkyries are building a legacy. 

One of their key 2026 signings is WNBA All-Star Gabby Williams who is averaging 13.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists. Williams joined the core group of Veronica Burton—Golden State’s leading scorer with an average of 15 points, 6.4 assists, and three rebounds—Tiffany Hayes, and Kayla Thornton. 

“Our depth is going to be our strength. Knowing that these players, from one to 12 to 13, are going to have confidence throughout the whole season, that’s going to be huge for us.”

Gabby Williams

On the Court 

The team has gotten off to a 4-2 start, placing them third in the WNBA standings so far. On May 25, Golden State took down the Connecticut Sun 97-70 with 18,064 in attendance at the Chase Center. 

Every Valkyrie who stepped onto the court scored, with four players reaching the double-digit mark. Williams led the attack with 15 points, shooting 6-for-10 from the field and 3-for-5 from deep. 

Golden State scored 24 points off of Connecticut's turnovers, a  testament to the squad’s willingness to run the court. They also outrebounded the Sun 35-32, grabbing 11 offensive rebounds to their opponent’s eight.

“This is a really long season," Williams said after the matchup. “Our depth is going to be our strength. Knowing that these players, from one to 12 to 13, are going to have confidence throughout the whole season, that’s going to be huge for us. I know it’s only game six, but these minutes are going to pay off for us in the long run.”

Building a Legacy

The consistent support from their fans has not only helped the team succeed through the season, but has also built their financial standing. The Valkyries are now much more than just a team. They’re a brand. And a successful one at that.

Last year, the team’s success set a new precedent for expansion WNBA teams. This year, the franchise’s reach is to all of women’s sports.

Women’s sports leagues have been growing in viewership numbers and revenue recently. In Deloitte's report on women’s sports, they project that the revenue across the world from women’s sports may reach $3 billion by the end of 2026, which would be a 340% increase from the revenue earned in 2022.

“Women’s sports are thriving and defined by real, transformative growth and a rapidly expanding global fan base,” said Lara Abrash, the Chair of Deloitte, in the report. “With global revenue on track to top $3 billion this year, the conversation has moved beyond proving value to intentionally building a lasting, world-class foundation for the future. This momentum isn’t simply accelerating remarkable growth and expansion; it’s redefining the future of the sports industry for generations to come.”

The Valkyries are the first women’s sports franchise to surpass the $1 billion mark, but they won’t be the last. The team continues winning on and off the court, and the best is yet to come for the Valkyries.