Valkyries celebrate WNBA title in San Francisco and Oakland

The Golden State Valkyries held a victory parade along the San Francisco waterfront on Wednesday afternoon to celebrate their WNBA championship. The team honored both San Francisco and Oakland, the two cities that share the franchise’s fan base and support systems. The celebration route began at Jack London Square in Oakland, near the team’s practice facility, before the squad crossed the bay by ferry.

Players joined the crowd on the double-decker buses that led the procession. Gabby Williams, the Finals MVP, danced through the streets while holding her trophy and blowing a whistle. She was joined by teammate Kiah Stokes, and the two popped champagne for the fans. The parade started at the Ferry Building in San Francisco and ended near Oracle Park, the home of the San Francisco Giants.

Golden State owner Joe Lacob promised a championship within five years when the team received its expansion franchise three years ago. The Valkyries delivered that title in their second season. The team became the first expansion franchise to reach the playoffs in its inaugural year, which was 2025. They defeated the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in Saturday night’s Game 7, marking the first time in WNBA Finals history that a championship was decided in a seventh game.

Coach Natalie Nakase led a squad that played well together from the start of the season. Point guard Veronica Burton said the team believed they could win early and continued to improve. She noted that the group realized their potential was real as they progressed through the playoffs. The team’s success came just two years after their inception, a rapid timeline for a new organization.

Fans from both sides of the bay attended the event. The team encouraged supporters to take the day off, noting that thousands had done so for the Game 6 watch party at Thrive City the previous Thursday. That game was played at 9:30 a.m. Pacific time. Local resident Zaelani Fowler, age 3, watched with her mother Brittanee, holding a sign with the players’ numbers. Her mother called the experience a beautiful moment for the child to remember.

Violet Cheak, a dedicated supporter who had her left leg amputated two years ago, was invited to ride in the parade. A former personal trainer, she has gifted approximately 26,000 wristbands to fans since July. She said the act of handing out bracelets gave her a new purpose and improved her mental health. She described the parade as a humbling and powerful experience that showed the team’s commitment to accessibility and community.

The team also received congratulations from basketball legend Michael Jordan. The players were honored on the court at Chase Center during the Golden State Warriors’ game on Sunday. Fourteen-year veteran Tiffany Hayes, age 37, held the championship trophy on a separate bus. Hayes returned from retirement two years ago to help the Valkyries win their first title. Kaitlyn Chen and Burton also walked across The Embarcadero to greet fans, thanking the community for its support during the team’s short history.