There’s a new WNBA team in town.
The Bay Area’s Golden State Valkyries have officially unveiled their brand, drawing inspiration from Norse mythology. The Valkyries, known as a band of fearless warrior women, embody strength, boldness, and fierceness—qualities that the new franchise aims to represent, according to a press release by the WNBA.
This marks a significant moment in the WNBA as the Valkyries become the first expansion team since 2008. This comes after a record-breaking year for women’s basketball in the NCAA and the WNBA drafting of several college stars like Angel Reese (Chicago Sky), Caitlin Clark (Indiana Fever), Cameron Brink (Los Angeles Sparks) and Kamila Cardoza (Chicago Sky).
The Valkyries will debut in the 2025 season at Chase Center, the home arena of their NBA counterpart, the Golden State Warriors. According to the WNBA, over 7,500 season ticket deposits have already been secured for the inaugural season.
“The story of the Golden State Valkyries begins now,” stated Valkyries President Jess Smith. “And what better way than to be surrounded and supported by Bay Area legends as we take our rightful place in the WNBA and beyond. This is the Bay’s time to show what’s possible with the best fans in the world.”
Smith is the former head of revenue of the National Women’s Soccer League’s Angel City FC.
While we don’t know the Valkyrie’s lineup yet, The Valkyries dropped a teaser video featuring narration by queer musician and actor, Kehlani.
The WNBA has long been a refuge for LGBTQ+ athletes and fans. Initially, the league’s association with lesbian and queer fans was downplayed, but in recent years, the WNBA has embraced its place in queer culture. According to a report by Outsports, around 20% of WNBA players are “publicly out.” Over the league’s 27-year history, dozens of players have been out and proud, including Sue Bird, Candace Parker, Diana Turasi, Brittney Griner and Breanne Stewart. In 2002, New York Liberty player Sue Wicks was the first WNBA player to come out.
Cartwright crafted the team’s branding under the guidance of Amanda Chin, the Warriors’ Senior Vice President of Marketing. The development process, initiated in October 2023, included selecting the team’s name, colors, logo system, and overall brand positioning.
“Communities own sports teams, so it’s only fitting that as we embarked on the brand identity development process, we really listened to the fans and selected a name that they wanted,” said Chin. “Through surveys and social media, the name that continued to come up the most, by far, was Valkyries. Once we completed a rigorous process to examine and approve the name, we worked around the clock to build the supporting brand elements that our players and fans alike would be proud to represent.”
Valkyries merchandise, featuring collaborations with brands like FISLL, Nike, Playa Society, The Wild Collective, WEAR by Erin Andrews and Wilson, is now available at shop.valkyries.com.
For more details on the Golden State Valkyries, visit valkyries.com.