Valkyries bring WNBA title celebrations to Oakland and San Francisco

Golden State Valkyries fans filled the streets Wednesday as the team celebrated its WNBA championship with festivities in Oakland and San Francisco. Tens of thousands turned out after the Valkyries clinched the title Saturday, defeating the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in Game 7. The celebrations brought together supporters from both sides of the bay.

The team had encouraged fans to miss work or school for the occasion, and supporters embraced the festivities. Crowds dressed in team colours watched a procession filled with dancing, champagne and high-fives. Some fans wore the colours from head to toe, while others cheered from a rooftop as the parade passed below.

The day's events began at Jack London Square in Oakland, a short distance from the Valkyries' downtown practice facility. Centre Kiah Stokes joined the kickoff rally, and players gathered onstage to pose for photographs with the WNBA championship trophy before leaving for the San Francisco portion of the celebration.

The players travelled across San Francisco Bay by ferry, connecting the Oakland gathering with the parade's starting point at San Francisco's Ferry Building. The procession then made its way through the city and finished near Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants. Guard Tiffany Hayes celebrated aboard a double-decker bus along the route.

The championship fulfilled a pledge made when Golden State received its expansion franchise three years ago. Owner Joe Lacob had guaranteed that the team would win a title within five years. Under coach Natalie Nakase, the Valkyries reached that goal in their second season, following a 2025 debut in which they became the first expansion franchise to qualify for the playoffs in its inaugural year.

A gesture from the championship series also resurfaced during the parade. After Atlanta won Game 3, Dream player Angel Reese directed a hand gesture meaning "too small" toward the Golden State bench. Following their series victory, some Valkyries adopted the gesture themselves, with guard Juste Jocyte displaying it to fans during the procession.

The team's mascot, Violet, also known as Vi, rode on a float amid the celebrations. The raven was another familiar presence alongside the players and trophy. According to the team's website, ravens are commonly depicted as companions to Valkyries in Norse mythology.