What happened: Two-time Olympic gold medalist Alysa Liu is on hand in Oakland to support the Golden State Valkyries for their matchup with the Minnesota Lynx. The WNBA flagged the appearance as part of the home crowd's energy for the contest, carried on ION.

Why it matters: The Valkyries enter the night riding momentum at 11-5 and winners of four straight, while the visiting Lynx own the league's stronger mark at 15-3. A celebrity backer adds to the buzz around a young Golden State franchise still building its home-court identity.

What to watch: Tip-off pits Golden State's stingy defense against Minnesota's high-powered offense. Watch whether the Valkyries can protect home court against the conference's top record.