Valkyries' rapid rise sets expansion blueprint

Second-year club opens Finals at home Saturday

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 59m1 min read

The Golden State Valkyries success came in a short span and proved to be the blueprint for future expansion WNBA franchi Via @usatodaysports on X

What happened: Golden State Valkyries reached the WNBA Finals in its second season. Game 1 tips Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET at Chase Center on NBC.

Why it matters: The speed of the rise gives future expansion franchises a working model for roster construction and competitive timeline. A title in year two would reset expectations for how quickly new teams can contend.

What to watch: Game 1 Saturday opens the title round at Chase Center. An opening win would give Golden State early control of the series.

Sources

@usatodaysports 2026-10-16T21:07:01.168600+00:00

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