The Golden State Valkyries celebrated their first WNBA championship Wednesday with a parade down San Francisco’s Embarcadero, capping a Finals series that became the most-watched in league history, RDS reported. The expansion team, in just its second season, defeated the Atlanta Dream in seven games, with Game 7 drawing an average of 3.3 million viewers — the most-watched Finals game ever and a 128% increase over last year’s title-clinching matchup between the Las Vegas Aces and Phoenix Mercury.
The championship route ran along the waterfront boulevard from Mission Street outside the Ferry Building to the intersection of King Street and Second Street, starting at noon, according to the Press Democrat. Hundreds of thousands of people were present, some from Oakland, the team’s sister city, as the whole Bay Area celebrated, Daniel Lurie said.
3.3 Million Viewers Watch Valkyries Clinch Title in Game 7
The Finals averaged 1.88 million viewers across the seven-game series, the highest since 1999, RDS reported. The entire postseason was the most-watched since the WNBA’s inaugural 1997 season. Every game sold out, including Game 6, which was played at 12:30 p.m. due to a scheduling conflict with the NBA.
Gabby Williams, named Finals MVP, scored 30 points in the 68-63 Game 7 victory, becoming the only player in league history to record at least 30 points, four blocks and two steals in a Finals game. She also became the first player to score 20+ points in all seven games of a Finals series.
Gabby Williams Leads Parade With Ballhalla Drum Ritual
Williams kicked off the parade by pounding the drum, the pregame ritual at Ballhalla, the nickname for the Chase Center, RDS reported. The ceremony drew some of the loudest cheers of the day, particularly during a rally at Jack London Square in Oakland, the Press Democrat reported.
Williams struggled in the first half of Game 7 but scored 28 points in the second half to lift Golden State from a halftime deficit. “The coolest part was that even if I hadn’t gotten there, I know the girls around me would have loved me just as much,” she said, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. “When you feel that, the pressure drops. I remember turning to them in the second quarter and apologizing for not being able to score, but everyone was behind me.”
The Golden State Valkyries brought their championship celebration to both sides of the Bay, starting in Oakland— where the team practices —and rolling into San Francisco, home of their games.#GoldenStateValkyries #Valkyries #WNBA #Basketball pic.twitter.com/jgTLc0X7fJ
After the final buzzer, Williams described the moment as unmatched. “I just wanted to sprint toward my teammates and hug them,” she said. “It’s the biggest game of our lives. I love them so much.”
She also thanked her family and close circle, asking them to stand before naming them one by one. “I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish this without them,” she concluded.
San Francisco Officials Credit Investment in Women’s Sports
Daniel Lurie addressed the crowd, echoing a theme repeated by players and fans throughout the celebration. “What a beautiful day,” he said. “I think one of the players said it better than anyone: it’s what happens when you invest in women’s sports.”
Team president Jess Smith told the gathering that the parade was a chance to celebrate with the supporters who had filled the arena for every home game. “The fans have supported us since day 1,” she said. “They filled the stands every game, they traveled with us and made Ballhalla one of the best environments in sports. This parade is our chance to celebrate this championship with them.”
Bay Area Athletes and Youth Players Join the Celebration
Athletes from across the region attended, including players from the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers and the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, as well as amateur competitors, RDS reported. Young basketball players were also present, including members of the AAU program where Williams previously played, coming to see their idols.
Fans began arriving early Wednesday, with droves lining the parade route by 10:30 a.m. holding signs and flags, the Press Democrat reported. Some traveled by train from the South Bay, while others came across the Bay Bridge from the East Bay.
“Finally! Finally! Finally!” said Veronica Grace Flores of Millbrae, who attended with her sister Berniedette Flores of South San Francisco. “It’s just really rewarding to see these girls. They put so much of their heart out there, and they’re just such good girls.”
Simone Barnard, a 29-year-old Oakland resident, said the turnout proved the demand for women’s sports in the region. “It proves that we’ve been waiting for a team for a long time, and it proves that when you put money in… and when you invest in women’s sports, people are going to show up, especially in the Bay Area,” she said, according to the Press Democrat. “There’s a Valhalla effect going on and people want to replicate that.”
Two-Year Rise From Expansion to Champions
The Valkyries began play just two years ago and captured their first title in franchise history. The victory marked a rapid ascent for an expansion team that immediately embraced the Bay Area’s culture, fans said.
The championship parade concluded at King and Second streets after roughly two hours, with the team celebrating a Finals series that not only broke viewership records but also demonstrated sustained fan engagement across the entire postseason.
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