Valkyries fever swept through San Francisco as supporters packed Chase Center for the Golden State side’s first-ever play-off game at their home arena.
The occasion marked the opening game of the team’s first-round WNBA series against the Dallas Wings, with the venue taking on its adopted nickname, “Ballhalla”, as fans turned out in force.
Golden State entered the contest as the No 2 seed after completing the regular season with a 32-12 record. Dallas, seeded seventh, finished 27-17 and was led by Paige Bueckers, one of the league’s most prominent young players.
The Valkyries had already made history by reaching the post-season in their inaugural campaign in 2025, but their first home play-off fixture was held at San Jose’s SAP Center because of a scheduling clash at Chase Center.
This year’s return to San Francisco gave supporters the chance to see a post-season game at the team’s regular home court for the first time, adding to the sense of occasion around the tie.
Golden State had swept all three regular-season meetings with Dallas in 2026. The best-of-three series continues with a second game on Wednesday, with a deciding fixture scheduled for October 2 if required.
