Golden State Valkyries exceeding expectations in inaugural WNBA season

Starting something new in life comes with challenges. Moving to a new city, starting a new relationship or embarking on a business venture comes with unknown adversity. The same principle applies to expansion teams in professional sports.

Organizations in their first year usually don’t have glaring success, on and off the field of play, but the WNBA's Golden State Valkyries are rewriting the blueprint for expansion teams.

The Valkyries launched their inaugural season this year, and with all the excitement and anticipation surrounding the organization, they have surpassed all expectations beyond belief. 

They play at Chase Center, where their brother team, the Golden State Warriors, play, and have sold out all ten of their home games this year. Their home court, called “Ballhalla,” is a challenging place to play for any visiting WNBA team, with knowledgeable and passionate fans showing unconditional support, which has contributed to the team’s 7-3 home record. 

With all the success they have had on and off the court, they have surpassed their season win total from Vegas. According to BetMGM, the team’s win total for the year was 8.5 games. They won their tenth game of the season before the All-Star break with a convincing 19-point victory on the road against the Indiana Fever and the face of the WNBA, Caitlin Clark.

The WNBA is soaring to new heights in team expansion, media coverage, competition, marketing and revenue, and Golden State is a major reason for the league's success. According to Sportico, the Valkyries were named the WNBA's most valuable franchise.

The organization is the first women’s professional sports franchise to eclipse the $500 million value mark. No matter how the season plays out, The Valkyries' inaugural season has succeeded, and people are interested in how high they can fly. The organization's meteoric success in such a short time is why they are the best story in professional sports, and it will only continue to lead to amazing heights.

With a new collective bargaining agreement set to be reached in the WNBA and the league expanding into new horizons, the organization's success and tenure could make it a popular destination in free agency for top players seeking the best opportunity to showcase their skills and compete at the highest level.