Megan Rapinoe Praises Golden State Valkyries 'Wild' Atmosphere

The fan atmosphere that's been cultivated around the Golden State Valkyries since they debuted in the WNBA in 2025 has become legendary. When the Valkyries are on the court at Chase Center and the stands are packed with violet-clad fans, the arena is no longer Chase Center, but "Ballhalla." A play on Valhalla, the afterlife of fallen warriors in Norse mythology that connects with the Valkyries, similarly Norse-inspired namesake, the effect that the Valkyries have had on women's basketball in the Bay has been just one of several factors that made Golden State one of the most exciting teams in the WNBA in 2025. The fan experience around the Valkyries has caught the attention of not just the national media but some retired legends of women's sports. On Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe's podcast A Touch More, the pair announced their "Meggie" awards, Rapinoe's personal picks of her favorite moments from the past WNBA season. Ballhalla received a shoutout from Rapinoe during the podcast, winning the "Meggie" for best i