Valkyries acknowledge potential playoff schedule conflict at Chase Center

The exciting inaugural season for the Golden State Valkyries could end with a bitter taste due to a scheduling conflict. 

If the Valkyries were to make the playoffs, they would potentially not be able to play their home playoff game on their home court. The Laver Cup, an international tennis tournament, is scheduled at Chase Center from Sept. 19-21.

The first round of the WNBA playoffs tips off Sept. 14 with a best-of-three series, with the higher seed hosting Games 1 and 3. The Valkyries, currently sixth in the playoff picture, would potentially host Game 2 on Tuesday, Sept. 16 or Wednesday, Sept. 17.

The issue with the Laver Cup being at Chase Center is that it’s the arena's first time hosting a major tennis tournament, and the setup and teardown take much longer to complete compared to a concert or a basketball game.

The organization issued a statement to the San Francisco Chronicle & SFGate regarding the scheduling conflict.

“Due to Chase Center hosting Laver Cup, a global tennis tournament, which was booked before Golden State acquired the Golden State Valkyries, we are navigating potential venue impacts if the Valkyries were to make a historic playoff run in their inaugural season,” the statement reads. “Our primary goal is to ensure the best possible experience for our fans and athletes. At this point, with so much uncertainty in potential playoff seeding and playoff game dates, we do not yet know what if/any impact this will have on Valkyries' home games.

The energy at Chase Center has made Ballhalla what it is: the toughest home court advantage in the WNBA. While we navigate the potential arena impacts for the postseason, the anticipation for WNBA Playoff basketball in the Bay Area is palpable. This fan base continues to fuel our team, and is a driving force behind such a historic first season.”

The organization is looking into a few options if it comes to playing a home playoff game somewhere other than Chase Center. They have discussed three locations: Oracle Arena (former home to the Warriors), SAP Center (home to the San Jose Sharks) and Golden One Center (home to the Sacramento Kings).

If the Valkyries were to have to move their home playoff game due to a scheduling conflict, the most logical choice would be Oracle Arena due to distance & familiarity. The team uses the Warriors' old practice facility in Oakland, so it would be convenient for the organization and the fanbase. 

While it's difficult to pass blame considering the Laver Cup was booked at Chase Center before the Valkyries even existed, having the most valuable and profitable team in the WNBA not being able to host a home playoff game on their home court due to a scheduling conflict is not ideal.