Valkyries Make WNBA History With Championship in Second Season
It’s the last Finals appearance for WNBA commissioner Cathy Engelbert.
The Golden State Valkyries achieved an unprecedented feat in the WNBA by winning their championship title in just two seasons since joining the league in 2025. Golden State defeated the Dream in the WNBA Finals' Game 7 held on Saturday, marking the quickest expansion franchise to win a championship title. This achievement surpasses the record of any expansion team in the four major men's sports, outpacing the NHL’s Golden Knights who took four seasons to win the Stanley Cup.
Golden State team owner Joe Lacob had set a challenge for Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase, aiming for a championship within their first five seasons. The team had already set major off-court milestones, including leading the league in attendance for the past two seasons, valuing at $1 billion, and becoming the first women's sports team to report $100 million in annual revenue.
Expansion franchises following the Valkyries' model are expressing interest. For the upcoming season, Golden State can count on core players like Gabby Williams, Veronica Burton, Kaila Charles, Janelle Salaün, and Kiah Stokes, but may face challenges with potential returns of Kayla Thornton, Cecilia Zandalasini, and Kaitlyn Chen, and the need to replace retiring 37-year-old Tiffany Hayes.
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