For the first time since 2008, the WNBA has welcomed an expansion team to the league. The 2025 season will mark the first time a WNBA team can call the Bay Area its home with the addition of the Golden State Valkyries.

The Los Angeles Sparks stunned a sold-out crowd at the Chase Center and beat the Valkyries 84-67 in the club’s first game as a WNBA franchise. The Valkyries set a record with 18,064 fans in attendance for their opening game as the 13th franchise in the league — which marked the highest attendance for any team in its debut game.