Thousands of fans dressed in violet lined San Francisco’s waterfront Wednesday, November 4, as the Golden State Valkyries celebrated their first WNBA championship with a victory parade. The celebration began with an Oakland gathering at Jack London Square before players and team representatives crossed the bay and continued through San Francisco. Open-top buses carried the newly crowned champions along the Embarcadero, giving supporters a chance to salute a team that won a title in just its second season.
The celebration followed Golden State’s 68-63 victory over the Atlanta Dream in the deciding Game 7 on October 31. Finals MVP Gabby Williams scored 30 points in that victory, while coach Natalie Nakase guided a franchise that had quickly established its identity through defense and relentless team play. Williams, Kiah Stokes and other players greeted supporters as the championship trophy made its way through the Bay Area. The parade ended near the ballpark district after a waterfront route filled with cheering fans.
For Golden State, Wednesday was more than a replay of Saturday’s trophy presentation. It was a public celebration of the relationship between the Valkyries and a region that embraced the WNBA franchise from its earliest days. The club plays its home games in San Francisco and practices in Oakland, making the two-city festivities particularly fitting. With the first championship secured ahead of schedule, attention will eventually turn to defending the title, but this was a day for the team and its fans to enjoy an extraordinary beginning.