Thousands of Golden State Valkyries fans lined San Francisco’s Embarcadero on Wednesday to celebrate the team’s historic Women’s National Basketball Association championship win, turning the waterfront into a sea of purple, black and gold as players and coaches made their way through the city.
The parade, which began at noon near the Ferry Building and continued south along the Embarcadero to King and Second streets, brought together fans of all ages to cheer on a team that has quickly become a source of pride across the Bay Area.
For many, the celebration was about more than a championship. It was an opportunity to recognize the players, the team and what their success means for women’s professional sports.
“It’s history in the making,” said Cristina Sagala about the Valkyries’ WNBA championship win and parade.
Sagala, who is retired, had spent the previous evening volunteering at a voting poll location in the city. After sleeping in a bit, she rallied to make her way to the big event, not wanting to miss it.
A longtime San Francisco resident, Sagala took Muni to get to the parade’s starting point near the Ferry Building. She was with her sister, Lerma Sagala, and they were both wearing black T-shirts with “Golden State Valkyries” emblazoned across the front in purple.
Someone selling Valkyries-themed T-shirts on Market Street told the sisters they looked like “Valkoholics,” and they both smiled and laughed.
Sagala said she hadn’t attended any of the Valkyries’ games in person at Chase Center, a.k.a. Ballhalla, this season, but she did go to Thrive City, the large outdoor space just outside the arena, to watch Game 6 of the championship series against the Atlanta Dream. She sat among fellow Valks fans and took in the on-court action on a gigantic screen.
She watched Game 7 at home, the final game of the series, in which the Atlanta Dream secured the first points, describing it as “incredible” to witness their win.
“I got a bit nervous at the beginning, but it ended up being perfect — and they did it at home,” Sagala said.
Glad to see San Francisco and the wider Bay Area get behind a women’s professional sports team, Sagala planned to find a good spot along the parade route with her sister, take in the sights and cheer on the Valkyries as they passed by.
Justine Luong, who lives in San Francisco, took some time off from work to attend the parade.
“I had to come out and support the ladies,” she said.
Luong was wearing an illustrated Valkyries T-shirt and carrying a sign featuring a winged female character holding out a fist with a large WNBA championship ring visible on one finger. “Kiss the ring,” the sign read.
She had attended several Valks watch parties throughout the team’s second season of play and watched the final game at home among friends. She said there was a lot of screaming and cheering from start to — and especially — finish.
People have come out and just have so much joy, celebrating this women’s team and what they stand for.
Justine Luong, Valkyries fan
“It was exciting to see all the neighborhoods come out — families, kids and others celebrating an incredible series and the Valkyries team,” she said of the public celebration.
She was particularly impressed with Gabby Williams’ performance throughout the season, the way the team worked together and the Bay Area’s support of them.
“It’s incredible to see,” she said. “They uplift each other … and they’re surrounded by love.”
People from all walks of life, Luong said, were in attendance at the parade and comprised the Valks’ expansive fan base.
“People have come out and just have so much joy, celebrating this women’s team and what they stand for,” she said.
Valkyries season ticket holder Cheryl Kruse arrived early to secure a good spot directly behind one of the metal barriers placed along the route. The celebratory event, she said, was fitting after the Valkyries’ performance.
“This is just the perfect culmination to an amazing season [and] to an amazing two years,” she said.
Kruse, sporting a lavender Valkyries WNBA champions T-shirt and a Valks baseball cap featuring the team’s logo, had attended every game during the team’s second season, even traveling to Atlanta for Game 4 of the championship series to support her favorite team. Game 7, held at Chase Center, was a one-of-a-kind experience, she said.
“Ballhalla never disappoints, but I have to say it was on a whole new level in terms of how loud it was, how in sync we were, how powerful we were,” Kruse said. “But you know what? We had the greatest product to watch.”
Kruse, an avid cyclist and runner who lives in San Francisco, spent Wednesday among thousands of Valks fans, smiling and waving a pom-pom as the paraders — the Valkyries players, city and state officials, musicians and others — made their way up the Embarcadero. She emanated joyfulness.
“The Valks are just spectacular. Everything from top to bottom — players, staff, fans, Ballhalla, parade. Life is good here in San Francisco,” she said.