Golden State Valkyries kick off regular season with a win and high hopes

NBC Bay Area reports that the Golden State Valkyries won their first regular-season game of their second WNBA season against the Seattle Storm on Friday, with several hundred fans attending a watch party at Thrive City Plaza in San Francisco. The article is bylined by Alyssa Goard and includes direct quotes from named sources (season-ticket holder Mace Mamlock and Fikscue Barbecue owner Parisha Elviano), along with verifiable facts such as the team's billion-dollar valuation (citing CNBC) and their historical achievement as the first WNBA expansion team to make the playoffs in their inaugural season. Independent search results corroborate the opening matchup against Seattle and confirm the 2026 season timeline, though the article lacks specific game statistics (final score, key player performances) that would strengthen reporting depth. Watch for the team's home opener on Sunday, which the article flags as an anticipated high-attendance event, and monitor whether the Valkyries sustain both on-court success and commercial momentum in their second season.