Valkyries parade moves from Oakland to San Francisco after title win

The Golden State Valkyries won their first WNBA championship in the franchise's second season, ending a 68-63 Game 7 loss for the Atlanta Dream on Saturday. The team hosted a victory parade on Wednesday that spanned two cities across the San Francisco Bay.

The celebration began at Jack London Square in Oakland, near the team's downtown practice facility. Players posed with the WNBA trophy on a stage before boarding a ferry to cross the bay. The parade then started at the San Francisco Ferry Building and ended near Oracle Park, the home of the San Francisco Giants.

Tens of thousands of spectators lined the streets for the event. Many fans wore team colors and skipped work or school to attend, following the team's encouragement to take the day off. The atmosphere included dancing, champagne, and interactions with the team mascot, Vi, a raven based on Norse mythology.

The victory fulfilled a promise made by team owner Joe Lacob three years ago when he acquired the expansion franchise. He guaranteed a championship within five years. Coach Natalie Nakase led the team to the title after they became the first expansion franchise to make the playoffs in their inaugural 2025 season.

Players incorporated a gesture from the playoffs into the parade celebrations. Atlanta guard Angel Reese had made a hand signal meaning 'too small' to the Valkyries bench after their team won Game 3. Valkyries guard Juste Jocyte performed the same gesture for the crowd during the parade, turning the taunt into a symbol of the team's success.

Other players, including Kayla Thornton and Tiffany Hayes, celebrated from a double-decker bus as it traveled through San Francisco. Hayes waved to crowds while riding on the upper deck of the vehicle.