Golden State Valkyries hold victory parade across Oakland and San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO. The Golden State Valkyries began their championship celebration on Wednesday in the Jack London Square neighborhood of Oakland, a short distance from their downtown practice facility. The team then boarded a ferry to cross the bay, arriving at San Francisco's Ferry Building to start a parade that stretched along the waterfront. The route ended near Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, where baseball manager Tony Vitello joined the group to support the women's team.

Gabby Williams, the Finals Most Valuable Player, started the San Francisco portion of the event by stepping off a double-decker bus. She danced through the streets while blowing a whistle and greeting fans. She kept her trophy secured in her left arm. Teammate Kiah Stokes joined her, and the two opened a bottle of champagne for the crowd. Stokes told onlookers, “I love this!” as fans began chanting “MVP” for Williams.

The team organized the event to include both Oakland and San Francisco, acknowledging the strong support base in Northern California. Fans received an official invitation from the franchise to take the day off work and school. This followed a large turnout at a watch party in the plaza outside Chase Center last Thursday, when thousands gathered for Game 6. The final game of the series took place on Saturday night, with the Valkyries defeating the Atlanta Dream 68-63. It was the first Game 7 in WNBA Finals history.

Williams scored 30 points in the series finale, recording 28 of those points in the second half. Her performance helped secure the title for a team that became the first expansion franchise to reach the playoffs in its inaugural season in 2025. Owner Joe Lacob had promised a championship within five years of the team's creation. Coach Natalie Nakase led the squad to the title in its second year of existence.

Point guard Veronica Burton credited the team's early chemistry for their success. “I believed it early, and we continued to get better,” Burton said. “And I think that's when it was like, ‘OK, this is real, we’re going to do this,' and it happened.”

Fan Cynthia Cheak, who has had her left leg amputated, was invited to ride in the parade. Cheak, a former personal trainer, has distributed approximately 26,000 wristbands she purchased since July. She described the experience as humbling and powerful, noting that the simple gesture brought people together. “Knowing that a simple wristband could bring so many people together, showing kindness, support, compassion and accessibility for all!” Cheak said.

Tiffany Hayes, a 37-year-old guard who returned from retirement two years ago, held the championship trophy on a separate bus. Hayes captured her first WNBA title with the Valkyries. Later in the day, Williams and Stephen Curry participated in a fireside chat at a restaurant outside Chase Center. Williams said Curry advised her before Game 2 to treat the series like a marathon and save her best for last. “Just having fun, enjoying the moment,” Williams said. “I had that playing in my head that second half.”