Golden State Valkyries hit $1 billion valuation, reshaping WNBA business model

Founded in 2025 with a $50 million expansion fee, the Golden State Valkyries have been propelled by Warriors co-owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber, who invested heavily in a Sephora-sponsored practice hub and a 18,000-seat Chase Center that has sold out every home game. The team benefitted from the April 2024 collective bargaining agreement, which raised player salaries, introduced revenue sharing and added housing and retirement benefits.

Coach Natalie Nakase, a former UCLA walk-on and WNBA Coach of the Year, guides a squad featuring top scorer Gabby Williams, who signed a $1.19 million deal and enjoys perks such as on-call cat-sitting for her rescue cat Halle Berry. Aggressive marketing—including QR-code campaigns on Bay Area transit and a growing bar network—has driven fan engagement, while corporate sponsors like Rakuten and Chase have secured player endorsement deals. Valued at $1 billion by one outlet, the Valkyries set a new financial ceiling for women’s professional sports, influencing the $250 million expansion fees for upcoming franchises in Cleveland, Detroit and Philadelphia.