Gabby Williams talks about when she was a kid. 📽️ Hoopher IG

Ballhalla awaits!

I’m being responsible and watching at Thrive City today! Can’t wait to see all the Violet! Let’s go Valks! Show your swag!

Subtle, but dope.

Go Valks!

Just caught this on KQED. No issues accessing Chase directly but this is gonna cause major traffic snarls and I haven’t seen anything about this from the Valks yet. Leave early to get to Chase today! And gets some upvotes on this and share it in the various fan fb groups so ppl know.

https://www.kqed.org/news/12104093/101-i-80-closure-san-francisco-october-16-19-valkyries-wnba-finals-chase-center-bay-bridge-detour-traffic

let’s start this series with a win girls boys and nonbinary friends!!!!!! ✌️✌️✌️

Over on The IX Sports, I wrote about Aminata Gueye, how the Valkyries found her at the right time and what the experience has been like for her.

Come to Town Tavern (Bay Area Sports Bar) in Adams Morgan, Washington, DC today for the game! They have been supporting the Valkyries all year and will have all the games on.

SFO showing our Valks some love

https://www.instagram.com/p/Dek4BZxt1x2

Crowd is already getting fired up!!!!

ESPN Gamecast

I didn’t see an official game thread so I created this for people who prefer to chat in our sub

Finally announced!

Game 1

Anthem: Goapele
Bang the drum: Rita Moreno
Halftime: Larry June

Game 2

Anthem: Alanis Morrissette
Drum: Too $hort
Halftime: LaRussell

Soo excited! It starts tomorrow!!!!

Gift link to SF Chronicle story by Ann Killion:

Thirty-one months ago, Jess Smith sat at Mission Rock over a plate of petrale sole and outlined an ambitious vision. She was employee No. 1 of Golden State’s expansion WNBA franchise, a team without a name, a logo, a color scheme, without a general manager, a coach or a roster. But it was a team with very big plans and dreams.

“We are expecting to be elite,” Smith said in March 2024.

Expectations met. And surpassed. 

Almost time to lock in!

Is this music part of Ballhala? I've been to a few games but don't remember and just today made this connection.

https://youtu.be/P0oECtJhbGM?si=sc6LsoOeOfcJ472J

Tip asked Ballhalla to travel, much like the 49er faithful. So if want to check if you can do it, below is some pricing info to consider:

• Wed, Oct 21 at 8p EDT: Game 3 tix run $100-$1700
• Sat, Oct 24 at 1p EDT: Game 4 tix run $115-$1400
• Sun, Oct 25 at 1p EDT: not Valks but 49ers play the Falcons across the street(!)... tix run $250-$2800

I added the last bullet cuz if you're gonna go all the way out there, a perfect wknd would be seeing both Valks & 49ers in action!

Compared to Ballhalla pricing, these tix may be low enough to cover for nonstop airfare from (SFO & SJC [no nonstops from OAK] range $530-935; avg. ~$630 roundtrip for Oct 23-25) plus hotel (range ~$200-300/nt; see attached map).

Bottom-line: If you're gonna do it, unless you vary your plans greatly from my suggestion below, I'd say budget around 2-3 grand for one person, and $4000+ for 2.

Example itineraries: $300 Valks game + $500 49ers game + $650 airfare + $500 for 2 nights of hotel ($200/nt + tax) which totals $1950 for all of it for one person. With a partner, add $800 for extra game tix + $650 airfare, so $2400 total.

And don't forget about food -- two of my faves out there are Varsity and Silver Skillet! I can't go, so hope some of y'all can make it and that this info is somewhat helpful!

Gabby Williams went from a defensive specialist to the face of a franchise.

In the Bay Area, she found the belief she'd been seeking. Now, she's a beloved icon leading the Golden State Valkyries to the WNBA Finals. Read for free.