Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

Golden State Valkyries: The Complete History of the WNBA’s Newest Franchise. The Golden State Valkyries are one of the newest WNBA franchise, basketball, but their arrival represents something much bigger than simply adding another WNBA team. The Valkyries brought WNBA basketball back to the Bay Area in 2025, becoming the league’s 13th franchise and the first WNBA expansion team since 2008. The franchise is owned and operated by the Golden State Warriors organization and plays its home games at Chase Center in San Francisco. Unlike most franchises that have decades of history behind them, the Valkyries are writing their history almost in real time. Their first two seasons have already produced a Coach of the Year, a Most Improved Player, multiple All-Stars, a playoff appearance, expansion records and one of the strongest fan responses in WNBA history. The Birth of the Golden State Valkyries On October 5, 2023, the WNBA announced that the Golden State Warriors had been awarded an expansion franchise. The team would begin play in 2025, making it the first new WNBA franchise since 2008. The franchise was designed to represent the entire Bay Area while maintaining strong ties to Oakland and San Francisco. The team’s headquarters were established at the Warriors’ former Oakland facility, while home games would be played at Chase Center in San Francisco. The team name Valkyries was inspired by Norse mythology. The organization described the name as representing warrior women who are fearless and unwavering. The result was a new identity built around strength, competition and the Bay Area’s long tradition of women’s basketball. Valkyries Ownership History Because the Valkyries are an expansion franchise, their ownership history is very short. Golden State Warriors Ownership — 2023-Present The WNBA franchise was awarded to the Golden State Warriors organization in 2023. The team is backed by Warriors Co-Executive Chairman and CEO Joe Lacob and Co-Executive Chairman Peter Guber. Lacob and Guber purchased the Warriors in 2010 and subsequently developed the organization that eventually launched the Valkyries. Joe Lacob has been particularly visible in the Valkyries organization. The WNBA’s team information lists Lacob as the owner, while the franchise has described Lacob and Guber as the ownership leadership behind the organization. Ownership timeline 2023-present: Golden State Warriors ownership group Key ownership leaders: Joe Lacob and Peter Guber There has been no previous Valkyries owner, because the franchise did not begin WNBA play until 2025. Every Arena the Valkyries Have Called Home The Valkyries have played their regular-season home games at one primary arena, but another arena has officially hosted a Valkyries home playoff game. Chase Center — San Francisco Chase Center is the Valkyries’ permanent home arena. The 18,064-seat facility opened in 2019 in San Francisco’s Mission Bay neighborhood and is also the home of the Golden State Warriors. The Valkyries played their first-ever regular-season home game at Chase Center on May 16, 2025, against the Los Angeles Sparks. Their 2025 schedule contained 22 regular-season home games at the arena. Chase Center quickly became known to Valkyries supporters as “Ballhalla.” The building has been central to the team’s remarkable attendance story. The Valkyries sold out every regular-season home game in both 2025 and 2026. The franchise announced in September 2026 that it had become the first WNBA team to sell out every regular-season home game in each of its first two seasons. SAP Center — San Jose The SAP Center became a temporary Valkyries home for the franchise’s first playoff home game. During the 2025 postseason, Chase Center was unavailable because of a previously scheduled event. The Valkyries therefore moved their first-round Game 2 against the Minnesota Lynx to SAP Center in San Jose. The game was played September 17, 2025. Thus, the complete list of arenas in which the Valkyries have played a designated home game is: Chase Center — San Francisco SAP Center — San Jose Chase Center remains the franchise’s permanent home. The 2025 Inaugural Season The Valkyries’ first season immediately became historic. Rather than struggling through a typical expansion season, Golden State won 23 regular-season games, setting a WNBA record for victories by an expansion team. Even more significantly, the Valkyries became the first expansion team in WNBA history to reach the playoffs in its inaugural season. The team finished the regular season with a 23-21 record and entered the playoffs as the No. 8 seed. Golden State faced the No. 1-seeded Minnesota Lynx in the first round. The Valkyries lost the series, but their postseason appearance established a foundation that few expansion teams had ever matched. 2026: The Valkyries Take Another Step The Valkyries entered their second season with substantially higher expectations. By September 2026, Golden State had already established another remarkable mark: the franchise announced that it had sold out all 22 regular-season home games for the second consecutive season. The team was also leading the WNBA in average attendance, with 18,064 fans per game. The 2026 team also developed into one of the league’s strongest defensive clubs. As of late September, Golden State had a 31-12 record and had already secured a playoff berth. The organization entered the 2026 postseason having established itself as more than a typical expansion franchise. WNBA Hall of Famers Who Earned Their Hall of Fame Credentials as Valkyries This is an important distinction. The Valkyries have several experienced WNBA players, including players who have won championships or earned major league honors elsewhere. However, under the specific standard of this article—players or coaches whose Hall of Fame credentials were earned as members of the Valkyries—the answer is currently: None. The Valkyries have not yet had a player or coach inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame or Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame specifically on the strength of a Valkyries career. That is not surprising. The franchise… Continue reading Golden State Valkyries: The Complete History

Los Angeles Sparks: History, Owners, Arenas, Hall of Famers and the Legacy of a WNBA Powerhouse The Los Angeles Sparks are one of the original franchises of the Women’s National Basketball Association and one of the most important teams in the history of women’s professional basketball. From the league’s first game in 1997 to three WNBA championships, multiple league MVPs, Hall of Fame players, Olympic champions and generations of outstanding talent, the Sparks have built a legacy that stretches well beyond their championship banners. The franchise has remained in Los Angeles since the WNBA’s inaugural season and has been home to some of the greatest players in women’s basketball history, most notably Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker. The Beginning of the Los Angeles Sparks The Sparks were established for the WNBA’s inaugural 1997 season as one of the league’s original eight franchises. Their first game was particularly historic. On June 21, 1997, the Sparks hosted the New York Liberty at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood. Penny Toler scored the first basket in WNBA history, giving the Sparks a permanent place in the league’s history from the opening minute of the first game. Los Angeles finished its first season 14–14. The early years were a period of development, but the arrival and development of Lisa Leslie helped transform the franchise. By 1999, the Sparks had their first winning season, finishing 20–12 and making their first playoff appearance. The team defeated the Sacramento Monarchs in the opening round before losing to the eventual champion Houston Comets in the Western Conference Finals. The Sparks were no longer simply an expansion team. They were becoming a contender. The Owners of the Los Angeles Sparks The Sparks have had several ownership groups during their history. Jerry Buss — 1997–2006 The franchise originally belonged to Dr. Jerry Buss, the longtime owner of the Los Angeles Lakers. The Sparks operated as the Lakers’ sister WNBA franchise during their first decade. Buss’s ownership connected the new women’s league with one of the most recognizable basketball organizations in the world. Buss owned the Sparks from the franchise’s beginning in 1997 until 2006. Gemini Basketball LLC — 2006–2011 In 2006, Buss sold the Sparks to Gemini Basketball LLC. The ownership group included: Carla Christofferson, Kathy Goodman, and Lynai Jones. The new ownership represented a transition from NBA ownership to independent ownership of the WNBA franchise. Williams Group Holdings — 2011–2014 Williams Group Holdings, headed by Paula Madison, became the team’s controlling ownership group during the next period. Carla Christofferson and Kathy Goodman remained involved, while Sparks legend Lisa Leslie was also part of the ownership group for a period. The ownership era became increasingly difficult financially, and by the end of 2013 Williams Group Holdings announced that it could no longer continue operating the franchise. The WNBA became involved in the transition while a new ownership group was sought. Sparks LA Sports — 2014–present In February 2014, a group led by Mark Walter and Earvin “Magic” Johnson purchased the Sparks. The ownership group included: Mark Walter, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Stan Kasten, Todd Boehly, Bobby Patton, and Eric Holoman. The purchase was especially important because it kept the Sparks in Los Angeles at a time when the franchise’s future had been uncertain. The current ownership group is known as Sparks LA Sports. Every Arena the Sparks Have Called Home The Sparks’ primary home has been downtown Los Angeles for most of their history, but scheduling and arena construction have occasionally required the team to move games to other venues. Great Western Forum — 1997–2000 The Great Western Forum in Inglewood was the original home of the Los Angeles Sparks. It was the site of the first game in WNBA history involving the Sparks and New York Liberty. The Forum was the Sparks’ home during their first four seasons. Staples Center — 2001–2021 The Sparks moved downtown to Staples Center in 2001. The move immediately became part of the franchise’s greatest era. The Sparks won WNBA championships in 2001 and 2002 during their early years at the arena. Staples Center was renamed Crypto.com Arena in 2021. Los Angeles Convention Center — 2021 Because of scheduling conflicts involving the Lakers and Clippers during the pandemic-delayed sports calendar, the Sparks played the first 11 of their 16 regular-season home games in 2021 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The Sparks returned to Staples Center for their final five home games and playoffs. Galen Center — 2023 The Sparks used USC’s Galen Center for two home games during the 2023 season. One example was the August 23, 2023 home game against the Phoenix Mercury. Walter Pyramid — 2024 Construction at Crypto.com Arena forced the Sparks to schedule early-season games at the Walter Pyramid at Long Beach State. The Sparks ultimately played two home games there, against Atlanta and Washington, before other scheduled games were moved back to Crypto.com Arena. Crypto.com Arena — 2001–present Crypto.com Arena, originally known as Staples Center, remains the Sparks’ primary home. The arena has witnessed all three Sparks championships associated with their downtown era: 2001, 2002 and 2016. The Sparks have continued their relationship with the arena, with a lease extension keeping them there through 2029. The Sparks’ WNBA Hall of Fame Players The WNBA does not operate a separate Hall of Fame comparable to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. For this article, the Hall of Fame category refers to players who have been inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and whose major professional legacy includes their time with Los Angeles. Under that standard, the two defining Sparks players are Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker. Lisa Leslie Lisa Leslie is the foundational superstar of the Los Angeles Sparks. Drafted by Los Angeles in 1997, Leslie spent her entire WNBA career with the Sparks from 1997 through 2009. Her Sparks accomplishments include: Three WNBA MVP awards Two WNBA championships Two WNBA Finals MVP awards Eight All-Star selections Eight All-WNBA First Team selections Two Defensive Player of… Continue reading Los Angeles Sparks: History and Legacy