Column: Hey free agents, consider the Valkyries

Yes, they are an expansion team. And, barring something unprecedented, they won’t be competing for a title next season. And, sure, it is a little pricey to live here. But, there are some pretty compelling reasons to be a part of what is going to happen in the Bay Area this season.

For starters, consider entrepreneurship. Valkyries general manager Ohemaa Nyanin said to The Next last week, “if you would like to be an entrepreneur, build with us.” It both an entirely appropriate term and a real opportunity, considering the location being the backdrop of the world’s tech center. The start-up stories in Silicon Valley are legendary — Apple and Hewlett-Packard starting in a garage, the Bay Area birthing Google, Instacart, AirBnB, DoorDash, Dropbox, OpenAI, Cisco, and more. Getting in on the ground floor of a new venture has worked out pretty well for a lot of people here. The Valkyries look like a pretty sure bet, and both the literal and metaphorical proximity to some of the most creative minds in tech and business will come with undeniable possibilities.

There’s also a vibrant fan base out here. With more than 20,000 season ticket deposits already committed, Chase Center is bound to be rocking. This is a market that has been waiting with varying degrees of patience for this opportunity for decades. A gift for a basketball-loving community, the team will earn an instant home court advantage, as their future fans have been loving on the Golden State Warriors long before they became a a Steph Curry-led dynasty.

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Golden State also has resources. The Valkyries are positioned well financially, with a reported $1.2 million dollars to sign players. They have more money to spend this year than any team in the league. They have a world-class arena for games and a dedicated space for the team in Oakland. They have an opportunity to make more than one big splash in this free agency market. For an elite player looking to be at the top of the marquee, Golden State is your place. For an elite player looking to have a high-level partner or two on the floor with you this summer, Golden State is also your place.

Also worth considering is the sheer proximity to greatness. Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Steve Kerr — multiple champions all — share your home arena. Build relationships. Tap their brains. Seek out their advice. Take note that Draymond was wearing a JuJu Watkins shirt Saturday night on a nationally televised game against the Lakers.

It can be a short-term commitment. If you are a let’s-see-how-it-goes type of player, Golden State is a pretty good landing spot. The Valkyries have a year to sell you on their vision while the entire league essentially plays on one-year contracts. The following year, under a new CBA, you can assess and potentially find a new home. But for one season, the newness, the excitement and the possibility should be an enticement, not an impediment.

Lastly, why not make a little history? The Valkyries are the first expansion team in the league since 2008 and the first expansion team to launch in this area. Every game day during the 2025 season is going to have some history attached to it. It will be a unique career experience for every player on the roster. Those kinds of experiences are few and far between — this may be your opportunity.

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