Valkyries celebrate WNBA championship with San Francisco and Oakland fans
Dancing in the streets, popping champagne and high-fiving fans was all part of the celebration on Wednesday as the Golden State Valkyries parade made its way through Oakland and then across the bay in San Francisco.
The team honoured fans on both sides of the bay as they celebrated their victory Wednesday
CBC News
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The newest WNBA champs encouraged their California fans to call in sick, skip out on work or ditch school Wednesday — and elated basketball fans appeared thrilled to take their advice.
Tens of thousands of people lined the streets for a Golden State Valkyries victory parade after the team sealed the championship on Saturday in a 68-63 Game 7 win over the Atlanta Dream.
There was dancing, champagne, team colours and plenty of high-fives. And of course, team mascot Vi. She's a raven, commonly seen as a sidekick to Valkyries in Norse mythology, according to the team website.
Golden State Valkyries mascot Violet, also known as Vi, rides on a float during the team's WNBA championship parade. (Darren Yamashita/Imagn Images/Reuters)
Oakland to San Francisco
The Valkyries began their day of celebration at Oakland's Jack London Square, not far from the team's downtown practice facility, then took a ferry across the bay to begin the parade from San Francisco's Ferry Building.
It concluded near the San Francisco Giants' Oracle Park.
Golden State Valkyries centre Kiah Stokes at the parade kickoff rally at Jack London Square in Oakland, Calif. (Yalonda M. James/San Francisco Chronicle/The Asscociated Press)
The players posed for photos onstage with the WNBA championship trophy at Jack London Square in Oakland before hopping on a ferry across San Francisco Bay. (Darren Yamashita/Imagn Images/Reuters)
Valkyries forward Kayla Thornton. (Darren Yamashita/Imagn Images/Reuters)
Year 2 championship
Golden State was granted an expansion franchise three years ago. At the time, team owner Joe Lacob guaranteed a championship within five years.
His promise was honoured as the team led by coach Natalie Nakase delivered an improbable title in Year 2 after becoming the first expansion franchise to reach the playoffs in its inaugural year in 2025.
Fans turned out for the parade in the team's colours from head to toe. (Darren Yamashita/Imagn Images/Reuters)
Valkyries fans cheered from a rooftop as the parade rolled past. (Darren Yamashita/Imagn Images/Reuters)
'Too small' goes big
After the Dream beat the Valkyries in Game 3, Atlanta player Angel Reese taunted the Valkyries' bench with a hand gesture for "too small."
But some Valkyries turned the taunt into a power move after their victory, and brought it out for the parade.
Valkyries guard Juste Jocyte gives the 'too small' gesture, started by Angel Reese in Game 3, to the fans during the Valkyries parade. (David Gonzales/Imagn Images/Reuters)
Valkyries guard Tiffany Hayes celebrated from the double decker bus as it made its way through San Francisco. (Darren Yamashita/Imagn Images/Reuters)
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