The Golden State Valkyries' story is crazy.
In 2023, the Warriors ownership group (Joe Lacob, Peter Guber) paid $50 million for a WNBA expansion team.
Lacob promised that they would win a championship within five years and also lead the league in revenue.
Now, in just their second season, the Valkyries have accomplished both.
• 12,000+ season ticket holders (90% renewal rate)
• 40+ sponsorship partners (JPMorgan Chase, etc.)
• $100 million in annual revenue (WNBA record)
• 44 straight sellouts (league-leading attendance)
• 2026 WNBA Champions (beat the Atlanta Dream)
And here's the craziest part...
Not only did Lacob and Guber negotiate a clause that let them pay the $50 million expansion fee over 10 years, but the last three expansion teams sold for $250 million each, and the Valkyries are now valued at $1 billion.
That is 20x more than the $50 million expansion fee, and it makes the Valkyries the most valuable franchise in women's sports history.

After calling time on his 21-season NBA career in February 2026, Chris Paul found a new way to leave his mark on basketball 👀
This time, he helped the Golden State Valkyries chase a championship.
CP3 was heavily involved behind the scenes, attending practices, film sessions, and individual workouts while sharing his knowledge with the team.
His impact didn't go unnoticed.
WNBA Finals MVP Gabby Williams credited Paul with helping the Valkyries improve defensively and break down film, giving players another valuable perspective throughout their championship run 🙌
Chris B. Haynes even described Paul as a “de facto” assistant coach for Golden State.
He was also there to witness the payoff, watching from the sidelines as the Valkyries won the 2026 WNBA championship in Game 7.
And perhaps the best moment came during the celebration, when head coach Natalie Nakase made sure to thank him on the court.
There's a full-circle story behind that moment.
Nakase previously coached Paul during his time with the Clippers.
Now, years later, they were celebrating a championship together in a completely different league.
Chris Paul may have retired as a player, but his impact on the game clearly isn't over. 💜🏆