Michelle Pokarski kept her promise. Before tipoff Sunday at the Chase Center, the Golden State Valkyries’ first WNBA semifinal game, she stood outside the arena with her face painted entirely gold, lips included, and wearing a homemade Valkyrie helmet. Pokarski had vowed this after a tense win-or-go-home game against the Dallas Wings on Friday, and with the Valkyries’ 71-60 victory over the defending champion Las Vegas Aces, her golden visage was a symbol of the team’s newfound momentum.
The Valkyries took a 1-0 lead in their best-of-five semifinal series, despite going 0-3 against the Aces during the regular season. Fans in the Chase Center, known collectively as Ballhalla, were electric. Violet "WE ARE BALLHALLA" T-shirts were draped over seats, the crowd fell silent during Valkyries free throws, and erupted when the Aces stood at the line. The atmosphere seemed to feed the team’s energy.
Gabby Williams led the way with 25 points and 11 rebounds, attributing her performance to the crowd’s support. "I'm taking advantage of this energy and the magic that we have in this arena," she said after the game. "We're gonna need it to beat the Aces."
The fans’ passion was on full display throughout the afternoon. Cynthia Cheak, a season-ticket holder since the team’s inaugural season, handed out violet "Playoffs 2026" wristbands during halftime. Cheak has a custom prosthetic left leg emblazoned with a Valkyries logo, signed by guard Kaitlyn Chen. "Dear God, it’s awesome!" Cheak said about the playoff run. She was embraced warmly by fellow fans, one of whom told her she "should be the face of the Valkyries."
Cheak’s arena companion Jonah Lu-Chang, who she met as fellow season-ticket holders, spoke about the impact of having a local team to rally behind. "I’ve played basketball in the Bay Area all my life, and so I never had a basketball team to look up to," she said. "And so now, as an adult, that we have the Valkyries here, they make literally every day."
Head coach Natalie Nakase described playing in front of 18,000 screaming fans as a "privilege." She said, "Ballhalla is part of us," acknowledging the tight bond between team and supporters.
Not all fans were in costume, but the dedication was clear. Alfred Freeberg arrived sporting a baseball cap with a stuffed version of Violet, the Valkyries’ mascot, perched on the brim. He recalled that last time he wore the cap, fans behind him complained it blocked their view. This time, he planned to move the mascot to his shoulder once the game started. "It’s just the perfect little perch for her to sit on," he said.
Freeberg was joined by friends Jenna Sparks and Sito Prado. Sparks, who played basketball growing up and used to watch the Sacramento Monarchs, was moved by the atmosphere when Freeberg surprised her with tickets last season. "We’re too stoked about it to miss out," she said, visibly emotional.
The victory over the Aces puts the Valkyries two wins away from the WNBA Finals in only their second season. The team’s fans, from the gold-painted Pokarski to Cheak with her signed prosthetic, are embracing the moment. Pokarski said she would keep her face painted gold until the Valkyries lose a game she attends. "Next game, I’ll be here, and I’ll be gold," she said confidently, "and it will carry on to the Finals when we win."
According to Yahoo Sports.