Valkyries’ playoff surge turns Chase Center into Bay Area celebrity hub
George Lucas, Kehlani and Ali Wong joined a roster of local stars at the Golden State Valkyries’ home games, underscoring the franchise’s cultural footprint during its inaugural postseason run.
The Golden State Valkyries have transformed the Chase Center in San Francisco into a focal point for local celebrity support as they navigate their first postseason campaign. The team’s recent success has attracted high-profile attendance, with figures from film, music and comedy joining fans during the WNBA playoffs.
Film director George Lucas and his wife, Mellody Hobson, made a notable appearance at Game 3 of the first-round series against the Dallas Wings on 2 October. The couple, who recently opened the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles, watched the Valkyries secure a 77-73 victory to advance to the semifinals.
The momentum continued on 4 October, when the Valkyries defeated the Las Vegas Aces 71-60 in Game 1 of the semifinals. The crowd included San Francisco native and comedian Ali Wong, who sounded the ceremonial alarm drum before the game. Wong has attended several Valkyries games since the team launched last year, taking a break from her ongoing comedy tour to support the franchise.
Musician Kehlani also attended the 4 October game before her concert at Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View. The Oakland native, who was in the Bay Area to close her self-titled tour, posed for photos with the team’s mascot and players. In a video posted to the Chase Center’s Instagram account, Kehlani expressed her pride in having a local WNBA team, noting that it was her first time attending.
Other attendees at the semifinal game included Olympic swimmer Natalia Coughlin, Meena Harris, niece of former Vice President Kamala Harris, and content creator Brittany Hampton. The previous day, rapper E-40 was also spotted in the crowd, adding to the pattern of prominent Bay Area figures supporting the team.
The Valkyries face the Las Vegas Aces again for Game 2 of the semifinals on 6 October at the Chase Center. The WNBA Finals are scheduled to begin on 17 October, with the possibility of further celebrity appearances as the team continues its pursuit of the championship.
