The skeptics had their spreadsheets ready, but the Valkyries had WNBA history on their minds. The doubters circled their calendars for another rebuilding year. But someone forgot to tell the Golden State Valkyries that expansion teams are supposed to struggle.

Thursday night’s 84-80 victory over the Dallas Wings wasn’t just another win—it was a thunderclap that echoed through Chase Center and reverberated across WNBA history. The Valkyries became the first expansion franchise in league history to punch their ticket to the playoffs during their inaugural season, a feat that has basketball purists scrambling to rewrite their preconceptions about what’s possible in professional women’s basketball.

How the Valkyries Rewrote WNBA History Books

When the final buzzer sounded, the emotions were raw and unfiltered. Players embraced teammates with tears streaming down their faces. Coach Natalie Nakase, who had preached patience and process all season long, allowed herself a brief moment to absorb the magnitude of what her team had accomplished.

The numbers tell only part of this remarkable story. At 23-18 overall and an impressive 14-7 at home, the Valkyries didn’t just make the playoffs—they obliterated every statistical precedent for expansion teams in WNBA history. Consider this: the previous 10 expansion franchises since 1998 managed to win just over 30% of their games collectively during their debut seasons. Most were afterthoughts by March, their young rosters learning harsh lessons about professional basketball’s unforgiving nature.

The closest any expansion team had come to playoff contention was the 1998 Detroit Shock, who posted a respectable 17-13 record but still fell short of postseason play. That made Thursday’s achievement feel almost mythical—like watching someone clear a high jump bar that had stood untouched for over two decades.

The Heart Behind the Historic Achievement

Janelle Salaun’s 19-point performance against Dallas embodied everything this Valkyries roster represents. She wasn’t a household name when the season started. Neither were most of her teammates. This group was assembled from former role players, overlooked prospects, and women who had been waiting for their moment to prove they belonged on basketball’s biggest stage.

The balanced scoring attack that pushed Golden State over the finish line—five players in double figures—reflected the team’s fundamental identity. No superstars, no manufactured storylines, just basketball played the right way by women who refused to accept limitations placed on them by others.

Paige Bueckers’ 27-point effort for Dallas made the victory even sweeter. Here was a legitimate star performer giving everything she had, and the Valkyries still found a way to answer every challenge. That’s championship DNA, even if this team is just getting started.

What This Means for Women’s Professional Sports

Beyond the wins and losses, the Valkyries’ success represents something profound for women’s professional athletics. Before the season began, they had already made waves by becoming the first franchise in women’s sports history to surpass 15,000 season ticket deposits. Bay Area fans didn’t just want a team—they demanded excellence from day one.

Coach Nakase understands the weight of this moment while refusing to let her players get swept away by it. Her post-game comments revealed the mindset that drove this historic season: “We’re not done yet. Maybe after the season, after this is all done, I’ll reflect… I’ve got to stay present. I’ve got to stay where my feet are.”

That grounded approach has been the Valkyries’ secret weapon all season. While other teams got caught up in individual accolades or external pressures, Golden State stayed focused on the fundamentals that win basketball games.

The Road Ahead for Golden State After Making WNBA History

Making WNBA history by reaching the playoffs is just the beginning for this franchise. The Valkyries aren’t content to be a feel-good story that flames out in the first round. Their 14-7 home record suggests they’ve built something sustainable, a culture that can compete with anyone when the lights are brightest.

Nakase’s refusal to let her team celebrate prematurely speaks to championship ambitions that extend far beyond this breakthrough season. The playoffs await, and with them, an opportunity to prove that this wasn’t just a magical run but the foundation for sustained excellence.

The WNBA history books will forever show that the Golden State Valkyries achieved something no expansion team had done before. But the real story is just beginning.