The Golden State Valkyries recently surpassed the 10,000 season ticket sales mark, becoming the first Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) team to do so.
The expansion side is yet to play its first game in the league but is already a hit with fans, which was also seen last year when 22,000 season ticket deposits were made for the inaugural campaign.
“This community has shown up, and then some to create this milestone,” said Valkyries president Jess Smith, as reported by _Sportico._
“This is something that we knew was possible and really just signifies the beginning of our journey in a way that will set a trajectory for the WNBA moving forward.”
The Valkyries begin their first WNBA season on May 16 at the 18,064-capacity Chase Center, which is also home to the NBA’s Golden State Warriors.
In October 2023, the Warriors agreed to pay a then-record $50m (£38.5m/€46.3m) to bring a WNBA team to the Bay Area.
Despite the venue and ownership overlap, Smith insists the Valkyries will be able to operate independently.
“We are building a standalone business, and our ticketing team is dedicated to these unique fans,” Smith said.
This independence is shown by the fact that fewer than 5% of Valkyries season ticket holders also have Warriors season tickets.
Last season saw the WNBA record its highest attendance in 22 years with 2.35 million fans, marking an increase of 48% from 2023.