WNBA Sensation: The Valkyries' Unprecedented Ascent from Expansion to 2026 Finals Contenders!

The Golden State Valkyries have defied conventional expectations for expansion teams, reaching the WNBA Finals against the Atlanta Dream in only their second season. Historically, expansion teams struggle, often enduring multiple losing seasons to accumulate talent through high draft picks. However, the Valkyries, who did not exist two years prior, have swept aside the three-time champion Las Vegas Aces in a significant changing of the guard, showcasing an unprecedented rise to contention.

Going into their inaugural WNBA season in 2025, the Valkyries' performance was a mystery. Previous expansion teams averaged a .306 winning percentage and a minus-8.4 net rating. Yet, a crucial difference existed: the WNBA had not added a new team since 2008, leading to a backlog of talented players vying for limited roster spots. This allowed the Valkyries to tap into a vast reservoir of available talent during the first expansion draft in nearly two decades.

Their first year was remarkable. The Valkyries achieved the second-best first-year winning percentage in WNBA history (.523), trailing only the 1998 Detroit Shock, and secured the best expansion year by both net rating (plus-1.8) and Elo rating (1494). This meteoric rise continued into 2026, where they posted the best regular season for a second-year team by all measures of quality, finishing with the league's second-best record and the top net rating overall.

This dramatic ascent significantly boosted the Valkyries' championship odds. Initially seen as a solid playoff contender, their chances for a championship seemed a taller order in a crowded field including former champions like the Aces and Liberty. For the first few months of 2026, they hovered as one of the league's better teams with a 13-7 record through June. However, a dominant 19-5 run since July 1 propelled them past presumed favorites like the Minnesota Lynx in statistical systems like Elo. Their 5-1 playoff start further solidified their status as statistical favorites to win the championship.

The cornerstone of the Valkyries' impressive championship bid is their defense. With a defensive rating of 100.6, they led all teams in suppressing opponents' scoring per possession. The gap between Golden State and the second-ranked Atlanta Dream (104.5) was nearly as large as the gap between Atlanta and the seventh-ranked New York Liberty, or even the league average of 109.1. Their difference relative to the league average (minus-8.5 points per 100 possessions) ranks as the sixth-best single-season WNBA defense ever. In 2025, they acquired top-tier defenders like Veronica Burton and Temi Fagbenle, ranking fourth in defense. The 2026 team further refined its defense with additions like Kiah Stokes and Gabby Williams. Their defensive strategy combines elite rim protection from Stokes, contributing to a league-low 47.8 effective field goal percentage allowed, with premier ball-hawking from Burton and Williams, forcing a high turnover rate. They also play at the league's slowest pace and minimize turnovers, denying opponents easy transition opportunities. Head coach Natalie Nakase, who was a lead assistant for the 2023 Aces' historically great defense, is now utilizing those lessons against her former team.

While defensive prowess is key, star performances have been crucial. Veronica Burton, originally drafted by Dallas in 2022 but given limited opportunity, thrived after joining Golden State via the expansion draft. Averaging 29.0 minutes per game, Burton became a top defensive guard and significantly improved her offensive game, earning Most Improved Player honors in 2025. Her two-way play, ability to draw fouls, efficient three-point shooting, playmaking (34.5% assist rate with 11.9% turnover rate), and immense on-court impact placed her second only to MVP A'ja Wilson in LAKER wins added and win shares for the season. Beyond Burton, six other Valkyries, led by Gabby Williams, recorded at least 2.5 LAKER wins added, a depth unmatched by other teams. Coach Natalie Nakase was also recognized as the 2025 WNBA Coach of the Year.

Despite Burton's regular-season brilliance, her playoff performance has seen a dip, averaging 9.5 points per game on 35.3% shooting. However, her on-court impact remains strong, with Golden State boasting a plus-12.4 net rating when she plays. In clutch moments, she has delivered crucial shots. Fortunately, other Valkyries have stepped up significantly in the playoffs, most notably Gabby Williams, who is averaging 22.7 points per game. Williams, known more as a defensive player, has seen her usage rate dramatically increase this season (29.0%) and even higher in the playoffs (32.1%), showcasing a new level of scoring. Bench players Tiffany Hayes and Cecilia Zandalasini have also produced massive LAKER ratings (Hayes at plus-10.7!) in limited minutes off the bench.

The Valkyries' playoff run has been characterized by gritty victories, including surviving a win-or-go-home Game 3 against Dallas in the first round, relying on late free throws and a last-second block to take a 2-0 lead over Las Vegas, and outlasting the Aces in overtime to clinch the semifinals. They now face another formidable challenge against Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream, who boast the league's second-best defense. However, having consistently defied expectations throughout their brief existence, the Golden State Valkyries are poised to make their most significant step yet in their improbable journey towards a championship.