In the world of the WNBA, what makes today’s headlines is not the next big star, but rather the next viral feud. Yet in the Bay Area, with the remarkable support and dedication of fans, the Golden State Valkyries have carved a path free of this toxicity. The Valks and their fanbase appreciate the plays and the players, with their genuine passion overshadowing media controversy and fan feuds. The mass support of the Valks team comes ultimately from respect — an attitude that the entire sport of basketball should prioritize over media drama.
“It’s so cool to see women like me play for the first timeso close to home,” sophomore and girls basketball player Nirupama Elanchelvan said.
In 30 years of history, the WNBA has never had an expansion team so successful and well-received in their first year. The Valks are valued at a whopping $500 million with a building cost of only $50 million, more than any women’s sports team ever. They also became the first expansion team to clinch playoffs in their first year. Because the team is so new, their success is relatively unhindered by drama, and fans buy tickets to truly enjoy basketball — even setting a record of 22 sold-out home games.
“I think this is also an area with a long tradition of supporting women’s issues,” said Bonnie Morris, professor of women’s history at the University of California, Berkeley. “We have an active and engaged community, and the timing is just right. The country is really divided, and we had a long period of COVID isolation, so people want to go out into a crowd that is happy and instills community pride.”
Comparatively, the Dallas Wings are worth only $208 million, even with their phenomenal point guard Paige Bueckers. Despite Bueckers’ obvious talent, the team made the most money during the game against the Indiana Fever, home of their superstar point guard Caitlin Clark. Even when she won an outstanding 27 points, users online still bashed Bueckers and dismissed her talent, claiming that Clark would have dominated the court if not for her injury. On the other hand, Bueckers was cheered on during her game at Chase Center against the Valks when she made a free throw. Without controversy, Valks fans show how spectators should appreciate skill and hard work.
Two other players in the spotlight are Chicago Sky power forward Angel Reese and Clark. Drawn into a competitive rivalry by the media, their May 17 matchup became ESPN’s most-watched WNBA game, showing that more of the audience tuned in when they were invested in a competitive relationship woven by fans. Although it is easy to get caught up in something so competitive, these so-called rivalries should not be dimming the attention on the games.
“It’s created this polarized atmosphere where casual observers sometimes get caught up in the drama rather than appreciating both players’ talents,” said Sean Pradhan, professor of sports analytics at Menlo College. “In terms of visibility, it certainly helps grow the game. But sometimes these ordeals can overshadow the actual basketball being played.”
Besides the fan-fueled drama, the WNBA is also home to inequality issues like scheduling, payment equality and security, with players speaking out online or in interviews. During All-Star weekend, players were spotted on the court wearing “pay us what you owe us” shirts, a protest for better pay. Though the league now maintains around 44 brand deals per team — a 52% increase since 2022 — salaries have increased by only 9%. There is no reason that players still get paid so little: unfair pay highlights how women’s basketball is not being taken seriously.
“I feel like a lot of people are confusing it with the idea that WNBA players want to be paid as much as NBA players,” senior Zenita Yang said. “That’s not the case. They just want a higher share of the league’s revenue.”
A big scandal in the WNBA this summer was the numerous bright green sex toys thrown onto courts across the U.S., including the Valkyries-Atlanta Dream game on July 29. Not only is disturbing a sport for a neon green sex toy clearly disrespectful, it also raises questions of attendees potentially sneaking in more dangerous objects. After being posted online, these clips also immediately went viral, showing the audience’s desire for drama rather than gameplay. The WNBA deserves to be seen for the game, not inconsiderate behavior.
“We break down NBA games, gameplay by gameplay,” PE teacher Joseph Luo said. “We talk about strategy, we talk about coaching decisions. I want to see us do that with the WNBA as well, because it’s just as important as the NBA.”
The Valkyries have faced their fair share of inequality and harassment, yet their fanbase’s focus on basketball instead of petty drama stands out refreshingly. Proving that success without media controversy is possible and welcoming, this sportsmanly approach is what more fans need to adopt as the WNBA grows. Players and their teams deserve tickets that are sold and games that are played because of genuine passion — that is what needs to make headlines.
