From The San Francisco Standard · · 2m
Valkyries’ wild title parade
Champagne flutes, Jell-O shots, and an IV bag: Inside the Valkyries’ championship celebration.
In brief
Champagne flutes, Jell-O shots, and an IV bag: Inside the Valkyries’ championship celebration. The Golden State Valkyries celebrated their WNBA championship win with a parade along San Francisco’s Embarcadero, drawing 400,000 fans. Originally reported by The San Francisco Standard.
Champagne flutes and Jell-O shots
Gabby Williams, the WNBA Finals MVP, led the Golden State Valkyries’ championship parade on Wednesday, November 5, 2026.
“Champagne flutes, Jell-O shots, and an IV bag: Inside the Valkyries’ wild title parade”
Valkyries’ quick rise to title
The Golden State Valkyries, a franchise for 37 months and 103 games, won their first WNBA championship in four days.
“The Golden State Valkyries, who have existed as a franchise for all of 37 months, as a team for all of 103 games, and as titleholders for all of four days, made a cloudless Wednesday their day of celebration.”
Private celebration on the ferry
Natalie Nakase, the Valkyries’ coach, and Gabby Williams, the WNBA Finals MVP, celebrated privately on a ferry from Oakland to San Francisco.
“Natalie Nakase’s white sneakers dangled, not quite meeting the footwell inside the wheelhouse of the San Francisco Bay Ferry, as she sat, watching the city skyline draw closer.”
Champagne and Jell-O on the ferry
Players sipped Veuve Clicquot and J Vineyards’ Cuvee 20 Brut from flutes and stemmed lavender glasses during the ferry ride.
“Refills circulated all over the ferry’s upper deck, where the team let its championship trophy bask in the sun on a central table, Williams’ MVP hardware kept close by.”
Players’ playful outfits
Kiah Stokes wore an ESPN Analytics shirt listing the Valkyries’ title odds as outside the top five, while Nakase sported a cartoon portrait with a censor bar over her mouth.
“Kiah Stokes, somehow, some way, acquired a T-shirt with an ESPN Analytics graphic that listed the Valky: outside the top five in the league as of the WNBA All-Star break”
Ferry ride to celebration
The Valkyries’ players and fans navigated the Bay on boats and paddleboards, spotting Alcatraz as the team celebrated their championship.
“Several lavender-clad fans had taken to the water themselves, navigating boats and paddleboards across the Bay for a closer look at the passing team.”
Champagne-spraying parade
Players sprayed champagne over fans and greeted onlookers at barricades during the 1.3-mile Embarcadero parade route.
“Aminata Gueye, Juste Jocyte, and Miela Sowah each uncorked bubbly and let it fly over passing fans before, later in the route, running out and greeting onlookers at the barricades.”
400,000 fans celebrate
Approximately 400,000 fans lined the Embarcadero, pressing against barricades and perched on rooftops to cheer the Valkyries’ championship.
“About 400,000 fans descended on San Francisco’s waterfront, pressed against the metal barricades, perched on traffic poles, on rooftops and leaning out of windows along the route, rejoicing as if the moment were long overdue, not one way ahead of schedule.”
Champagne and Jell-O on the parade
Players tossed Michelob Ultras and hard seltzers into the crowd, receiving Jell-O shots and Fireball shooters in return.
“Chen and Veronica Burton tossed Michelob Ultras and a variety of hard seltzers into the crowd from atop their bus, and received Jell-O shots and Fireball shooters in return.”
Valkyries’ parade route
The parade route stretched 1.3 miles from the Ferry Building to Oracle Park, with players greeting fans every 50 feet.
“Burton worked the microphone, shouting out her gratitude for the Ballhalla crowd every 50 feet of the 1.3-mile stretch from the Ferry Building to Oracle Park.”
Valkyries’ celebration
The Valkyries’ players and fans celebrated with hugs, champagne, and a parade that drew 400,000 fans to San Francisco’s waterfront.
“The Valkyries took the long route to join the party. Their morning began at the Jack London Square marina in Oakland, where they held a small, invite-only ceremony with an audience made up mostly of family, friends, and season-ticket holders to honor the organization’s executive team, coaching and training staff, and of course, the players who achieved the unthinkable.”
Valkyries’ business success
The Valkyries have a $1 billion valuation from CNBC and over $100 million in revenue this year, with San Francisco named the 'global capital of women’s sports'.
“The Valkyries have made an emphatic case for the WNBA’s business potential with a $1 billion valuation from CNBC and more than $100 million in revenue this year alone.”
Valkyries’ impact on women’s sports
The Valkyries’ success has inspired unity and belief in women’s sports, with fans hugging strangers and creating a sense of community.
“Women’s sports, as seen in plenty of creative signage Wednesday, and just about every day inside Chase Center this summer, can be a statement of political, ideological, or moral alignment. They can inspire, unite, and give people something to believe in.”
The one thing
The Golden State Valkyries celebrated their WNBA championship win with a parade along San Francisco’s Embarcadero, drawing 400,000 fans.
