The Golden State Valkyries will be moving to San Jose come playoff time, and head coach Natalie Nakase believes the team is “still at home.” No one expected an expansion team to make the playoffs in its inaugural season, but with such a loyal fan base, how could it not? The Bay set the all-time WNBA attendance record this year with 397,408 fans during their inaugural season, so the odds were stacked against their opponents.

What does that really mean? Well, more than eighteen thousand people showed up to every GSV home game to witness Ballhalla, and the stats reflect just how important fan support has been for the expansion team. At home, the Valks are averaging 80.9 points per game, nearly 4ppg more than when they’re playing elsewhere, and are only allowing their opponents to score 74. Not to mention, they have a marginally higher offensive and defensive rating at the Chase Arena, demonstrating elite efficiency.

The thing about the Golden State Valkyries is that they lack experience. Nakase’s team struggled to convert early leads into wins, and their fourth-quarter performance is a testament to the fact. In away games, the Valks only average 14.89 points in the 4th quarter while allowing a whopping 20.22! But that’s also where the fan support comes into play. When they have the advantage of familiarity on their side, the Valkyries manage to outplay their opponents by a whisker. They jump up to 19.7 points per game at home, and limit the opposing side to 19.3.

One factor that gives the Golden State a significant advantage is the spread of good performances from its players. Or, in other words, they aren’t dependent on star power. Veronica Burton (12ppg), Tiffany Hayes (11.7ppg), Cecilla Zandalasini (11.2ppg), and Janelle Salaun (11.2ppg) have all been contributing evenly to the team’s success.

But the question at hand for the Valkyries is whether their home-game dominance will continue in San Jose. According to head coach Nakase, it will be! “Even if we’re in San Jose, that’s still considered the Bay. We know that they’re going to travel, our fans are going to come,” she said, after the organization announced the venue change. If the fans travel, and if the Valks maintain their fanbase, they will be a formidable threat to just about any team at home! Stay tuned to see if the Ballhalla can take over the league in their debut season.