Three years ago, on October 5, 2023, the Golden State Valkyries’ owner Joe Lacob sat in front of the reporters and made the same bold promise he did in 2010 for the Warriors: “We will win a championship in the first five years.” The NBA team went on to win their first title in 40 years in his fifth year there, then added three more. Fast forward to today, and one of the WNBA’s youngest expansion teams is already set to achieve the feat in their second season. But it wasn’t just luck. Lacob had a complete strategy in mind, with his biggest ammo being the fans in Valhalla.

In hopes to bring the myth of the Valkyries to life, he brought in Jess Smith as team President. While it may not have been her biggest goal at the time, including the fans to become the literal example of the sixth man on the floor eventually became one of her biggest wins. On October 17, as the Atlanta Dream will land in Chase Center to fight the first battle of the WNBA Finals, the Valkyries will already know their home advantage. Yet, head coach Natalie Nakase wants Ballhalla to break any records they had previously set this year so far.

“Since we’re prepping for a great game plan, Ballhalla better be prepping for a game plan. So, as soon as they’re announced, I need some hostility,” Nakase told the reporters on October 13 during practice. “If they do a challenge, I need hostility. If they’re shooting free throws, I need that thing to be rocking.

“So, game plan, Ballhalla. Get ready. Get prepped because we definitely got to use Ballhalla as our sixth man.”

Chase Center, with a capacity of more than 18,000 for Valkyries games, has regularly filled with fans dressed in the team’s signature violet, creating a loud atmosphere for visiting teams to deal with. Golden State’s home record backs up that advantage, too.

According to StatMuse, the Valkyries won 17 of their 22 regular-season games at Chase Center. And the opponents have certainly felt that difference even in their first season.

When the Minnesota Lynx took on the expansion team for the first time in June 2025, their veteran player Courtney Williams couldn’t believe how Ballahalla almost helped the Valkyries win the matchup against the seasoned team.

“Man, they crowd was crazy,” Williams said during All-Star Weekend later that year. “I ain’t gonna lie, like I think we was up on them like 10-15 at one point and they prolly went on like a little three-, five-point run and it felt like they tied the game up.

“Hell yeah, 18,000? Damn right it’s different.”

The Lynx did come out with an 86-75 win. But for a veteran player who has spent a decade in the league get intimidated by a fanbase, that’s a move only Golden State gets to flex. The Valkyries also have one encouraging piece of history on their side.

They went 3-0 against Atlanta during the regular season, and two of those three wins came at home, giving them enough confidence. But their star player Gabby Williams isn’t putting much stock in those results with a championship now at stake.

The Ballhalla could try, but Gabby Williams isn’t taking anything easy

Here’s the thing: The Valkyries did win all three of their regular season matchups against the Dream. But you need to consider two things…

First, their average score difference in those wins was only 6.3 points per game. Second, both the teams, especially the Dream, have grown up. That’s something Williams isn’t looking over.

“Just because we won those games doesn’t mean anything’s given at all,” Williams said of the regular season wins. “So we’re just scouting how we scout. Obviously we can still scout, but I think mentally preparing for a different kind of energy.”

The Dream could play spoilsport and Williams knows it

Atlanta has been one of the strongest teams in the playoffs, sweeping the New York Liberty 3-0 in the semifinals. The Dream have also led all playoff teams in scoring at 92.6 points per game, while three of their players rank among the top four in steals per game. If Golden State wants to quiet Atlanta’s attack, it will need to handle the pressure the Dream bring on defense. Atlanta’s road record offers another reason not to count on the crowd doing all the work.

The Dream won 15 of their 22 away games during the regular season, showing they can handle playing in an opponent’s building. Golden State will need more than a loud arena to keep them from finding their rhythm. Williams believes Golden State has a decent gameplan in that case.

“They like to get into passing lanes. That’s what we know,” Williams said during her practice availability. “They lead the league in steals. So, we’re just going to have to – it’s going to maybe be a game where good offense leads to good defense as well. We don’t want them to get going in transition. So, we’re just going to have to take care of the ball and have good shots.”

Golden State has already made history by reaching the Finals in just its second season. Now, Nakase wants Ballhalla to help the team take the next step. If the Valkyries can bring the same intensity on the court that their coach is demanding from the stands, they’ll have a chance to make their home-court advantage count with their first WNBA title at stake.