“They’ve put together a really good, tough squad.” Despite facing a 12-point loss against the Golden State Valkyries, head coach Stephanie White was all praise for Valkyries HC Natalie Nakase and the front office for building such a strong team. As a new expansion team, the Valkyries have turned heads with 17 sold-out home games and an unexpected fanbase that contributed to the league’s largest average attendance record. And they have adopted a very unique approach for roster building.

Instead of picking up experienced players on free agency, the Valkyries have instead bolstered their roster with international talent. They might not be fancy names, but they made the Valkyries one of the hardest teams to play against in the league. So, when WNBA legend Sheryl Swoopes was asked to give her take on the favorite for the MIP award, she unsurprisingly went for a Valkyries player.

Appearing the The Women’s Hoops Show, Sheryl Swoopes gave her verdict: “I think there are several players that deserve to be in that conversation. But to me, there’s one player in particular that, for a lot of reasons, should be hands-down the winner. Hands down.” And when host Jordan Robinson egged on the legend to give viewers the name, “Yes. Who is it? Who is it? Tell us,” and Swoopes finally ended the intrigue with, “Veronica Burton.” 

Burton joined the Valkyries from the Australian side, Bendigo Spirits, without much fanfare. But her impact on the team has been incredible, as she’s averaging a respectable 12 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.8 assists. Swoopes further praised the impact Burton’s had on the team.

“There’s no standout star on this team, right? Tiffany Hayes, I would say is probably the one player,” Swoopes added. “So, the fact that I will say Veronica Burton has this team sitting in sixth place in the playoffs and her numbers are so much better than her entire season in the WNBA. And the impact. When you talk about impact when she plays, well, her team is on go- Like, they win. And when she doesn’t play well, they don’t look very good, right. To me, that that’s why I say she should be hands down the winner of MIP.”

Justifying her choice, Swoopes revealed that Burton is the primary reason that the Valkyries sit in the sixth position in the league. “It’s so for a player, it’s great to finally be in an organization where you’re getting to play first of all, right? And you’re playing significant minutes. And listen, this is an expansion team. An expansion team that is sitting in sixth place right now in the playoffs,” Swoopes explained.

But while Burton is worthy to be crowned the 2025 MIP, a sword still hangs over the Valkyries. Despite being a contender for the top 8, the franchise stands on the playoff threshold. As they face a formidable outfit in the New York Liberty, can the Golden State successfully secure its position or fall back to seventh place? We’ll have to wait and watch.

As the Valkyries continue impressing on the court and in the standings, their rapid rise is reflected not only in their wins but also in their growing fanbase and financial strength. This momentum positions them as a standout franchise within the WNBA, setting the stage for their emergence as one of the league’s most valuable teams.

Golden State Valkyries Set to Become One of the Most Valuable WNBA Franchises

Despite being a newly expanded team, the Golden State Valkyries were welcomed warmly in the WNBA. Fans, along with Warriors’ supporters, showed immense enthusiasm during the season opener, and their sold-out attendance was not limited to the first game. The Valkyries have sold out 17 home games total, a testament to the steady support they enjoy. Their path hasn’t been easy, but they have treated every challenge as an opportunity and rallied together throughout the season.

Currently, the franchise attracts around 306,088 total spectators at home games, becoming only the second team after the Indiana Fever to contribute at such a scale to the WNBA. This season, the league broke attendance records by surpassing 2.48 million fans by mid-season—a number that marks just the beginning.

Financially, the Valkyries have generated approximately $55 million in revenue, excluding media deals, endorsements, and merchandise. Though excluded from Forbes’ 2025 WNBA Most Valuable Teams list, projections suggest the Valkyries will top the rankings next year. They might even surpass the New York Liberty’s $400 million valuation, thanks in part to their shared ownership with the NBA’s $8.8 billion Golden State Warriors.

“The center of the tech sector in the U.S. is the Bay Area, and we didn’t have a WNBA team in one of the most progressive markets in the country? It just never made sense to me,” a league insider quipped. “I’m not surprised at all by their success.” The Valkyries benefit from diverse revenue streams at the Chase Center, including parking spaces and concessions—advantages unavailable to most teams that rent arenas.

The Golden State Valkyries have quickly made a mark both on and off the court, blending strong team building with passionate fan support. With rising stars like Veronica Burton leading the way, they are well-positioned to become one of the WNBA’s most valuable franchises. Their playoff fight adds exciting tension to a promising inaugural season.