The Golden State Valkyries are the story of the WNBA, the talk of women’s sports and the envy of any expansion franchise.
And at the heart of it all is Australian Opal Miela Sowah.
They’re into the WNBA Final Series in just their second season in the competition but that’s only one part of their incredible rise.
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They’re the first WNBA team to reach a US$1billion valuation, they have the highest annual revenue of any team in the competition and of any professional women’s sports team in history, and have sold out the Chase Center for every home game of their existence. They’re the first team in WNBA history to average over 18,000 fans per game.
They call it their Ballhalla, a play on words of Valhalla from Norse mythology which translates to the great hall of slain warriors.
So let’s back up a bit and a explain a little bit first.
The Valkyries entered the WNBA in 2025, the first expansion team in 17 years and became a success before the players had even stepped on the court, selling 10,000 season tickets. There’s reportedly less than 5% crossover from the Valkyries and Warriors season ticket holders, meaning this team has attracted a completely new audience to the franchise.
In 2026, they again sold out and cut off their season ticket holders at 12,000.
Aussie Miela Sowah has had a front row set to it all this year after signing with the Valkyries, and making her WNBA debut in May.
“It’s been insane honestly to be at the pinnacle of your sport and then to be playing in the final of the WNBA, it’s what you dream of as a kid and then to be living it out is insane, honestly it’s been an amazing experience,” Sowah told foxsports.com.au.
“The Ballhalla and the Bay Area they really get around us, we’re getting 18,000 to each game they love it they wear all the gear and in the streets, they’ll come up and chat to you, they’re all about it.”
And playing in front of a packed Chase Center is like nothing else 26 year old Sowah has experienced.
“It’s electric, it’s the loudest thing I’ve ever heard. In my preseason game when I hit it three, I was like, wow, that was so loud because they were all cheering,” Sowah said.
“And then you hit another one and then it just keeps getting louder. You’re just like, what? It’s so insane. They’re so invested, it’s nuts.”
“Honestly, it’s super exciting to see women’s sport like this and I think it just shows that, you know, people watch women’s sports and they love it.”
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The Valkyries have flipped the narrative on the slow build required for expansion clubs and they’ve redefined what success looks like both in the WNBA and women’s sports in general.
The Valkyries owners paid $50million for the franchise licence in 2023 and now have a club worth $1Billion. They’ve generation over $100million in revenue in 2026 alone, which is tipped to have grown even more over the playoffs and now with the finals series.
But according to Sowah, the key to this success runs deep in the Valkyries culture.
“Honestly, it’s from the leaders up top. Top to bottom they really believe in what women’s sport is and what the Valkyries can do and can be. And I think from that belief, it extends. When you speak from the heart, you reach the heart and they’re constantly speaking of what they believe that we can become, of who we are.”
“When the people at the top will lead by example and are giving everything they’ve got, then the team follows that. And then the community’s jumped on board and followed as well. They give their heart and soul at each game.”
“We constantly say they’re like our 6th man, which is like the player coming off the bench, because they honestly get us. When we’re maybe trailing by a few, they start screaming, they get us rolling, then we’ll knock down a few 3s and get back in it.”
It’s been a massive year for Sowah winning the WNBL Championship with the Townsville Fire before being signed by the Valkyries. Then last month she received a late call up from Sandy Brondello to play in her first World Cup with the Opals to replace the injured skipper Sami Whitcomb.
Now she’s on the brink of making history with the Valkyries.
“It’s been a massive year and honestly I’m so grateful, so blessed. I always put it down to hard work. I think one of my life mottos is, it always pays off, whether it’s a few weeks, in a month or if it’s in years and I feel like this one’s definitely been a year’s thing, you know, constantly working, trying to make these teams.”
“So yeah, it’s amazing to be here, super grateful.”
The Valkyries have also received support from their Golden State brothers, in particular Steph Curry.
“Yeah, it’s a bit surreal. Being a girl from Brisbane and there’s Steph Curry he’s one of my icons and then seeing him in the crowd just behind me. I’m like, this is insane,” Sowah told foxsports.com.au.
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“We’ve got the same owners as the Warriors, so he came in our locker room and spoke a bit of knowledge about a championship and this next step and what it takes.”
And this Queenslander, who played for Duke University in the NCAA, comes up against an Opal teammate in the Finals Series. WNBL MVP Isobel Borlase is playing alongside Angel Reese with the Atlanta Dream and is also hoping to secure the club’s first WNBA Championship.
“Having another fellow Australian Opal on the other side of the grand final, I think that’s awesome. That’s exciting for Australian basketball and for women’s basketball.”
“We’ll be friends outside, but when it comes to game day, we’re chasing the trophy and the ring.”
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