WNBA Playoff Drama! Valkyries Forced to Move Home Game – Here's Why!
Big news in the WNBA! The Golden State Valkyries, a phenomenal expansion team, have made history by reaching the playoffs in their very first season. Their impressive 23-18 record puts them on track for the No. 6 seed, exceeding all expectations thanks to their incredible home-court advantage at Chase Center, affectionately known as "Ballhalla." They've sold out every home game, boasting a league-leading average attendance of 18,064, potentially setting an all-time record.
However, a twist! Valkyries fans won't see their team's first-ever home playoff game at Chase Center. The team confirmed they'll be relocating to the SAP Center in San Jose.
Why the Move? Tennis Takes Over!
The reason for the change? The Laver Cup, an international tennis tournament featuring Team Europe versus Team World, has booked the Chase Center during the first round of the WNBA playoffs. The tournament runs from September 19-21, but the venue needs time to convert from a basketball arena to a tennis court and allow practice time for the players.
"After exploring every possible option to move things around and host this game at Chase Center, SAP Center emerged as the right fit for this historic event," the team stated. They considered other venues, including Oakland Arena, but scheduling conflicts arose.
Impact on the Valkyries
Unfortunately, the Valkyries can't reach a top-four spot, meaning they'll be the lower seed in the best-of-three first round. As the lower seed, they'll only host one home game. This means the team's debut playoff home game will be at the SAP Center, not their beloved Ballhalla.
- Valkyries make playoffs in their inaugural season
- Laver Cup forces relocation of playoff game
- Game to be played at SAP Center in San Jose