After making history with their first WNBA championship, the Golden State Valkyries will celebrate Wednesday with a boat ride across the bay and a victory parade expected to draw thousands of fans to the Embarcadero.
The Valkyries victory parade will kick off Wednesday at noon, with 2026 WNBA Finals MVP Gabby Williams joining San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie to bang the team's drum, a tradition that opens every game at Chase Center, also known as Ballhalla, the Valkyries' home arena. Before heading to the Ferry Building, players will gather for a private celebration at the team's Oakland practice facility and then board a boat bound for San Francisco, as SFGate reports.
The team opted for a waterfront route rather than the traditional Market Street procession used by other Bay Area championship teams. As the Chronicle reports, team president Jess Smith said the route was designed to reflect the team's identity and its connection to both sides of the bay, including the commute that players and staff make between their Oakland practice facility and San Francisco's Mission Bay.
“The Bay Area has such incredible sports history with the teams that have marched down Market, and those moments have been epic,” Smith told the Chronicle. “We looked at ourselves and thought about, well, what’s our story and how do we want to celebrate this?”
Players, coaches, team staff, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, Lurie, and other Bay Area officials and sports figures are expected to take part in the event. Fans can begin lining up along the bay side of the Embarcadero, between Mission and Second streets, at 9 am. The celebration will also include a championship merchandise truck, fan activation areas, and a designated viewing area.
The parade follows the Valkyries' historic championship run, which culminated in their Halloween night victory. The team secured its first WNBA title in just its second season, with fans packing the arena throughout the year and traveling to support the players on the road.
Several transit agencies are adding service to accommodate the crowds. BART will run additional trains to the Embarcadero and Montgomery Street stations, while San Francisco Bay Ferry is adding trips on its Oakland and Vallejo routes.
Muni will suspend service on portions of the F and N lines along the Embarcadero from 9:30 am to 3 pm, with riders advised to use the 15 Bayview Hunters Point Express bus as an alternative. Golden Gate Transit and SamTrans are also warning passengers to allow extra travel time.
Street closures will begin around midnight Wednesday, with some restrictions remaining in place until 4 pm. Areas affected include portions of the Embarcadero, King Street, Market Street, and several downtown streets between Main Street and the waterfront. Second Street will also close between Brannan and King streets. A full list of closures and transit detours is available through the SFMTA.
The city is also temporarily restricting autonomous vehicles in parts of the Financial District, SoMa, and South Beach from 12:01 am to 6 pm Wednesday. Pickup and drop-off locations for autonomous vehicle passengers will also be limited to designated streets during the parade.
Previously: Golden State Valkyries Win First WNBA Title, Announce Parade Plans
