Hours before tipoff at Chase Center, fans filled Thrive City dressed in lavender and violet for Mother’s Day activations and photo opportunities celebrating women’s sports fans of every generation. The arena atmosphere was intense, with deafening crowd noise and a strong sense of community. Bay Area Olympic star Eileen Gu energized the crowd by pounding the Valkyries drum before tipoff. The Valkyries won their home opener with standout performances from Gabby Williams and Janelle Salaün, and the crowd stayed engaged through the final buzzer. The most lasting impact was the visible diversity in the stands and the feeling of belonging, alongside an emotional sense of how far women’s basketball has come.
"What stayed with me most, however, was the incredible diversity in the stands and the overwhelming feeling of visibility and belonging throughout the afternoon. Watching women's basketball command this level of passion and excitement felt genuinely emotional. I found myself wishing my mom could see how far the women's game has come."
#womens-basketball #mothers-day #community-and-inclusion #golden-state-valkyries #sports-scholarships
Read at San Francisco Bay Times
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