The Golden State Valkyries made history on Saturday with their nail-biter of a Game 7 victory to claim their first WNBA championship. Today, the Bay Area turned Valks lavender as the team went from a morning trophy ceremony in Oakland’s Jack London Square to a triumphant parade through the streets of San Francisco before an estimated crowd of 400,000. Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, fresh off of her reelection victory, was among those who caught Valks Fever, showing up in a Valks violet wig for the occasion.
The Oakland ceremony kicked off at 10 a.m. on the lawn by the Jack London ferry landing with Valkyries play-by-play announcer Jordan Kent welcoming the team owners, coaches and players onto a stage overlooking the Oakland estuary. Kent then introduced Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, who then called up Gabby Williams to stand next to her on the makeshift stage, in recognition of the finals MVP’s Oakland roots. Later, when Kent brought Williams up to the mic, Williams declared her love Oakland style, shouting out all the “motherf***ers” on the team for their support.
Afterward, the team boarded a ferry to travel across the Bay under clear blue skies to San Francisco. It felt like much of Oakland poured onto a second ferry to follow them. One Oaklander onboard was rapper Tuesday, who said the Valkyries “bringing it to Oakland even though they play in San Francisco” meant everything to the Town.
Once in San Francisco, the parade began along the Embarcadero, which became a sea of violet running from the ferry building all the way down to 2nd and King streets as hundreds of thousands of fans cheered their team on. Mayor Lee rode in a convertible with Oakland singer songwriter Kehlani amid the tumultuous crowd.
The Golden State Valkyries with their WNBA championship trophy during a “tip-off ceremony” on the ferry lawn at Oakland’s Jack London Square before their San Francisco victory parade, Nov. 4, 2026. Credit: Ximena Natera for The Oaklandside
Oakland’s own Gabby Williams, the WNBA finals MVP
for the Golden State Valkyries.
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee in Valkyries colors.
Photos: Ximena Natera for The Oaklandside
Violet, the Valkyries’ mascot, dances to the crowd of fans waiting for the Golden State Valkyries to appear at Jack London ferry. Credit: Ximena Natera for The Oaklandside
Golden State Valkyries player Tiffany Hayes cheers as her coach Natalie Nakase speaks about the season at the event in Oakland. Credit: Ximena Natera for The Oaklandside
Valkyries fans gather in Oakland. Credit: Ximena Natera for The Oaklandside
More Valks fans on the Oakland side of the Bay. Credit: Ximena Natera for The Oaklanside
Golden State Valkyries’ star Gabby Williams steers the ferry for a few moments en route to San Francisco from Oakland, Nov. 4, 2026. Credit: Ximena Natera for The Oaklandsid
The WNBA championship trophy travels with the team from Oakland to San Francisco. Credit: Ximena Natera for The Oaklandside
Gabby Williams hoists up her WNBA Finals MVP trophy as she rides from Oakland to San Francisco for the championship parade. Credit: Ximena Natera for The Oaklandside
Coach Natalie Nakase surrounded by her winning team on the way to the San Francisco parade, Nov. 4, 2026. Credit: Ximena Natera for The Oaklandside
Hundreds of thousands of Golden State Valkyries fans celebrated along the San Francisco parade route, Nov. 4, 2026. Credit: Ximena Natera for The Oaklandside
Valkyries fans go wild at the San Francisco parade. Credit: Ximena Natera for The Oaklandside
“*” indicates required fields
Anne Marks is a freelance journalist who writes about Oakland sports. When she isn’t watching ball, you might run into her hosting Day Thinking trivia brunch in downtown Oakland. For 13 years, she served as executive director of Youth ALIVE!, Oakland’s anchor violence prevention, intervention and healing nonprofit organization.