The Ride of the Golden State Valkyries!

Even if the WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries weren’t my hometown team, I’d still be a fan. Why? They have the coolest name in the entire league!

In Norse mythology, a Valkyrie is one of a group of female figures who choose and guide the fallen warriors of battle to Valhalla. Richard Wagner gave these legendary figures an unforgettable musical identity in Die Walküre, the second opera in his epic Ring Cycle. Its famous opening, the stirring “Ride of the Valkyries,” has become one of the most recognizable pieces of classical music ever written.

So far, the Valkyries have yet to make Wagner’s music part of their spirited home-game soundtrack at San Francisco’s Chase Center. But they’ve embraced the connection in another way, playfully dubbing their home court Ballhalla—a clever wink to Valhalla, the mythological hall of the fallen warriors.

And there’s an even deeper Wagner connection. One of the central characters of The Ring Cycle is Brünnhilde, the fierce Valkyrie often depicted wearing her iconic winged helmet. She is arguably the saga’s heroine, embodying the strength, courage, independence, and loyalty that make the Valkyrie such an enduring figure.

Those qualities seem fitting for the Golden State Valkyries, too. As I write this, the team is competing in the WNBA playoffs for the second year in a row. Go Valks!

And here’s hoping the Wagner connection goes even further.

When San Francisco Opera General Director Matthew Shilvock was asked whether the company might pursue a partnership with the Golden State Valkyries when it once again mounts Wagner’s Ring Cycle in 2028, he was completely open to the idea.

I, for one, am ready.

Bring on the purple!