The Golden State Valkyries will tip-off their inaugural season as a WNBA franchise on May 16 when they host the Los Angeles Sparks at the Chase Center, generating excitement for the newest team in the Bay Area.

On Wednesday, the team announced it had achieved a significant milestone by selling over 10,000 season tickets, becoming the first team in WNBA history to do so. Previously, the Valkyries set records for season ticket deposits by reaching 22,000, but converting those deposits into actual ticket sales is another challenge. The achievement of selling 10,000 season tickets marks a great milestone for an expansion team, indicating that the WNBA made a wise choice in placing its first new franchise since 2008 in San Francisco.

Looking ahead, the Valkyries’ challenge will be to build a competitive team that can retain this enthusiasm by qualifying for the playoffs. This is a crucial and often difficult process for expansion franchises, but they have certainly made a strong start in establishing a fan base in the Bay Area.

Next year, expansion will continue as the Toronto Tempo and an unnamed Portland team will join as the 14th and 15th franchises. The WNBA aims to add one more team soon, bringing the total to 16, with several cities bidding for that franchise. The Valkyries’ success in ticket sales emphasizes the growing appeal of women’s basketball.