Game Preview: Regular Season Game 1 vs Los Angeles Sparks

Date, Time, Location: Friday, May 16th, 7:00pm PDT, Chase Center
Broadcast Information: ION (full national), WNBA League Pass (streaming), KGMZ (radio)

More than 19 months after the official expansion announcement, the Golden State Valkyries will play their first game when they open the regular season against the Los Angeles Sparks. The teams also met in the preseason, but both teams will be going all-out to win this game with their rosters now set. Both teams have a lot to prove this year as they try to reach their goals this season and make progress towards contending in the future. Having the first game at home should create a tremendous atmosphere with fans waiting to see the team in a competitive setting.

The Valkyries

While the Valkyries have a full roster, they will not have everyone available in the first game. Cecilia Zandalasini and Stephanie Talbot continue to be out after suffering injuries in practices, meaning that Talbot will not get to play the team that she was picked from in the expansion draft process. Kate Martin is expected to be available after being held out of the last preseason game. Janelle Salaun is set to be with the team, but it remains to be seen whether she would actually play in normal game circumstances.

Monique Billings signed with the Sparks last season, but never played a game with them after being waived during training camp. All of the Valkyries players will obviously be making their first appearances for the team, but Salaun, along with Carla Leite and Kyara Linskens, would be making their first WNBA appearances as the three rookies on the roster. Having each only played one season, Julie Vanloo and Kate Martin would be making their first appearances for a different team.

The Opposition

The Los Angeles Sparks revealed their opening day roster on Thursday, but only ten of the twelve players will be available. Cameron Brink is still recovering from the major injury she suffered last season while Julie Allemand had surgery upon her arrival this year and will also miss the start of the season. All ten other players appeared against the Valkyries in the only preseason game played by Los Angeles, but Aari McDonald, a Northern California native who had 12 points against the Valkyries, was one of the players released.

It seems likely that they will use the same starting lineup of Kelsey Plum, Rae Burrell, Rickea Jackson, Dearica Hamby, and Azura Stevens. Odyssey Sims and rookie Sarah Ashley Barker would then provide depth in the backcourt while Emma Cannon, Sania Feagin, and Mercedes Russell provide significant size off the bench in the frontcourt. Plum, Hamby, and Cannon all spent time with the Las Vegas Aces while Natalie Nakase was an assistant coach there.

The Sparks made a coaching move after their rebuilding efforts were not showing the expected level of progress, bringing in Lynne Roberts. Adding Plum to their team certainly gives them a star and veteran to add to their existing core and a healthy season from Stevens would also help. It seems unlikely that they would repeat their performance as the last place team in the league, but they will need to play well to grab one of the playoff spots with other lottery teams also strengthening their rosters in the offseason.

Broadcasts and Tickets

ION carries the WNBA’s Friday games and since it is the only game in its timeslot, the broadcast will be available on their stations across the country. They do not have their own announcer teams so it will be the same as a home broadcast without the localized studio coverage for pregame and halftime since they do have a crew for that.

The Valkyries also announced their radio plans for the season and this game will be on KGMZ, the same Bay Area station on 95.7 that is also the flagship station for Golden State Warriors games. Both announcers have experience with the organization as Kevin Danna has been the play-by-play announcer and former San Jose State player Sophia Jones has been a sideline reporter for the Santa Cruz Warriors in addition to other roles. The broadcast will include a postgame show and home games will be on the radio while road games will only be online.

The game is expected to be a full sellout, but the team continues to add some seats to direct sales in addition to tickets available on the secondary market. In addition to the usual added Muni service for events at Chase Center, this being a regular season game will mark the debut of specific ferries from Oakland and Alameda to the nearby Pier 48 terminal both before and after the game.