The Golden State Valkyries keep collecting firsts — and now they have an NBA champion in the fan club.

After Golden State swept the defending champion Las Vegas Aces to reach the 2026 WNBA Finals, Kyrie Irving posted a short message of support on X, calling himself a lifelong supporter of the second-year franchise. It was a brief post, but it landed: Irving is an NBA champion and one of the most recognizable guards in basketball, and his endorsement put the Valkyries’ run in front of an audience well beyond the WNBA’s usual reach.

It is only the latest landmark in a remarkable month for the club. According to a Sportico report cited this week, the Valkyries passed $100 million in revenue during the 2026 season — reported as a first for a WNBA team, and for a women’s professional sports team more broadly. A deep Finals run could push that figure higher still.

The business numbers match the basketball. Golden State finished the regular season 32-12 as the No. 2 seed, sold out all 22 home games at Chase Center, and then swept Dallas and Las Vegas to reach the Finals in just the franchise’s second season. Under head coach Natalie Nakase, the Valkyries have built their identity on defense and chemistry — and on a home crowd that has made “Ballhalla” one of the league’s toughest stops.

Celebrity support alone does not build a lasting fan base. But Golden State is pairing the attention with wins, sellouts and record revenue, which is exactly how a new franchise turns a magical run into something permanent.

Next test: Game 1 of the Finals against the Atlanta Dream on Saturday, October 17, at Chase Center — in front of a crowd that now apparently includes Kyrie Irving.

Sources: Her Sports Nation (Oct. 11, 2026), citing Irving’s post on X and a Sportico report on Valkyries revenue. Season and playoff details as reported Oct. 10-11, 2026.