The San Francisco Bay Area's rich history of decisive Game 7 moments is set to gain a new chapter with the arrival of the Golden State Valkyries, the region's upcoming WNBA expansion team. Veteran sports columnist Ron Kroichick highlighted the legacy in a piece published on October 30, 2026.
The Bay Area has witnessed both glory and heartbreak in winner-take-all games. The San Francisco Giants celebrated a World Series title in 2014 when Madison Bumgarner and Buster Posey embraced after a Game 7 victory in Kansas City. Two years later, the Golden State Warriors fell short in the 2016 NBA Finals as Stephen Curry watched the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrate at Oracle Arena. In 2019, the San Jose Sharks provided a moment of joy when Tomas Hertl leaped after scoring a crucial goal in a Game 7 against the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference second round.
As the Valkyries prepare to begin play, they carry the weight and opportunity of adding to this storied narrative. The franchise will look to create its own Game 7 memories in the years ahead.
