Fans were allowed in at 5:30, and Brie Reddick of San Bruno, adorned in her own Valkyries T-shirt, was among the first to absorb the scene and has been waiting for a Bay Area franchise since the Sacramento Monarchs of the WNBA folded following the 2009 season after playing two years.

The Golden State Valkyries made history in their WNBA debut on Friday, delivering a landmark moment for the league, even if it came with a loss. The Valkyries are the first expansion team to join the WNBA since the Atlanta Dream entered the league in 2008. Backed by a wave of support, the team launched with over 10,000 season-ticket holders.