The Golden State Valkyries are owned by Joe Lacob and Peter Guber, the same ownership duo that controls the NBA’s Golden State Warriors.
Their group, operating as Warriors Sports and Entertainment, paid a then record fifty million dollar expansion fee to join the WNBA in 2023.
The Valkyries were the first WNBA expansion franchise in over a decade, and they became the first expansion team ever to reach the playoffs in their debut season.
Chase Center sold out all twenty two home games in that inaugural 2025 season, setting a league attendance record.
Here is the part that surprised even seasoned sports economists. Barely two seasons in, the same Warriors ownership group is already sitting on a women’s basketball franchise that some analysts believe could become the first WNBA team ever valued at one billion dollars.
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Golden State Valkyries Ownership At A Glance
| Team | Golden State Valkyries |
| Current Owner | Joe Lacob and Peter Guber, Warriors Sports and Entertainment |
| Expansion Fee | Fifty million dollars, paid over ten years, awarded October 2023 |
| Valuation | Seven hundred eighty million dollars per Forbes 2026, the highest in the WNBA |
| Founded | 2025, first WNBA expansion team since the Atlanta Dream in 2008 |
| League | Women’s National Basketball Association, WNBA |
| Arena | Chase Center, San Francisco, shared with the Golden State Warriors |
Who Is The Owner Of The Golden State Valkyries
Joe Lacob is the managing owner and chairman of both the Warriors and the Valkyries. He bought the Warriors in 2010 alongside Peter Guber for four hundred fifty million dollars, a deal that looked risky at the time.
Peter Guber, a longtime film and media executive, serves as co executive chairman. He also holds an ownership stake in MLB’s Los Angeles Dodgers, making him one of the few executives with equity in three major pro sports franchises at once.
When the WNBA opened its expansion process in 2023, Lacob and Guber used their existing Bay Area infrastructure, Chase Center, corporate sponsors, and a proven front office, to win the bid over several competing ownership groups.
How The Warriors Ownership Group Structures The Valkyries
Managing Owner and Chairman
Co Executive Chairman
Team President
General Manager
How Much Was The Golden State Valkyries Expansion Fee
The WNBA awarded the Golden State franchise on October 5, 2023, with an expansion fee reported at fifty million dollars, paid out over a ten year period.
At the time, that figure was a record for a women’s professional sports expansion team, and it signaled that investors finally viewed the WNBA as a growth business rather than a side project.
Later expansion cycles for teams entering in Portland, Toronto, Cleveland, and Detroit priced fees even higher, but the Valkyries deal is widely credited with resetting the market.
Golden State Valkyries Ownership Timeline
The WNBA awards the Golden State market to Joe Lacob and Peter Guber for a fifty million dollar fee on October 5.
The Valkyries name, violet and black colors, and logo are revealed on May 14, with Jess Smith and Ohemaa Nyanin hired to lead the front office.
Golden State goes 23 and 21, becomes the first expansion team ever to make the WNBA playoffs, and sells out all 22 home games at Chase Center.
Forbes values the franchise at seven hundred eighty million dollars, tops in the WNBA, as season ticket demand keeps climbing.
Why The Warriors Connection Matters For Valkyries Ownership
Owning both teams under one umbrella lets Lacob and Guber share Chase Center, ticketing systems, sponsorship sales staff, and a media rights infrastructure already built for the Warriors.
That shared backbone is a major reason the Valkyries generated an estimated seventy eight million dollars in first year revenue, reportedly the highest launch revenue any WNBA team has ever posted, according to reporting cited by Wikipedia.
It also means Bay Area corporate sponsors already tied to the Warriors, from tech firms to local banks, could extend deals to the Valkyries without starting relationships from zero.
Is Joe Lacob A Good Owner: Is The Golden State Valkyries Ownership Really Worth It
Lacob has a mixed public reputation. Warriors fans generally credit him with three NBA championships between 2015 and 2022, built through smart drafting and a willingness to spend on payroll and luxury tax.
On the Valkyries side, the pros are hard to dispute so far. The franchise reached the playoffs in year one, sold out every home game, and posted the WNBA’s highest reported first season revenue, all while Forbes now ranks it as the league’s most valuable team, per Forbes.
The cons critics point to are less about results and more about optics. Some fans argue ticket prices rose too quickly for a first year team, and some rival owners have privately grumbled that Lacob’s Warriors resources gave the Valkyries an unfair head start compared to expansion teams launching without an existing NBA infrastructure.
On balance, most analysts covering the WNBA business side describe the Lacob and Guber investment as one of the best return on investment stories in modern sports ownership.
Golden State Valkyries Valuation And Revenue Since Launch
Forbes placed the Valkyries at the top of its 2026 WNBA valuation list at seven hundred eighty million dollars, a figure that started from a fifty million dollar expansion fee just three years earlier, according to CNBC.
Some outlets, including the San Francisco Chronicle, have reported figures closer to eight hundred fifty million dollars using different valuation methods, and several industry insiders now expect the franchise to become the first women’s sports team ever valued at one billion dollars.
Season ticket holders grew from ten thousand to twelve thousand heading into year two, even after a price increase, a sign that demand has not slowed since the Cinderella first season.
Are The Golden State Valkyries For Sale In 2026
No. There is no public indication that Joe Lacob or Peter Guber are looking to sell any portion of the Valkyries franchise.
Given the rapid valuation growth and the shared operational benefits with the Warriors, most analysts consider a sale extremely unlikely in the near term. Ownership groups rarely exit an asset that is appreciating this quickly.
Other Bay Area Franchises Worth Comparing
The Valkyries are not the only Bay Area franchise with an interesting ownership story. Our breakdown of who owns the San Francisco Giants covers a very different model, a large limited partnership rather than a single controlling duo.
Across the bay, the ownership situation for the Oakland Athletics shows how differently two regional franchises can be run, even while sharing the same metro area as the Valkyries.
Frequently Asked Questions About Golden State Valkyries Ownership
Who Owns The Golden State Valkyries
Joe Lacob and Peter Guber own the Golden State Valkyries through Warriors Sports and Entertainment, the same group that owns the NBA’s Golden State Warriors.
How Much Did Joe Lacob Pay For The Valkyries
Lacob and Guber paid a fifty million dollar expansion fee, spread across a ten year payment schedule, when the WNBA awarded them the franchise in October 2023.
What Arena Do The Golden State Valkyries Play In
The Valkyries play home games at Chase Center in San Francisco, the same arena used by the Golden State Warriors.
Is The Golden State Valkyries Ownership Group The Same As The Warriors
Yes. Joe Lacob and Peter Guber run both franchises under the umbrella of Warriors Sports and Entertainment, sharing an arena, front office resources, and sponsorship relationships.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.