Valkyries fans skip work, wake up early for Game 6 watch parties

If there was anything that Game 6 proved it is that Valkyries fans are as resilient as the team they root for on the court.

Golden State did not leave Atlanta as champions Thursday as they fell to the Dream 80-69, which now means that the two will face off in a winner-takes-all Game 7 on Saturday in San Francisco. The 11-point loss was actually a mark of perseverance, as the Valkyries found themselves down by as many as 25 points at one point in the game. While Atlanta came out swinging from tip-off and led for nearly the whole game, the Valks were able to mount a respectable second half where they cut to lead to more attainable ranges, and even managed to outscore their opponents, 43-34.

As for whether the 12:30 p.m. local start time had any influence on their performance, Gabby Williams gave a straightforward response of, “They played at the same time as us, right? It’s not an excuse. We have to be better.”

Valkyries fans Najja M. works on her computer during a viewing party for Game 6 of the WNBA finals between the Golden State Valkyries and the Atlanta Dream, at Thrive City outside Chase Center in San Francisco on Oct. 29, 2026. (Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE)

A young Valkyries fan watches the Golden State Valkyries fall behind in the first half during a viewing party for Game 6 of the WNBA finals between the Valkyries and the Atlanta Dream, at Thrive City outside Chase Center in San Francisco on Oct. 29, 2026. (Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE)

Valkyries fans watch Game 6 at Rikki’s in the Castro in San Francisco, on Oct. 29, 2026. (Lizzy Myers/SFGATE)

Anmol Nagar, who lives in Hayes Valley, works on her laptop at Rikki’s in the Castro in San Francisco, on Oct. 29, 2026. (Lizzy Myers/SFGATE)

Dedicated Valkyries fans did not let the early tip-off dissuade them from going out and supporting their team wherever they could. Well before tip-off, which was at 9:30 a.m. on the West Coast, fans lined up to pack sports bars like Rikki’s, and areas like Thrive City outside Chase Center, to watch their team try and clinch a championship. In one humorous video, the Chase Center social media account even showed some of the fans who brought their laptops with them to watch the game, an indication that they may have been having to split their attention throughout the morning. At least the editor was kind enough to obscure faces to limit the chances of anyone getting reprimanded.

While the team was unable to get the job done Thursday, fans still stuck it out at their respective watch parties, celebrating whenever the team cut the deficit to something a bit more manageable. Regardless of the outcome, it was certainly one of the most memorable and unique Bay Area sports-watching experiences this city has seen.