The 2026 WNBA season tips off on May 8. And one of the most compelling matchups of this first night of women's basketball is between the Golden State Valkyries and the Seattle Storm.

The Valkyries were the best and most heartwarming story of last season. Most within the women's basketball community didn't have high expectations for them, given that it was their first season after becoming an expansion franchise. But Golden State blew expectations out of the water, not only by their performance on the court (they made it to the playoffs), but because of how fun it was to watch them play.

The Valkyries played with a gritty, team-first attitude that made them resilient and feel like a lovable underdog.…