Can't find a place to watch WNBA? Strapping Sacramento looks to change that

Yahoo

2 days ago

The WNBA regular season is underway, with several games already in the books.
Strapping Sacramento, a local gift shop with locations in midtown and Oak Park, will host a free watch party Sunday for the Golden State Valkyries as they take on the Minnesota Lynx. Tip-off is at 5:30 p.m.
The event will be held at Strapping's Ice Blocks site at 1715 R St., Suite 150, behind Philz Coffee. Snacks will be available for purchase, and attendees are encouraged to bring chairs due to limited seating.
Strapping, owned by Sacramento resident Susan Stewart, has operated for eight years, according Darcy Weinberg, Stewart's partner and Strapping's public relations manager.
The couple first tested the idea of a watch party during the Valkyries' inaugural game, an 84-67 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks on May 16.
'We're definitely fans of women's professional sports, and the Valkyries are a big deal for us in Northern California,' Weinberg said. 'A lot of our customers have asked, 'Can you guys do some watch parties?' Because it's hard to find places in Sacramento that will put women's pro sports on TV. Unfortunately, that's still the case.'
Both Stewart and Weinberg are lifelong athletes — Stewart a former professional golfer, and Weinberg a rower.
'That's where the love for sports came from, and for women's sports,' Weinberg said.
The Golden State Valkyries are among the WNBA's newest expansion teams, founded in 2023, and play at the Chase Center in San Francisco. Additional WNBA expansion teams in Portland, Oregon, and Toronto are slated to debut in 2026.
The Valkyries are owned by Joe Lacob, Peter Guber, and the NBA's Golden State Warriors, who reportedly paid a $50 million expansion fee, according to Yahoo Sports..
As the name suggests, Valkyries are female warriors.
Natalie Nakase, the first Asian American head coach in WNBA history, leads the team. The Valkyries also drafted the league's first Asian American player, Kaitlyn Chen of UConn, who was later cut before the regular season began.
Key players include Kayla Thornton, Janelle Salaun, Tiffany Hayes, Veronica Burton, Julie Vanloo, and Monique Billings—who scored the franchise's first points.
The team currently holds a 2-2 record. They earned their first win May 21, narrowly defeating the Washington Mystics 76-74 in front of a sold-out crowd. Burton led with 22 points, nine rebounds and five assists; Thornton added 18 points.
Thornton leads the team in scoring and rebounds, averaging 12.8 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Burton averages 4.3 assists and leads the league in steals with three per game; Thornton follows with 2.8.
Sacramento was once home to the Monarchs, one of the WNBA's founding teams in 1997. The team included league legends Ruthie Bolton, Yolanda Griffith, and Ticha Penicheiro.
The Monarchs won the 2005 WNBA championship and reached the finals again in 2006 before losing to the Detroit Shock.
The team folded in 2009 after the Maloof family ceased operations. Relocation attempts to Oakland failed.
Weinberg said community members look to Stewart to create inclusive, welcoming events.
'We are a queer-owned business, so we're very tight with the LGBTQ community,' Weinberg said. 'Susan has been a leader in the community for years. People look to her for stuff like this. So we bought the WNBA League Pass.'
The events are open to anyone interested in women's sports or in exploring the space.
Strapping's events are family-friendly, Weinberg said.
'Many of our families have kids and want a place where they can bring them and not be at a crazy bar,' she said. 'They want to watch the games without exposing their kids to that kind of environment.'
'We don't want to turn anyone away,' she added.
Weinberg said they 'most likely' will host watch parties for every game, although for now, they are planning month by month. The next event is scheduled for June 9.
Strapping began as a clothing line designed for women seeking masculine styles, Weinberg said. When that concept didn't gain traction, Stewart shifted to retail, opening a gift store featuring playful items and upscale gifts, such as kitchenware.
Strapping has since expanded to include multiple locations — on Broadway in Oak Park, at L and 18th streets in midtown, and at the Ice Blocks location for events.
'We have to charge for certain events,' Weinberg said. 'We're having a comedy night that will be super fun, headlined by Melissa McGillicuddy.'
Upcoming events include an ice cream social June 4 at Licked, also owned by Stewart, located at 3400 Broadway; the 'Date My Friend' singles mixer on June 7; and another Valkyries watch party June 9.
For more information, visit strappingstore.com or follow their social media pages for updates on free and ticketed events.