How to watch the Golden State Valkyries in 2025: Broadcast info, streaming schedule for inaugural season
Wednesday, May 21 marked the first-ever win for the WNBA's newest team, the Golden State Valkyries. Many more dubs are to come, but that inaugural one will always hit with extra sentimentality:
The nascent franchise has the resources and market hype to become a competitor in due time. Kayla Thornton and Veronica Burton are locker room stabilizers, with the latter hitting several clutch 3s in the team's first win. Janelle Salaün is an intriguing rookie with long-range confidence. The arena has already set records at the gate, and the violet-black scheme is perhaps the coolest in the league.
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This maiden season should be a lot of fun. Accessing all the games and keeping track of broadcast rotations can be challenging, though. The W's streaming footprint is constantly growing. Golden State is the first expansion team in this new era of the league, but it certainly won't be the last.
So, here's our best effort to make sense of it all, consolidated specifically for new Valkyries fans. Make sure that you're following the team and the WNBA on The Athletic. Senior writer Chantel Jennings is a one-of-one, while Sabreena Merchant and Ben Pickman each cover the W with creativity, curiosity and unwavering dedication.
Fubo is a cable-cutting streaming platform that offers local and national channels, along with add-on sports packages. Any regional game on KPIX/KPIX+ can be streamed with Fubo, along with the national ones on ESPN, ABC, CBS, ION and NBA TV.
What you need to watch these games: Fubo. The 'pro' plan is $84.99 per month, with an additional charge for 4K Ultra HD.
Every team has a regional sports network, or RSN, that carries local matchups. Aside from the nationally-televised action, all Golden State games will be found on local channels 5 (KPIX) or 44 (KPIX+, formerly KBCW). CBS and Paramount operate that duopoly. Channel 44 was the original home of the Golden State Warriors and Oakland Athletics.
Jacob Tobey is the Valkyries' lead play-by-play voice and calls San Antonio Spurs games during the NBA season. Derek Clark, the voice of college basketball's Mountain West Conference, will hold down a few regular-season broadcasts.
NorCal-based TV personality Morgan Ragan does color commentary for the Valks. Ragan was a huge fan of the now-defunct Sacramento Monarchs, and her enthusiasm for the new squad is palpable thus far.
What you need to watch these games: Fubo, DirecTV Stream (starting $80-90 monthly)
KPIX+ is available on providers like Comcast, DirecTV and others. The games on KPIX (CBS channel 5) are free over the air.
What you need to watch these games: a cable provider with KPIX+; KPIX is free with a broadcast antenna
From instant diehards to the Valkyrie-curious, Golden State will attract many new fans this year. Of course, not all of them reside in the official Northern California megaregion. WNBA League Pass is the answer for Bay Area expats, nightly WNBA fantasy players, and everyone in between.
A subscription covers every out-of-market regional broadcast for the regular season. However, blackout restrictions are in effect (frustratingly), so folks within the designated Golden State market won't be able to stream Valkyries games live on League Pass. Nationally televised games are also blacked out on the app, a consideration for fans of teams with heavy national TV schedules.
What you need to watch these games: WNBA League Pass ($12.99/month or $34.99 for the 2025 season)
Ryan Ruocco is the primary play-by-play anchor for ESPN's WNBA programming. His call is punchy and controlled, and his love for the game bleeds through the screen. Ruocco has sharpened his product with the MLB's New York Yankees and the NBA's Brooklyn Nets, and he's narrated some of the modern classics in women's March Madness. His signature refrain, 'You bet!' gets Caitlin Clark fired up.
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UConn legend Rebecca Lobo does color commentary. She played center for the Huskies during their first perfect season and 1995 national title crowning. The Hall-of-Famer suited up for the inaugural New York Liberty campaign in 1997 and played for the Connecticut Sun, plus the now-defunct Houston Comets and Springfield Spirit. Holly Rowe is the lead sideline reporter; she talks to players and coaches after the final buzzer.
The network's second team features Pam Ward, LaChina Robinson and Angel Gray. Some games will be broadcast on ESPN3, a live streaming platform within ESPN's digital products (the app, the website, etc.).
What you need to watch these games: a TV plan with ESPN or an ESPN+ standalone subscription, which includes ABC games (starting at $11.99 per month or $119.99 annually)
Valkyries games on ESPN (and ESPN+): None, but let's see if this changes next season.
There will be a record 13 regular-season WNBA games on ABC, plus the 2025 All-Star Game. Conference finals and Finals play will be split between ABC and ESPN, which share the same ownership (Disney). The aforementioned ESPN talents are on the mic here, too.
The ABC/ESPN pregame programming is called 'WNBA Countdown,' and it's a thoroughly radiant affair. Women's hoops expert Elle Duncan is the host. Alongside her is Chiney Ogwumike, the two-time WNBA All-Star who played for Connecticut and Los Angeles. It'll be especially fun when ABC or ESPN gets a Seattle game this summer — Chiney's sister, Nneka, now plays for the Storm after a decorated career with the Sparks.
Rounding out the 'big three' is Andraya Carter. She shone during the 2024 NCAA championship broadcast and was among the last players to sign with Tennessee coach Pat Summitt. Other recurring personalities are Malika Andrews (host of 'NBA Today'), Monica McNutt (studio for the NBA's New York Knicks) and Carolyn Peck (Hall-of-Fame coach with a national title at Purdue).
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What you need to watch these games: a broadcast antenna, a TV or streaming plan (like Fubo) that includes ABC
Valkyries games on ABC (and ESPN+):
For the second straight year, CBS will show eight regular-season WNBA matchups. This channel's 2024 rookie duel between Caitlin Clark's Fever and Angel Reese's Sky was the league's most-watched game in 23 years. CBS Sports will have an additional dozen broadcasts. Commentators include Lisa Byington (voice of the Sky and the Milwaukee Bucks) and Jordan Kent (a three-sport collegiate athlete who played in the NFL and used to do play-by-play for the Portland Trail Blazers).
What you need to watch these games: a TV or streaming plan with CBS or a Paramount+ standalone subscription (starting at $7.99/month)
Valkyries games on CBS Sports Network:
The Scripps network will have Friday night doubleheaders to jump-start each summer weekend. This is where the first-ever Valkyries game was broadcast. ION also has a WNBA studio show set in Atlanta. Cable vet Larry Smith is the host, and college basketball insiders Autumn Johnson and Meghan McKeown are in tow for breakdowns.
What you need to watch these games: a broadcast antenna, a TV or streaming plan that includes ABC
Valkyries games on ION:
Amazon's streaming service will host several WNBA broadcasts this year as it expands into the sports multiverse. Prime Video will also have the final game of the Commissioner's Cup, an in-season tournament that runs throughout the first half of the regular season.
What you need to watch these games: an Amazon Prime subscription (which starts at $14.99 per month or $139 annually)
Valkyries games on Prime Video:
In a fitting cross-promotion, the NBA's in-house channel will simulcast WNBA showcases throughout 2025.
What you need to watch these games: a TV or streaming plan (like Fubo) with NBA TV or WNBA League Pass
Valkyries games on NBA TV:
Streaming and betting/odds links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.
(Photo by Noah Graham / NBAE via Getty Images)
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