Fans attending the Valkyries' game at Chase Center on September 18 are scheduled to receive one of 350 limited-edition Athleta T-shirts after halftime, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Giveaway and collection
The giveaway is part of Athleta's limited-time Off-Court Edit for the team partnership. The collection includes running shorts, sports bras, track pants and caps, with prices ranging from $14 to $139, the Chronicle reported. Valkyries guard Veronica Burton modeled the merchandise.
Scope of the agreement
The multiyear agreement makes Athleta, which is owned by Gap Inc., the Valkyries' first official off-court apparel partner, according to the Chronicle. It also calls for an Athleta presence at Chase Center, arena activations and community programming. The companies described the relationship as a connection between Bay Area organizations focused on women's sports and wellness, the Chronicle reported.
Co-branded Athleta-Valkyries merchandise is expected to reach the Valkyries team store next year, the Chronicle reported.
The team's commercial backdrop
The Valkyries joined the WNBA for the 2025 season after Warriors owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber paid a reported $50 million expansion fee. The move created the league's 13th team and its first expansion franchise since 2008, according to SportsPro.
The team recorded more than 22,000 season-ticket deposits before its inaugural season. The Valkyries play at Chase Center, which has an 18,000-seat capacity, SportsPro reported. Against that backdrop, the Athleta deal gives the team another commercial platform as it establishes its presence in the Bay Area.
The arena and the league's growth
The Valkyries' home is part of the longer development of Mission Bay. According to San Francisco's Mission Bay Pavilion Project portal, the arena originated as a city proposal with the Golden State Warriors for a multipurpose recreation and entertainment facility in Mission Bay South. The team's commercial expansion also comes amid broader growth for women's professional basketball. According to the WNBA, the league recorded 2,353,735 fans in 2024, its highest total attendance in 22 years and a 48% increase from the previous season. The league also reported that merchandise sales through WNBAStore.com and its New York City flagship location rose a combined 601% from 2023.
