Steve Kerr, Warriors expected at WNBA Finals Game 1 to support Golden State Valkyries

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Warriors guard Stephen Curry wears a Valkyries Veronica Burton jersey while warming up before a preseason NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday at Chase Center. (Jeff Chiu/Associated Press)

A few Golden State Warriors will make a pit stop at Ballhalla for Game 1 of the WNBA Finals to pick up inspiration and lend support to the Golden State Valkyries on Saturday.

Steph Curry, De'Anthony Melton, Brandin Podziemski and Yaxel Lendeborg were among the Warriors players to wear different Valkyries jerseys of players such as Kaitlyn Chen and Tiffany Hayes during warmups for the final preseason game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night. 

Curry donned a No. 22 Veronica Burton jersey as he went through his routine. Burton's dad, Boston-based sports broadcaster Steve Burton, posted on social media how "surreal" it was to see Curry wear his daughter's jersey. 

"This is pretty surreal," he posted on X. "My favorite NBA player, Steph Curry, is warming up in my daughter's jersey. GO VALKS!!!" 

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr is expected to attend Game 1 at Chase Center before the team gears up for their season opener against the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday.

Kerr expected members of the team to join him in the stands with the raucous Valkyries crowd as Golden State took on the Atlanta Dream for the best-of-seven series. 

On Friday, he expressed admiration for how quickly the Valkyries have ascended to the WNBA's peak in just their second year of existence, the organization's stunning development led by president Jess Smith, general manager Ohemaa Nyanin and head coach Natalie Nakase, and the fan base's fervor that's come along with it. 

"Just whatever the Valkyries just did, that's what you have to do," Kerr said. "It's remarkable, really. I can't think of a better unveiling of an expansion franchise. We have a lot of people in our organization who deserve a lot of credit for the branding, and deciding on the name and the logo and the colors, and the way the arena looks when you walk in."

Kerr attended the Valkyries' very first game last year against the Los Angeles Sparks at Chase Center and marveled at the lilac-hued environment.

"I honestly can't think of another franchise that was able to pull this off," Kerr said. "I know the Las Vegas Knights did a great job in the NHL, I think they made the Stanley Cup Finals in their first year. They obviously had a lot of success early, and filled up the arena. I'm sure there are others, but I just can't imagine anyone did a better job (than the Valkyries). And then on the basketball side, to build a championship team in a year and a half is stunning. So it's a remarkable achievement."

Staff writer Ron Kroichick contributed to this article.

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This article originally published at Steve Kerr, Warriors expected at WNBA Finals Game 1 to support Golden State Valkyries.



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