The Golden State Valkyries made their WNBA debut on May 16, an occasion marked by a sellout crowd, a series of league firsts and even a lingering controversy.
More than 18,000 packed the Chase Center in San Francisco to see the league's newest team play their first game. It is said to be the highest attendance ever for a WNBA home opener.
Asked to describe the environment, Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase had a single-word response at the ready: loud.
"That's exactly what I wanted," Nakase said during a postgame press conference. "If I could have dreamed of an environment - the roars, the screams, the shouts... that crowd, they're going to support us regardless. To have that kind of support, it's surreal."
Turnovers in particular spoiled the debut, however, as Golden State fell to the visiting L.A. Sparks, 82-67.
"It's hard to win a game that way," said Nakase. "I have to give them a little grace, with the kind of environment we had," she added, referencing the large crowd and the fact that for several of her players, it was a new experience to start and have heavy playing time.
"We'll clean it up, take a look at it, but I know there's a lot of room for improvement," she said. "Their effort was there and I'm never going to get upset with that."
Nakase also admitted to having a bit of an emotional moment when she spotted Doc Rivers, who had mentored her as an assistant when he was the head coach of the L.A. Clippers.
"Obviously I was a little choked up. He doesn't live out here, so for him to fly here to support me, that warmed my heart for sure," she said.
The Valkyries' debut was not without controversy, however, as a painful decision was made in the days before they took the court.
After selecting University of Connecticut guard Kaitlyn Chen in the WNBA draft on April 15, Golden State left her off the roster in its final round of preseason cuts.
For many fans, it was a stunning move, as Chen was fresh off a NCAA national championship with UConn and was poised to be the first Taiwanese player in the WNBA, playing for Nakase, the league's first Asian American head coach.
Reaction was swift from players and supporters from across the country.
Phoenix Mercury forward and WNBA All-Star Satou Sabally called the optics of the decision "tough."
"Even though she got the exposure she deserved, the question is whether the team truly invested in her future," Sabally said in a social media post.
Much of the criticism of the move stemmed from how aggressively the league promoted Chen during the preseason, fervently marketing her jersey for sale. Chen's gear is said to have been one of the top sellers, with orders outpacing even that of WBNA stars like Sabrina Ionescu.
The notion that the league took advantage of Chen's marketability without regard for her future development or inclusion has not sat well with many fans.
Chen made her mark on history by playing in an official preseason game on May 6, regarded by many supporters as an important milestone for Asian American representation in pro sports.
Fans took to social media after the cut was announced, voicing overwhelming support for Chen, who stands a solid chance of landing with another team.
"The bay loves you. So proud. The Valkyries failed in this," one fan wrote.