Golden State Valkyries’ Inaugural Season Chronicled in Popular Podcast “BOUNCE”

A podcast documenting the historic first season of the Golden State Valkyries, the Bay Area’s new WNBA expansion team, has gained a dedicated following and highlighted the growing popularity of women’s professional basketball.

“BOUNCE: The Valkyries’ 1st Season in the Bay,” produced by KALW, a public media radio station, was initially conceived as a reboot of a 2019 podcast focused on the Golden State Warriors. Reporter Erin Lim, a Bay Area native, pivoted the focus to the Valkyries, becoming a bridge for both new and seasoned basketball fans. Despite a background in baseball, having previously worked with the San Francisco Giants, Lim embraced the “violet fervor” surrounding the team. “I fell out of love with the Giants and fell in love with the WNBA and the Valkyries,” Lim said. “I am on a huge learning curve right now.”

The Valkyries made history this year as the first WNBA team to reach the playoffs in their inaugural season, fueling the podcast’s success and leading to live studio events with over 40 attendees. These events fostered a strong community around the team, something producer Ben Trefny emphasized. “It’s this community of sports, women’s sports, women, Valkyries themselves and Bay Area people who love all these different things,” Trefny said. The podcast also spotlighted Natalie Nakase, the WNBA’s first Asian American head coach, and Rikki’s, San Francisco’s first women’s sports bar.

However, the future of “BOUNCE” and KALW’s programming remains uncertain due to funding cuts to public media. Lim stressed the importance of community support for continued production. “This thing that I was able to do for the last six months wouldn’t be possible without public media,” she said. The success of the Valkyries and podcasts like “BOUNCE” demonstrate the increasing demand for women’s sports content, potentially attracting new investment and viewership to the WNBA.

KALW officials are currently exploring funding options to ensure a potential second season of “BOUNCE,” with Trefny stating that finding a way to continue is more important than immediate financial concerns.