"On a recent August afternoon, Golden State Valkyries guard Kaitlyn Chen looks up, bends her knees and releases the ball with a flick of the wrist, sinking another 3-pointer. Down the violet-tinted court, forward Cecilia Zandalasini runs drills, crouching low as she dribbles the ball between her legs. "I love a good DJ," guard Tiffany Hayes tells KQED courtside, pointing to a music note tattoo on her ankle. "I think positive frequencies are important. ... The DJ in here got us rockin' right now, gettin' ready for the game.""
"In their inaugural season, the Valkyries have made WNBA history, consistently selling out Chase Center and breaking the record for most wins by an expansion team. Over the summer, LadyRyan got thousands dancing at festivals like Stern Grove, where she most recently opened for the Pointer Sisters, and the San Francisco Hip-Hop Festival, headlined by Digable Planets. She hosts a weekly radio show on KALW, and on Sept. 7, she'll perform at Oakland Pride. She and her partner, Dennise Acio, also recently opened Golden Ratio, a cozy, inclusive cocktail lounge with a dance floor and giant disco ball in downtown Oakland."
The Golden State Valkyries have achieved a historic inaugural WNBA season, selling out Chase Center and setting an expansion-team wins record. DJs LadyRyan and Shellheart perform at games, hyping crowds during timeouts, halftime, and interactive moments while centering women and queer fans. LadyRyan also DJs regional festivals, hosts a weekly KALW radio show, performs at Oakland Pride, and co-owns Golden Ratio, an inclusive downtown Oakland lounge. Players and fans respond to energized, anthem-driven sets that amplify positive, empowering frequencies. The game-day atmosphere frequently features lesbian flags, fashion-forward queer groups, and couples on dates, marking the arena as a visible queer-friendly space.
Read at Kqed
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