Rivalries can’t be created and manufactured like a product in an assembly line. They have to be fostered and developed organically, across years and generations.
In basketball, such organic rivalries often happen between comparable teams vying for common goal. This was true with the Los Angeles Sparks and the Minnesota Lynx of the mid-to-late 2010s, as the teams faced each other in the WNBA Finals in 2016 and 2017.
The Sparks won it in 2016, and the Lynx got it done the following year. A decade laser,
the Minnesota-Los Angeles matchup no longer has any juice left to squeeze, as the games between the two franchises now have the same intensity as any other matchup.
However, a new rival for LA has emerged with the creation of the Golden State Valkyries. The reason Los Angeles would have animosity towards Golden State is obvious. It scratches the scab between the two regions that has always existed. It’s SoCal vs. NorCal.
More specifically, here are three reasons that Sparks-Valkyries could become the W’s signature rivalry.
1. It’s the WNBA version of an NBA rivalry
LA and San Francisco are two vastly different places residing in the same state.
Add in the fact that Sparks fans are commonly Lakers fans, and Valkyries aficionados root for the Warriors, and the fanbases are already accustomed to rooting for their side and hoping the other comes up short.
2. The Sparks and Valkyries have opposing histories and cultures
There’s also the style and history of both franchises, which couldn’t be more different.
The Sparks are one of the original eight WNBA franchises. The Valkyries are a team in their second year. Los Angeles is a team consistently built on superstars. They’ve had players like Candace Parker, Lisa Leslie and Nneka Ogwumike. And they traded for Kelsey Plum in 2025 to ensure they’d have star power as they try to return to glory.
The Valkyries have been built through the expansion draft. This past offseason, they didn’t look to gain a superstar and create a sizzle with no steak. Instead, they are a balanced team, prioritizing fit over perceived talent as they have looked to maximize previously under-utilized players. Last year, they had five players who averaged in double digits, and no one scored more than 15 points per game.
3. The LAS-GSV in-game intensity was instant
So far, the energy has been up whenever these two teams face each other.
In Golden State’s first regular-season game ever, LA was the opponent, and Plum gave the entire team a welcome to the WNBA moment, scoring 37 points in a Sparks win.
However, the Valkyries got the last laugh.
They won the other three games against the Sparks, and they made the playoffs, while LA was once again done with their season before the postseason began.
Is the rivalry there in reality, or does it just look good on paper?
We’ll need more fiery contests, along with animosity between the fanbases, to turn this into a true rivalry. But it’s well on its way to becoming one. Both teams compete in the West and are vying for the hearts of Californians to be THE team of the state. Los Angeles has the advantage given all of their years in the WNBA, but that can change in the blink of an eye if the Valkyries win titles. The Sparks are hoping that doesn’t happen, and the Valkyries are working to make that dream a reality.
With the Sparks taking on the Valkyries on Monday night in the Commissioner’s Cup, the next chapter of this saga will begin (10 p.m. ET, NBCSN).
In the comments, let us know what you think. Sparks fans, do you see the Valkyries as a rival? Valkyries fans, do want more in-state animosity to develop between the two teams? And, do you expect any extra spice between the two sides on Monday night?
