El Área de La Bahía will be El Área de Las Estrellas next July.
Only a few weeks after staging, perhaps, the largest All-Star weekend in WNBA history in Chicago, the W wasted no time announcing the next locale that would be home to its midseason festivities.
That locale would be the San Francisco Bay Area.
It getting the nod for All-Star weekend in 2027 is a clear reflection of the meteoric success its home team – the Golden State Valkyries – have already experienced.
With Joe Lacob and Peter Guber leading the charge as Valkyries owners, Jess Smith as team president, Ohemaa Nyanin as general manager and Natalie Nakase as head coach, Golden State has wasted no time putting its imprint on the WNBA.
The Valks made the playoffs last season as an expansion franchise and have already clinched a playoff berth this season. In addition, Ballhalla is giving the New York Liberty’s Barclays Center a run for its money as the best home court atmosphere in the W.
We may be approximately still a year away from when the Bay Area is engulfed in the glitz and glamour that is WNBA All-Star, but it is never too early to give our thoughts on next year’s version of the W’s marquee midseason festivities.
Oakland
Of course, when considering anything having to do with the San Francisco Bay Area, one cannot help but think of the city on the other side of the Bay.
The Chase Center, the home venue of the Valkyries, will be the home of All-Star Friday Night (Kia Shooting Stars, State Farm 3-Point Contest) as well as the All-Star Game itself on Saturday.
The plan appears to be for everything to be more centralized as opposed to this year in Chicago where everything was spread out between multiple venues – including Wintrust Arena for All-Star Friday Night and the United Center for the All-Star Game itself.
It would have been a nice touch if that same formula could have been duplicated for next year. For example – if Oakland’s venue (the artist formerly known as Oracle Arena) were to have received All-Star Friday Night with Chase Center hosting the All-Star Game itself. Oakland is home to the Valkyries’ headquarters as well as the team’s practice facility.
Stud Budz Stream
The last two All-Star weekends, a popular feature has been the continuous Stud Budz stream.
Remember when Nneka Ogwumike mentioned in Chicago at the time that she was unsure as to where All-Star 2027 would be but mentioned players wanting it in the Bay Area?
Those players got their wish. We can only imagine that Courtney Williams’ and Natisha Hiedeman’s stream from next year’s All-Star festivities could be the most fun of them all.
Indianapolis was one thing. Then there was Chicago which is an even larger city than Indy. The San Francisco Bay Area? An All-Star in that locale is tailor made for the Budz.
Steph vs. Sabrina Part 2
Remember a few years ago when Indianapolis played host to the NBA’s All-Star festivities and one of the features of that weekend was a 3-Point Contest between Sabrina Ionescu and Stephen Curry?
If there is any city that deserves for them both to run it back, it is San Francisco. After all, Ionescu is a Bay Area native and Curry has become an adopted son of the Bay Area as the centerpiece of the Golden State Warriors’ dynasty.
If it happens anywhere, it has to be at Ballhalla.
First Time For Everything
There is a first time for everything. The WNBA has had a history in California ever since the league’s founding. The W’s presence in California has included the Los Angeles Sparks, the Sacramento Monarchs and, now, the Valkyries.
Let us not forget that the first-ever WNBA game took place in California. Los Angeles Sparks. New York Liberty. The (now Kia) Forum in Inglewood in 1997.
But prior to 2017, the WNBA had yet to host All-Star in California. Next year that will change.
Expect for the Bay Area to go huge as the W’s midseason festivities have finally made their way to the west coast. A perfect opportunity for both Kamala Harris and Gavin Newsom to grab courtside seats.
WNBA-MLB Connection
If the years 2026-2028 are any indication, it appears that wherever the W goes, Major League Baseball closely follows.
This year, the WNBA staged its All-Star festivities in Chicago. Next year (collective bargaining agreement permitting), MLB will host its All-Star Game at Wrigley Field – the home diamond of the Chicago Cubs.
Where is the 2028 version of Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game scheduled to take place? Oracle Park – home of the San Francisco Giants. Perhaps, MLB is taking notes on how to put together an All-Star week to remember from the WNBA.
