As tens of thousands of fans looked on through binoculars Monday night, the Golden State Valkyries unveiled their new mascot: a bespectacled purple raven named Violet, who cartwheeled her way onto the court and into the hearts of the Valkyries faithful.
Violet’s halftime entrance came as the culmination of a saga that began on Thursday, when the Valkyries announced that a “mysterious, unusually large, violet egg” from an “undetermined bird species” had appeared in Thrive City, the area outside Chase Center. The organization set up a livestream cam and designated Monday night’s game against the Connecticut Sun as “Bird Watchers Night.”
As fans gathered both inside and outside the arena on the night of the game, everyone seemed to have their own theory for what creature might hatch from “the egg.”
“I think it’s going to be a raven,” said Sophia, an 18-year-old from Menlo Park who cited connections from Norse mythology. “They’re very closely associated with valkyries, and I’ve seen them on the screen during past games. I’ve also seen stuff about them following valkyries when they go on their adventures.”
The Golden State Valkyries mascot Violet is unveiled at halftime during the Valkyries game against the Connecticut Sun at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
And as the game built to halftime, Chloe, a 13-year-old from Fairfield, said she agreed that it would be a purple raven.
“There’s just a lot of feathers, and the egg’s purple for the Valkyries,” she said.
Her cousin Bryce, a 9-year-old from Daly City, begged to differ. “I think it’s going to be a pterodactyl,” he said. “I don’t know, I just think it is.”
A video shown in the arena at halftime – shot from the mascot’s point of view – started the unveiling. After hatching from the egg and finding her uniform, the raven was invited onto the court by the Valkyries’ dance team.
When Violet strutted and somersaulted her way onto the court, she was met with near-universal acclaim from the Valkyries’ latest sellout crowd of 18,064fans. She immediately attempted several layups with the help of Golden State Warriors center Quinten Post, and missed the first few. She ultimately sank one during a break in the fourth quarter.
She also performed a few Bay Area dances with a young dance crew, much to the delight of the home fans.
“They were great, very Bay Area, so you love to see the Bay being represented,” said Samantha Howard, a fan from Brooklyn who has lived in San Francisco for the past 13 years. “The dance group was certainly much better than the attempts to make a basket.”
And as for Violet herself, Howard said she was a little surprised, but enthusiastic regardless.
“You know, adorable, but I was expecting a more powerful warrior bird, like a black raven screeching across the ground,” she said. “Very cute, but she was just born, so I could imagine maybe she’ll evolve into a more powerful bird in the future.”
Golden State Valkyries mascot Violet scores a basket during a time out during the Valkyries game against the Connecticut Sun in the fourth quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
Alba Barreto, a senior citizen from San Francisco, said she thought the reveal was “wonderful.”
“I’m so glad Violet was with us this evening, and I think she’s going to be an asset to the Valkyries,” she said.
Fans on Reddit were also mostly positive, as well.
“The Norse theme continues,” user Ok-Cheesecake-8719 wrote in a threat on r/wnba. “I love it! Would’ve loved to see a deep cut with the names of Odin’s actual ravens, but they’re not very Basketball themed so I get it.”
Reddit user sharingtheflame echoed Howard’s wish for more ferocity: “I was expecting something a bit more badass but we shall embrace her nonetheless.”
As for the Valkyries, Violet’s arrival onto the basketball court might just have lit something of a fire beneath them. After leading by just six points at halftime, they sank a succession of 3-point baskets – including five in the third quarter alone – to balloon their lead over the Sun to 20 points. They never looked back, winning 74-57.
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Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase was busy with her halftime message during Violet’s introduction, but she did have a tip for the mascot’s layup skills.
“I mean, maybe dunk it, how about that?” she said.
The Valkyries’ next two games are on the road, including at Washington at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Violet’s next chance for a home appearance will be Sunday at 5:30 p.m. when Golden State hosts the Atlanta Dream.
Tina Chen contributed to this story.
The Golden State Valkyries mascot Violet is unveiled at halftime during the Valkyries game against the Connecticut Sun at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)