A Public Display of Rivalry
During the Golden State Valkyries’ championship parade in San Francisco on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, the organization turned its victory celebration into a pointed critique of Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese. As thousands of fans lined the waterfront route along The Embarcadero, staff members associated with the team were observed distributing and wearing merchandise that directly referenced a signature taunt Reese had used against the Valkyries earlier in the WNBA Finals.
The imagery featured Reese’s face superimposed onto the famous “crying Michael Jordan” meme, accompanied by the “too small” hand gesture she had directed at the Valkyries’ bench during Game 3. According to reporting by MARCA, some fans were seen with additional items, including pink pacifiers tagged with the altered meme and the phrase “if found return to: ATL.” This deliberate inclusion of the taunt in the team’s public festivities signals that the competitive friction generated during the seven-game championship series remains a defining element of the Valkyries’ inaugural title narrative.
The Origins of the ‘Too Small’ Taunt
The rivalry intensified significantly during Game 3 of the Finals, when the Atlanta Dream secured a 2-1 series lead following a 68-63 victory. During that contest, Reese recorded 21 points and 12 rebounds, directing her “too small” gesture toward the Valkyries’ bench after a physical sequence involving forward Aminata Gueye. At the time, the gesture was perceived as a turning point for the Dream’s momentum. However, the Valkyries responded by winning the subsequent four games to secure the championship in Game 7, with Reese’s scoring output limited to 15 points or fewer in each of those final appearances.
The Valkyries’ response to the taunt began immediately following their title-clinching victory on October 31, 2026. Aminata Gueye shared images referencing the gesture on social media, and teammate Tiffany Hayes was seen recreating the motion during locker-room celebrations. By bringing these inside jokes to the public parade, the organization has solidified the antagonism as a key part of their championship story, effectively weaponizing the opposition’s own psychological tactics against them.
Beyond the Taunts: Historical Context
The parade served as a celebration of a historic run for the Valkyries, who captured the WNBA title in only their second season of existence. Beyond the focus on the rivalry with Atlanta, the team also addressed external skepticism. Center Kiah Stokes wore a shirt displaying an ESPN championship-odds graphic from July, which had ranked the Valkyries sixth in the league. The team’s ability to overcome these projections and the “too small” taunts underscores their rapid development.
The victory in the first-ever Game 7 in WNBA Finals history marks the fastest title run by an expansion franchise in modern North American professional sports since 1967. With Finals MVP Gabby Williams leading the festivities and the roster becoming the first WNBA champion to win without an All-WNBA selection on the team, the parade was an opportunity to highlight both their resilience and their willingness to engage in the competitive banter that defined their season.