For sports skeptic Cheryl Espinosa-Jones, a $25 deposit on season tickets for the inaugural Golden State Valkyries season began as a curious impulse made by her wife, Deb Espinosa-Jones. As reported by SFGATE, that tentative step transformed into an indelible anchor through a terminal cancer diagnosis, the birth of a grandson, and a subsequent journey into Bay Area sports fandom.
On Oct. 17, 2026, Cheryl and her daughter, Amber Espinosa-Jones, crossed the Bay Bridge for Game 1 of the WNBA Finals between the Golden State Valkyries and the Atlanta Dream. Wearing her late wife’s ring on a chain and her “Founding Guard” jacket, Cheryl experienced the milestone game with the memory of Deb close at hand, particularly when veteran entertainer Rita Moreno served as the pre-game drum honoree—an artist Deb had loved since childhood.
From Sports Skeptic to Section 103 Faithful
Months before the team played its first game, Deb Espinosa-Jones was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer that quickly spread to her brain. Given roughly a year to live without treatment, Deb chose to fight while holding onto two distinct wishes: meeting her first grandson and seeing the WNBA come to Oakland. Growing up in Richmond during the 1960s, Deb had been the sole girl on the sandlot baseball field, barred from official teams. When the WNBA launched its expansion franchise, she seized the opportunity, buying season tickets without initial consultation.
Her enthusiasm proved contagious. Deb filled their Oakland home with violet team merchandise, memorized roster details, and converted friends and family into devoted supporters. Placed in Section 103 at Chase Center—affectionately dubbed “Ballhalla” by fans—the family found a community where they felt genuinely reflected. Research into the team’s initial audience showed that only 5% of the first 10,000 season ticket holders also held tickets for the Golden State Warriors, highlighting how the Valkyries attracted a distinct demographic of fans who had previously felt excluded from professional sports.
Navigating Terminal Illness and Continuing the Tradition
Despite being hospitalized three times during her grueling course of radiation and blood transfusions, Deb brought unbridled energy to her courtside seats. She cheered loudly, drew nurses into passionate team discussions, and lifted Cheryl to dance to the arena’s music. By late fall, however, declining health forced Deb to cancel her season tickets. She passed away on New Year’s Eve 2025 at the age of 73.
Determined to honor her mother’s passion while navigating profound grief, Amber and her siblings pooled funds to surprise Cheryl with two season tickets for the 2026 season on Christmas Eve. Cheryl, a licensed marriage and family therapist who hosts the podcast “Good Grief,” initially wrestled with the emotional weight of attending games alone or without her partner of 29 years. Yet, rather than viewing the seats merely as a memorial, she embraced the experience fully, noting that Deb had successfully converted her into an authentic basketball fan.
A Championship Run Built on Depth and Community
On the court, the Valkyries defied underdog expectations during their second season, securing the No. 2 seed with a 32-12 record before sweeping the Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals. In Game 1 of the Finals against Atlanta, stellar bench contributions—including 10 rebounds from Kaila Charles and crucial steals from six different players—propelled the team to a gritty victory.
For Cheryl, attending games in a sold-out arena surrounded by a vibrant queer community underscored a larger cultural truth. As she watched the team’s methodical roster-building focused on depth rather than isolated star power, she found solace in the shared atmosphere. “This world is just a mess,” Cheryl told SFGATE. “Joy is revolutionary.”