SAN FRANCISCO – Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski went through his usual array of mega-fan routines during the Valkyries’ 84-57 victory over the frustrated Seattle Storm on Sunday night.
He waved his arms after Valkyries baskets, mimicked officials when the Storm were called for offensive fouls and stayed on his feet for the majority of the game while wearing a No. 2 Kaitlyn Chen jersey.
Among a celebrity-laced sold-out crowd that also included teammate Steph Curry, soccer icon Megan Rapinoe and her WNBA legend of a wife, Sue Bird, and South Carolina coach Dawn Staley, none were as enthusiastic as Podziemski.
Aside from hyping up the audience and players, he was also introducing a pair of rookies to the raucous environment known as “Ballhalla.”
Sitting next to Podziemski was second-round pick Alex Toohey and undrafted free agent and Sacramento native Coleman Hawkins.
“It was incredible,” Toohey said. “First of all, the atmosphere was unbelievable, and like nothing I’ve been a part of before.”
Golden State Valkyries’ Kayla Thornton (5) celebrates after shooting a three-point shot against Chicago Sky in the fourth quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Friday, June 27, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
Hawkins, who attended Prolific Prep in Napa, has known Podziemski for years.
The two played together at the University of Illinois during the 2021-22 season, and the the second-year guard has helped the rookie forward acclimate to the Warriors organization.
“But Brandon’s been good to me, and he’s been helping me out,” Hawkins said. “And you know, he’s a familiar face, and I’m happy that he’s here in this organization so he can show me the ropes.”
Podziemski is a native of Wisconsin but has spent much of the offseason in his adopted home. Toohey could not help but note how the shooting guard’s love of the Bay shines through.
“He’s such a great guy, and we had some good conversations,” Toohey said. “He loves the city and loves the team, and spoke about his process and how he got to where he is.”
Hawkins and Toohey will go from sitting courtside at Chase Center to playing on the court this weekend, when the pair suit up for the California Classic Summer League on Saturday.
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