Who we are

Inspired by the first home preseason game on May 6, 2025 against the LA Sparks, we started this podcast to get to know the players more deeply and to build community around this incredible team and its fans. The Ballhalla energy was undeniable. From the moment we stepped into the Chase Center, we knew we wanted to be part of the magic.

We’re not sports analysts, we’re storytellers. In season one, each episode spotlighted a player from the final roster, bringing their story to life on and off the court, beyond simple stats.

As teachers, moms, artists, entrepreneurs, and former ballers, we use the podcast to laugh together, educate, connect, and amplify women’s sports.

As we head into Season 2, we’re continuing to keep it family-friendly and community-focused, while also expanding the podcast beyond audio. We’re pursuing press credentials to include game-day coverage, video content, and player & community interviews.

We love the Valkyries and their fans!

Meet Raina Mast:

“5’10”! Small forward from Easton, Pennsylvania! Number 23! RAINA M-A-S-T! “ Cue 4 Non Blonds walk out song: “Heyyyy yay yay! What’s going on?!”

Raina (she, they) played D3 basketball at Dickinson College, PA. As a captain as a freshman of a losing team, Raina’s working class ambitions led them to be a jack of many trades beyond sports: teaching, ceramics, painting, writing, dancing, music, and now podcasting.

Raised on basketball (Dad played for Knicks and Hawks and coached Raina’s teams), the podcast banter of “Valkyries, Say Less!” transports 47-year-old Raina back to the nerdiness of what makes basketball beautiful: the earnest need for strategic choreography that doesn’t just win, but is art, the precious justice in the rules everyone agrees to for that hour and a half (especially when there aren’t enough whistles calling fouls in the real world), and the common agreement to give it our all, whether on the court or screaming on the sidelines. The Valkyries and Balhalla brought in a different, extra happiness to Raina’s life, and there was no choice but to create a podcast to share that gitty fun and love of basketball with the world.

Check out Raina’s other projects:

Raina's Website

Meet Vanessa Hutchinson-Szekely

Bonjour!

Vanessa is a San Francisco-born-and-raised educator, writer, and mindfulness advocate with deep French roots in Haute-Savoie. She’s the founder of Big Belly Breathing, creating over 100 guided meditations, journals, and fabulous resources for families. A former high school basketball player (MVP at French American High School in ‘97!) and lifelong fan of movement, Vanessa was named “Keeper of the Realm” by the Golden State Valkyries during Season 1—a title given to just 5 of 11,000 season ticket holders for boosting community joy and superfan energy.

She combines her passion for teaching, storytelling, and wellness to connect communities and amplify women’s sports. When she’s not podcasting or project managing, she’s exploring the city with her daughters & friends, crafting children’s book adventures, or writing articles on education, mindfulness, and social justice.

Vanessa is actively seeking a publisher for her fully illustrated, print-ready book, “Little Teazen in San Francisco: The Search for the Missing Ingredient”, the first in an 18-book series set in cities that host WNBA teams. Watch the video below and if this project speaks to your heart, please reach out!