Zendaya makes Valkyries dreams come true with WNBA Finals appearance

Actress Zendaya watches Game 5 of the 2026 WNBA Finals between the Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream at Chase Center in San Francisco on October 26, 2026. (Douglas Zimmerman/Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE) It's been a Northern California sports heavy week for Oakland-born actress Zendaya. Three days after watching her nephew compete in a high school football game in Folsom, the Emmy-winner made her way to Ballhala to catch Game 5 of the WNBA Finals between the Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream. An SFGATE reporter in the building saw Zendaya cheering along boisterously for the Valkyries. She even used giveaway inflatable thundersticks that were handed out to fans on her side of Chase Center during the second half. The Valkyries appeared to deliver a gift to her at one point in the third quarter. Cheers were raucous when Zendaya was shown on the Chase Center jumbotron.Supporting Bay Area basketball is nothing new for Zendaya, who regularly makes appearances at Warriors games. And unlike many a tech bro during Warriors playoff games, the "Euphoria" actress was happy to wear the Valkyries giveaway t-shirt over her designer outfit. Other celebs in attendance for Game 5 included Bay Area rap legend E-40 (for real this time), World Cup-winner Megan Rapinoe and 12-time NBA all-star Chris Paul.Zendaya's appearance was a dream come true for Valkyries guard Veronica Burton, who said just last week that she wanted Zendaya and husband Tom Holland to make it out for a game. Burton admitted she'd be nervous if she knew Zendaya was in attendance. But apparently that wasn't an issue on Monday. At the time of publication, Burton was leading Golden State with 11 points, seven rebounds and four blocks.  Zendaya watches Game 5 of the WNBA Finals between the Golden State Valkyries and Atlanta Dream at Chase Center in San Francisco on Oct. 26, 2026. (Douglass Zimmerman/SFGATE) The Valkyries are leading the Dream 56-44 midway through the fourth quarter.Most ReadAdvice |   My neighbors throw raucous parties. I want to call the police.Local |   San Francisco's most debated street name to change againCrime |Arrest made after Calif. DoorDash driver found dead in Tesla trunkNews |Man who died by self-immolation at Bay Area beach may have rare backgroundRead our stories ad-free on the new SFGATE app.This article originally published at Zendaya makes Valkyries dreams come true with WNBA Finals appearance.