Basketball Legend Katie Smith Applauds WNBA Expansion to San Francisco
SAN FRANCISCO — Ohio State assistant coach Katie Smith expressed her enthusiasm about the WNBA’s expansion to the Bay Area ahead of the undefeated Buckeyes’ dominant win over Stanford at the Chase Center on Friday night during the Invisalign Bay Area Women’s Classic. The legendary player and coach, who returned to her alma mater after over a decade of coaching in the WNBA, highlighted the significance of bringing professional women’s basketball to a region rich in history and support for the sport.
“I think it’s awesome,” Smith said of the arrival of the Golden State Valkyries to the area. “Stanford has been a hotbed for women’s basketball for a long time. I remember the ABL, taking it back to the San Jose Lasers, the last pro basketball team here. There’s a great hub of women’s basketball fans here. For us, not being out here often, it’s like love coming to the city. So it’s phenomenal to have the presence here. I’m really excited about this.”
Smith, a Naismith Hall of Famer, three-time Olympic gold medalist, and one of the WNBA’s most celebrated players, knows firsthand the impact of professional women’s basketball. As a two-time league champion with the Detroit Shock and former all-time leading scorer, she’s been a cornerstone of the sport’s growth. Now, she’s proud to see the WNBA taking new strides with new franchises in Northern California, Toronto, and Portland, Oregon.
“I mean, more eyes on us is amazing. For us, it’s phenomenal,” Smith said about the league’s expansion efforts. “Now to have it celebrated in the viewership and the sponsorship—it’s unbelievable.”
For Smith, the timing of the new franchise is particularly fitting. The Valkyries, set to begin play in 2025, will debut in the same arena where Ohio State delivered its commanding victory over Stanford. Smith’s presence on the sideline serves as a reminder of her journey from an Ohio State star to a WNBA legend and now a mentor for the next generation of players.
Current Ohio State standouts Chance Gray and Madison Greene spoke of Smith’s impact on the team and their development as players after the win over Stanford.
“Having Katie on staff, she just gives you a different view of the game,” Gray said. “She sees things differently coming from the W so it’s good to just have somebody in your ear, just constantly reminding you of the little things. I think she puts an emphasis on making her cuts harder, using screens, just doing the little things at a very intense level.”
Greene pointed out Smith’s all-around knowledge of the game, in addition to helping improve the skills of guards and forwards: “She knows what she’s talking about. She has been really helpful for the team. She brings a lot of energy.”
With her Buckeyes thriving and the WNBA expanding, Smith sees a bright future for women’s basketball.
“We’ve believed in it for so long, been a part of it, and just want to continue to see it grow to higher heights.”
