BOUNCE Podcast Launch Party

There’s a new game in town. The Golden State Valkyries are about to tip off. Let’s go!

On May 20, join KALW for a launch party celebrating the return of BOUNCE, the nationally award winning basketball podcast by, about, and for the Bay.

Women’s basketball is bigger than ever. We’re seeing record-breaking viewership of college and professional games, endorsement deals matching the men's, and a whole new level of hype. And right at this inflection point, the Bay Area is getting its first-ever WNBA team."BOUNCE: The Valkyries First Season in the Bay" will chronicle this historic season. Meet host Erin Lim, lead reporter Demetrius Johnson, and executive producer Ben Trefny, be the first to listen to upcoming stories, and share your experience of what the game means to you.

About Bounce

Five years ago, we traced the Golden State Warriors final season in Oakland. But it was more than just the games. It was about the effects on the economy, the culture, and the fans. This time, it’s not about the end. It’s about the beginning.There’s a lot to talk about. From the groundbreaking coach.To the new generation of players. We’re here for the backstories — the money, the vibe, and the impact on community. In a place renowned for acceptance, creativity, disruption, and success, the next chapter in the evolution of basketball is about to be written. Don’t miss a moment of the Valkyries’ first season in the Bay.

This 10-episode, sound-rich, biweekly podcast will follow the same model as the nationally award-winning "BOUNCE: The Warriors Last Season in Oakland." That means intro segments tracking the immediate news of the team from the opening tip through the final bucket. But more importantly, it means features contextualizing this historical moment in women's sports and what it means to people in the Bay Area. One episode will review the history of women's team sports in the United States through the sound of its great moments.

One will profile Valkyries Head Coach Natalie Nakase, the first Asian American to lead a team in the WNBA. One will use a collaborative mural project to show how the Golden State franchise is deepening its Oakland roots through arts, culture, and women's empowerment. Storylines abound: the team's unprecedented popularity; the new WNBA rivalry that echoes one that shaped the NBA two generations ago; how a team that reflects the Bay's ethos plays around a divisive nation. It will all unfold over the four month season beginning in mid-May. Let's see what happens.

There is a $10 - $20 sliding scale suggested donation for this event. Nobody will be turned away for lack of funds.

Please become a KALW member today and receive your first drink on us at all 220 Montgomery events.

📍 220 Montgomery St., San Francisco, 2 blocks from BART/MUNI
🚪 Reception doors open at 6:15
🗣️ Program begins at 7:15
🆓 The event is free with an RSVP — and you are welcome to donate what you want

Please note:

• The event space is just to the left of the main entrance to the Mills Building at 220 Montgomery Street
• We recommend taking BART/MUNI, exiting at Montgomery, and walking two blocks north
• Ride-shares can drop off and pick up directly in front of the venue
• If you drive, there are several garages within two blocks of the event location; free street parking is available across from the venue at 7:00 pm

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