‘Dune’ Star Zendaya Shows Up to Support the Golden State Valkyries at the WNBA Finals

Zendaya has spent much of the past year in the global spotlight. The Emmy-winning actress appeared in Christopher Nolan’s record-breaking ‘The Odyssey’ and is set to return as Chani in ‘Dune: Part Three’ on December 18, with a new pixie cut that has quickly become one of her most talked-about looks.

But this week, the Oakland-born star has been reconnecting with her Northern California roots. Just days ago, on October 23, she was spotted at Folsom High School’s Senior Night football game, cheering on her nephew, a senior linebacker on the team.

Her Bay Area tour continued in a big way on Monday night. As Film Updates shared, Zendaya attended the WNBA Finals, showing up at Chase Center in San Francisco for Game 5 between the Golden State Valkyries and the Atlanta Dream.

In a clip shared by the WNBA, the actress can be seen in the stands clapping along with the crowd. The league celebrated her arrival with an on-screen caption declaring that Zendaya was in Ballhalla, the nickname fans have given the Valkyries’ home arena.

Rather than sitting courtside, she kept things low-key by watching from the stands. She wore the free purple Valkyries ‘Finals’ T-shirt waiting at every seat and was accompanied by her mother, Claire Stoermer.

Zendaya attends the WNBA Finals https://t.co/3TtaDNpbLr

— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) October 27, 2026

Zendaya was fully invested in the action. An SFGATE reporter in the building said she cheered boisterously for the home team, and photos show her waving one of the inflatable thundersticks handed out to fans.

The crowd erupted when she appeared on the Chase Center jumbotron. She was also spotted moving her head to the beat during halftime, when Oakland R&B group En Vogue performed a medley of hits including ‘My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It)’ and ‘Free Your Mind’.

Zendaya in the building in the Bay for WNBA Finals Game 5 https://t.co/wZRSfPrKKj

— Avery Braxton (@Brax_Avery) October 27, 2026

Her visit carried special meaning for at least one player. Valkyries guard Veronica Burton had said just last week that she hoped Zendaya and her husband, Tom Holland, would make it out to a game, though she admitted she’d be nervous knowing the actress was watching.

While Zendaya regularly attends Golden State Warriors games, this appears to be her first Valkyries outing, likely because of her packed filming schedule. Many fans online noted that her appearance felt less like a celebrity sighting and more like a hometown fan showing up for her team.

zendaya at the WNBA finals in san francisco! https://t.co/34awtflBnM

— tomdaya archive˙⋆✮ (@tomdayaarchive) October 27, 2026

The Valkyries delivered for their famous supporter. Entering the game with the series tied 2-2, Golden State defeated Atlanta 64-55 to take a 3-2 lead in the Finals. It’s a remarkable run for a franchise that only joined the WNBA in 2025 and became the first expansion team in league history to reach the postseason in its inaugural season.

Zendaya wasn’t the only famous face in the stands. Rapper E-40, former soccer star Megan Rapinoe, Chris Paul, and former WNBA players Ruthie Bolton and Candace Parker were also spotted supporting the Valkyries.

The new trailer for ‘DUNE: PART 3’ has been released. In theaters on December 18. https://t.co/T1eilXnA1N

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) July 8, 2026

The team has attracted plenty of Bay Area celebrities this season, including comedian Ali Wong and rappers Too Short and LaRussell. Zendaya’s appearance only added to the excitement surrounding the franchise’s historic Finals run. With the Valkyries now one win away from a championship, fans will be hoping their most famous supporter might make another appearance before the series wraps up.

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