Valkyries president Jess Smith shares how the new WNBA team broke season ticket records, built a loyal fan base, and leveraged the impact of ‘Caitlin-mania’—all in its first year.

At 32 years old, Kayla Thornton had only averaged double figures once in her WNBA career. Last year, she averaged 5.5 points and 2.6 rebounds in 20.3 minutes off the bench for the New York Liberty en route to the franchise’s first title.

Heading into the match-up, the No. 6 Valkyries have a 9-7 record, and the Lynx are 15-2, a record that puts them at the top of the WNBA.