Jess Smith, president of the Golden State Valkyries since 2024, says she does not seek work-life balance but instead feels grateful for the opportunity to work more, spend more time with her children and partner, and take better care of herself. At 41, she held positions across several professional sports leagues and led revenue at Angel City FC before joining the Valkyries, where she helped build the franchise from the ground up. The team, which has around 88 full-time employees, sold 10,000 season tickets before its inaugural season and became the first WNBA expansion team to reach the playoffs in its debut year. Smith requires her staff to take time off and protect their well-being, including through two work-from-home weeks and breaks during November and December. The Valkyries are currently leading the WNBA Finals two games to one against the Atlanta Dream, with Game 4 scheduled for Monday.
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