SAN FRANCISCO – Warriors fans packed the Chase Center for the first home game of the season.
The team was undefeated after two wins on the road, but suffered their first loss against the Clippers on Sunday.
Still, many fans remain optimistic, like lifelong Warriors fan Jackie Sanchez.
“The energy with the team this year is very different, it’s very electric and the atmosphere is very positive,” Sánchez said of the atmosphere in the arena. “I love it.”
Sánchez has season tickets and tries not to miss a game. She already knows there is one game she won’t miss when the Mavericks come to town in November with former Warrior, Klay Thompson.
“It’s sad, it’s just sad,” Sánchez said. “I’m not going to miss that game in Dallas. I’m going to be here. I think it’s going to be a super emotional night, but that being said, I think the momentum when it’s all said and done was really positive.”
Before the game, that positivity radiated through Thrive Cty as fans young and old showed up for the game.
“He turned two months yesterday, so to celebrate his two months,” Mickey Fernandez said about why he brought his new son, Junior, to the game.
Fernandez hopes to inspire his son at an early age to become an athlete himself.
“I don’t know, in some sport, in some sport, he’s going to be interested in something,” Fernandez said.
He also wants to encourage his son to support the Bay Area teams that are still here.
“The Raiders are gone, now that the A’s are leaving, it’s quite a blow,” Fernandez said as Junior began to cry. “He’s not happy about it either.”
But there are things to be happy about, despite the Warriors’ loss on Sunday, they have a winning record and a lot can happen between now and the NBA Finals.
Fan Yash Nalluri is expecting a big year.
“Definitely a chip, and a steph MVP,” Nalluri said.
Sanchez had season tickets when the Warriors went all the way in 2022. She says the experience was incredible, and something she hopes to experience again in 2025.
“I think it’s really amazing to reach that point and become a champion and reach the top of any sport. They’ve done it several times in such a short period of time,” Sánchez said. “It was great.”
In addition to the heavy defeat, Steph Curry left the game early with an injury. Still, fans believe they can bounce back against the Clippers on Tuesday.
