The Golden State Valkyries brought out one of Oakland's biggest music exports for Game 5 of the WNBA Finals. En Vogue performed the halftime show at Chase Center on Monday, Oct. 26, with the Valkyries leading the Atlanta Dream 25-22 at the break, USA Today reported.
What they sang
The group performed "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)" and "Free Your Mind" in matching flowing black outfits, according to USA Today. Dinah Jane of Fifth Harmony sang the national anthem before tipoff.
About En Vogue
- The group formed in Oakland in 1989 and became one of the most successful R&B acts of the 1990s. It has sold more than 20 million albums worldwide, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
- Other hits include "Hold On," "Giving Him Something He Can Feel" and the Salt-N-Pepa collaboration "Whatta Man."
- The current lineup is original members Terry Ellis, Cindy Herron and Maxine Jones, who rejoined last year, according to Bay Area News Group.
- The trio played the Toyota Pavilion in Concord on Oct. 11 on the TLC and Salt-N-Pepa tour. Bay Area News Group's Jim Harrington wrote that En Vogue "arguably turned in the finest performance" on that bill.
A Bay Area soundtrack for the Finals
The Valkyries have leaned on Bay Area-connected performers throughout their first Finals run, the Chronicle reported:
- Game 1 (Oct. 17): the lineup was Oakland R&B and soul singer Goapele on the anthem, longtime Berkeley resident Rita Moreno on the pregame drum, and San Francisco rapper Larry June at halftime.
- Game 2 (Oct. 19): the lineup was Alanis Morissette on the anthem, Oakland rap pioneer Too Short on the drum, and Vallejo rapper LaRussell at halftime.
- Game 5 (Oct. 26): En Vogue at halftime.
Game recap: Valkyries beat Dream 64-55 in Game 5.