Natalie Nakase, Valkyries Coach, Named WNBA Coach of the Year
Golden State Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase has been awarded the WNBA Coach of the Year award, the league announced this Wednesday. In her first season at the helm of the team, Nakase led the Valkyries to a 23-21 record. This achievement is remarkable, far surpassing the performance of the last WNBA expansion team in 2008. Golden State also became the first expansion team to reach the playoffs in its inaugural season. Nakase received 53 of the 72 total votes. Karl Smesko, Dream coach, got 15 votes, while Becky Hammon of the Las Vegas Aces and Cheryl Reeve of the Minnesota Lynx received two votes each. After serving as an assistant coach under Hammon’s direction at the Aces for the last three seasons, Nakase was hired by team owner Joe Lacob and the Valkyries in October 2024.Lacob made his expectations for the WNBA team clear, just as he has done with the Warriors, his NBA team.At first, I was obviously nervous. The winning culture… everything he does, he sets a goal and achieves it… It inspired me a lot to have an interview with him.
Natalie Nakase
Lacob’s expectations for the Valkyries’ first season were exceeded. Almost all of Nakase’s players finished the season with career-high averages, including Veronica Burton, winner of the Most Improved Player award. Before a season-ending injury in July, Kayla Thornton was also making a case for that award. Nakase always highlights her staff and everyone around her. One of the reasons Nakase attributes her success to others is that they have allowed her to be true to herself.Whoever gets this job has to win in five years. That’s the requirement. When you doubt me or present me with a good challenge, I’m going to go after it 100%. That’s when I knew I really wanted to work for this man because he has very high standards.
Natalie Nakase
Nakase was aware of being a basketball “sicko,” texting her staff until 3 a.m., watching videos for countless hours, and calling herself a foul-mouthed “MFer.” She didn’t realize how she was perceived externally.As soon as I met her, I realized how intense she is. I love it. She is passionate about everything she does. She is very intentional and clearly cares a lot. When you have someone who is super involved and is for us, how can you not want that?
Veronica Burton
However, she always feels completely accepted in Golden State.
I thought I was a little more cheerful, I thought I had a smile on my face, but I’m starting to learn that I’m more intense. The reason I do that is because the players allow me to be myself. I am proud that they accept me for who I am. They allow me to train them hard, tell them the truth, curse them directly in the moments when they need it. The more I feel that they love me and care about me in an environment, the more I can be myself.
Natalie Nakase
