Natalie Nakase is making history—and headlines. In a groundbreaking year, she became the first Asian-American to coach a WNBA game, led the Golden State Valkyries, the league’s first expansion team, to a playoff berth in their inaugural season, and now she’s been named the Associated Press Coach of the Year.
The 45-year-old California native is known for her fiery courtside presence, passionate leadership, and relentless work ethic. Wins fuel her. Losses drive her. Her commitment is unquestioned.
Nakase’s journey has been anything but conventional. A former pro player in the National Women’s Basketball League and overseas in Germany and Japan, she spent a decade with the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers—rising from video intern to assistant coach.
This isn’t her first taste of WNBA success, either. In 2022, she helped lead the Las Vegas Aces to back-to-back championships, the league’s first in over two decades, serving as Becky Hammon’s top assistant.
Now, as head coach of the Valkyries, Nakase is carving her own legacy—boldly, and on her own terms.
The Valkyries post season begins on Sunday, September 14th at 10AM in Minnesota in a best of three first round playoffs against the Lynx. Here is the schedule:
🆚 | Minnesota Lynx
1️⃣ | Game 1: 9/14 at 10:00 AM in Minnesota
2️⃣ | Game 2: 9/17 at 7:00 PM at SAP Center
3️⃣ | Game 3: 9/19 Time TBD in Minnesota (if necessary)
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*Cover Photo by Kelly Cox
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