Coach Nakase Brings Championship Pedigree

The Golden State Valkyries have their first coach in franchise history as they hired former Las Vegas Aces assistant and 16-year professional basketball coach Natalie Nakase. Nakase comes to the Bay with WNBA championship experience, as she helped guide the Las Vegas Aces to back-to-back championships in her first two years with the team. She also has NBA experience, spending a decade with the Los Angeles Clippers. 

In her introductory press conference on Thursday, Nakase reflected on a memory from nearly a decade ago, when she was still with the Clippers and watched the Golden State Warriors break a 40-year championship drought. 

"I remember telling myself — I want to work for Golden State," Nakase said. "I want to be a part of that. Fast forward, nine years, I'm sitting here in Golden State. I'm living proof that when you work really hard & you stay focused on your goal, big dreams do come true."

Nakase's work ethic stood out to General Manager Ohemaa Nyanin as a leadership trait that could trickle down to the rest of the soon-to-be-built roster. 

“She’s extremely driven," Nyanin said. "Started her career as a walk-on turned starter. She’s a unifier. She’s a poised, hard worker. She’s inquisitive and loves to ask questions.” 

If Nakase wants something, she's going to make it happen. Despite receiving a full-ride scholarship to the University of California, Irvine, she was willing to walk on for a chance to play for her dream school, UCLA. Nakase became a three-year starter for the Bruins and was eventually named team captain. 

For the Los Angeles Clippers, she started as a video coordinator intern before moving her way up to assistant coach. Now, she has become the first Asian-American Head Coach in WNBA history. 

“It means a lot," Nakase said about the historic feat while holding back tears. "I fell in love with this sport when I was six. I played every day, that’s all I knew.” 

Nyanin believes Nakase is the perfect person to lead the Valkyries as Head Coach. 

“She exemplifies every character trait that we were looking for in a head coach and possesses deep expertise across professional basketball," Nyanin said. "Her journey is representative of the grit and perseverance that our team will embody to achieve our ultimate goal of winning championships.”

Coach Nakase echoed those sentiments. 

"We are committed to building a winning culture of grit, hard work, and competitiveness," Nakase said. "We will strive to improve, compete and ultimately bring home a championship for our fans and this organization.”

After learning how to win in this league with the Aces, Nakase wants to be remembered as the first coach to bring the Valkyries franchise an championship and vows that second place simply isn't good enough.

“I like the challenge of being number one," Nakase said. "That’s what sports are all about. Nobody remembers second place. Everyone remembers a champion.” 

Co-Executive Chairman Joe Lacob has set the lofty goal of winning that title within the first five years of the franchise’s existence as he brought the Warriors a title within the first five years of governorship. 

Lacob has backed his words with actions, investing in a state-of-the-art practice facility in Oakland, a personalized locker room and the unique homecourt advantage of Chase Center. 

“To have your own practice facility is a big advantage,” Nakase shared, coming from the franchise that became the first WNBA team to do so (Aces). 

In addition to her competitive nature and love for the game since she was six years old, Nakase plans to lean into building genuine relationships with her players and guide them with her heart. 

“I’m going to coach with my heart," Nakase said. "Going to be open, caring and there for my players.”

With the expansion draft on Dec. 6 and not having any players yet on her roster, Nakase isn't feeling any "pressure" from the championship standard and can't wait to instill confidence into her group when she does get them. 

"Pressure is just a mindset, I see it as a challenge," Nakase said. “I believe confidence is the key. We’re going to work hard and build confidence based off it."