Natalie Nakase Named WNBA Coach of the Year After Historic Valkyries Season

Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase has been named the 2025 WNBA Coach of the Year, ending a historic first season that surpassed expectations. It got here as a shock, however nothing in need of spectacular, as she set a brand new benchmark for enlargement franchises.

A Record-Breaking Debut Season

Nakase’s maiden season with the Valkyries was one thing she would not overlook. She led the enlargement franchise to 23-21, which made Golden State the primary WNBA enlargement workforce to qualify for the playoffs in its first yr. For comparability, the earlier enlargement workforce, the Atlanta Dream in 2008, had a 4-30 document.

According to ESPN, her management acquired 53 of 72 votes, comfortably forward of Dream coach Karl Smesko (15 votes). Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon and Minnesota Lynx’s Cheryl Reeve every received two votes.

From Assistant to Franchise Leader

Prior to turning into a member of the Valkyries, Nakase labored three seasons as an assistant coach for Hammon with the Las Vegas Aces. In October 2024, Golden State proprietor Joe Lacob employed her to steer his new WNBA workforce and created excessive expectations from the start.

Lacob reminded Nakase that she wanted to reach 5 years. That problem, and Lacob’s championship-focused mentality, satisfied Nakase she wanted to work for him.

Even Lacob could not have foreseen Nakase would surpass these expectations in Year One.

Improving Players and Building a Culture

Nakase’s biggest accomplishment was bettering each participant beneath her steerage. Almost all Valkyries gamers achieved private bests, together with Veronica Burton, who was named league Most Improved Player. Kayla Thornton was additionally a candidate for that award earlier than she sustained a season-ending damage in July.

Despite the accolades, Nakase persistently deflects reward to her workers and gamers. She defined that the gamers round her allowed her to be herself, and that is the explanation why she may do all issues at her finest.

Coaching With Passion and Authenticity

Popular for her depth, Nakase accepts lengthy nights of movie watching, midnight texts to her assistants, and unbridled honesty to her gamers. While others might choose her strategies as unconventional, her workforce has accepted them completely.

Nakase confesses that she used to think about herself extra carefree, however being coached by Golden State has introduced out her actual edge.

The extra I really feel I’m beloved and cared about in an atmosphere, the extra I could be myself.

For these questioning why the Valkyries will not host a WNBA playoff sport at Chase Center, The New York Times explains why. The Golden State hosted the Minnesota Lynx on the SAP Center in San Jose, the place they misplaced 74-75 in Game 2 of the WNBA Playoffs Round 1. The sequence is now tied at 1-1.

The growth traces again to Joe Lacob’s choice, made two years in the past, to host the Laver Cup tennis match at Chase Center.