In a move that had both fans and critics raising their eyebrows, Natalie Nakase is packing her bags and leaving the neon-lit streets of Las Vegas for the breezy hills of the Bay Area. Yes, folks, the Las Vegas Aces’ first assistant coach is now the head honcho for the freshly-minted Golden State Valkyries. A bold move? Absolutely. But hey, if you’ve got a resume like Nakase’s, why not?
Nakase, who’s spent the last three years as the brains behind the Aces’ back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023, is now jumping headfirst into leading an expansion team that doesn’t even have a win on the board—yet. With the Valkyries ready to debut in 2025, Nakase has plenty of time to whip them into shape. Talk about a glow-up for the newest WNBA team.
But let’s rewind for a second. Who is this Natalie Nakase, you ask? Well, she’s not just your average coach. She’s been making basketball waves long before the Aces’ champagne showers. Nakase spent over a decade with the Los Angeles Clippers, doing everything from assistant coach duties to player development wizardry with their G League affiliate. You might say she’s been living in the gym. And yes, she’s had stints overseas too, head coaching in Germany and Japan—because, why not?
“Being named the head coach of the Golden State Valkyries is a lifelong dream come true,” Nakase gushed. You can almost imagine the tears of joy as she thanked Joe Lacob, Ohemaa Nyanin, and the entire Golden State crew for throwing her the keys to this brand-new franchise. “We’re building a winning culture of grit, hard work, and competitiveness,” she added. Translation: If you thought we were going to be a punching bag for the established teams, think again.
General Manager Ohemaa Nyanin couldn’t be more thrilled, saying Nakase is the perfect choice to lead this fresh-faced team. “She’s got the grit. She’s got the perseverance. She’s basically the basketball coach version of Rocky Balboa,” Nyanin may or may not have said. But it’s true—Nakase’s been everywhere, done everything, and now it’s Valkyrie time.
As for her exit from the Aces, Nakase admitted that it wasn’t easy. “It was hugs, tears, and probably more hugs,” she said. And considering how successful Vegas has been with her on the bench, that sounds about right. But, as the saying goes, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas—and Nakase is already on to the next big thing.
After all, the Valkyries are no ordinary expansion team. They’ve got big plans. And if Nakase’s record is any indication, those plans probably include trophies, confetti, and a whole lot of hard-earned victories. Buckle up, Golden State, because Natalie Nakase is ready to take you on one wild ride.
