SAN JOSE — Natalie Nakase’s debut season made history on Wednesday as the Valkyries coach was named WNBA coach of the year.
Nakase, 45, led Golden State to a 23-21 record in her first season. The Valkyries made history as the first expansion franchise to make the playoffs in its inaugural year.
Of the 72 voters, Nakase earned 53 votes to finish ahead of Atlanta Dream coach Karl Smesko, who had 15. Las Vegas’ Becky Hammon and Minnesota’s Cherryl Reeve each earned two votes.
Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase gives instructions to her players against the Dallas Wings in the fourth quarter of a WNBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Under Nakase, the Valkyries had one of the best defenses in the league, leading the league in opponent points per game (76.3) and opponent field goal percentage (40.5). Despite having rostered 20 different players this season, Nakase has been able to keep the Valkyries consistent throughout the year.
She was instrumental in helping veteran Kayla Thornton make the All-Star team and in devloping point guard Veronica Burton into the league’s most improved player.
“Natalie has been a fierce leader from the very moment she was announced as head coach, and this award is an external validation of what we see every day,” said Golden State Valkyries General Manager, Ohemaa Nyanin in a statement. “Her core philosophy of connectivity and emphasis on high character has created an environment where everyone can thrive. Her unique approach to leadership and ability to hold players accountable with care while staying true to her values has been remarkable. Coach Natalie and her coaching staff have been an integral piece of creating this team’s foundation in its inaugural year.”
Prior to the Valkyries, Nakase was a standout player at UCLA in the early 2000s. She spent 10 years with the Los Angeles Clippers before joining Hammon’s staff in Las Vegas where she won back-to-back WNBA titles as an assistant in 2022 and 2023.
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Following her hiring, she made history as the first Asian American head coach in the WNBA’s 29-year history.
When asked about her thoughts about being a coach of the year candidate a few weeks ago, Nakase said, “It should be coaching staff of the year. … I’m not doing this on my own. So it shouldn’t be coach of the year. It should be coaching staff of the year. It doesn’t really matter. But, like, it’s a credit to my staff.”
Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase coaches her players against the Atlanta Dream in the fourth quarter of their WNBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., on Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025. The Atlanta Dream defeated the Golden State Valkyries 79-63. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
