Historic Appointment: Natalie Nakase Takes the Helm of the Golden State Valkyries

The Golden State Valkyries, a new team in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), have hired Natalie Nakase as their first head coach. The announcement was made on Thursday, and expectations for the team are high as it prepares to debut in the 2025 season. With her impressive 16 years of coaching experience and ten successful seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA, as well as her role as the first assistant coach with the Las Vegas Aces, the 44-year-old Nakase brings a wealth of expertise. Her time with the Aces was crowned with success, as the team secured back-to-back league titles in 2022 and 2023. Nakase will officially assume her new role on October 21. Ohemaa Nyanin, the general manager of the Valkyries, is enthusiastic: "Natalie is the ideal choice to lead our team. Her extensive experience in professional basketball and her relentless dedication are the qualities we have been looking for." Nakase, who was born and raised in Los Angeles, began her basketball journey as a walk-on player at UCLA and continued her playing career in the National Women's Basketball League as well as in Germany. A knee injury led to her retirement as a player in 2008 but opened the door to her coaching career. During her time in Germany, she gained experience with both men's and women's teams before joining the Clippers. For Nakase, the position with the Valkyries is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. "Being named head coach of the Golden State Valkyries is a great honor for me," said Nakase. "We aim to establish a culture of winning, hard work, and competitiveness and ultimately strive for a championship for our fans and this organization.