Natalie Nakase Named Head Coach of Golden State Valkyries
The Golden State Valkyries have appointed Natalie Nakase as the team’s head coach, the organization announced Wednesday. Nakase, a seasoned coach with more than 16 years of professional experience, takes the helm following a successful tenure with the Las Vegas Aces and the Los Angeles Clippers. Her official start date with the Valkyries is set for October 21.
Nakase joins the Valkyries after serving three seasons as first assistant coach with the Aces, where she played a pivotal role in leading the team to back-to-back WNBA championships in 2022 and 2023. During her time in Las Vegas, the Aces consistently excelled defensively, topping the league’s defensive ratings in 2023 with a mark of 97.7. Nakase’s responsibilities included in-game adjustments, rotation management, clock decisions, and scouting for both collegiate and international talent. The Aces compiled an 87-29 record over the last three seasons, with a 19-6 playoff mark during her tenure.
“Being named the head coach of the Golden State Valkyries is a lifelong dream come true,” Nakase said in a statement. “I am thankful to Joe Lacob, Ohemaa Nyanin, and the Golden State front office for entrusting me with this responsibility. We are committed to building a winning culture of grit, hard work, and competitiveness. We will strive to improve, compete, and ultimately bring home a championship for our fans and this organization.”
Nakase will report directly to Valkyries General Manager Ohemaa Nyanin, who praised Nakase’s extensive experience and leadership.
“Natalie is the perfect candidate to lead the Valkyries as our head coach,” Nyanin said. “She exemplifies every character trait we were looking for and possesses deep expertise across professional basketball. Her journey is representative of the grit and perseverance that our team will embody to achieve our ultimate goal of winning championships.”
Nakase brings a wealth of experience from her 10 seasons with the Clippers, where she worked in various roles, including as an assistant coach and player development coach, contributing to both the NBA team and its G League affiliate. Her coaching career began in 2008 with the Wolfenbüttel Wildcats in Germany’s Women’s Professional Basketball League. She later made history as the first woman to serve as a head coach in Japan’s Men’s Professional Basketball League with the Saitama Broncos.
The Los Angeles native played college basketball at UCLA, where she earned a starting role as a walk-on and served as team captain for three seasons. She later played professionally in the U.S. and Germany before a knee injury ended her playing career in 2008.
Nakase’s hiring marks a significant step forward for the Valkyries, who were announced as the WNBA’s 13th franchise on October 5, 2023. The team will participate in the league’s expansion draft on December 6, selecting players from a pool made available by the 12 existing teams.
