Natalie Nakase made history as the first Asian-American head coach of a WNBA franchise, taking the helm of the Golden State Valkyries, who will debut next season. With ticket sales soaring and excitement surrounding potential lottery pick, Paige Bueckers, expectations for the Valkyries are already sky-high. Nakase’s hiring has added a more exciting element given her success with the Las Vegas Aces, where she helped lead the team to back-to-back championships. However, Becky Hammon, the Aces’ head coach has revealed that Nakase and she occasionally had differing views while working together.

Recently, the Aces shared a touching farewell video honoring their assistant coach, Natalie Nakase, as she embarks on a new journey. In the heartfelt clip, head coach Hammon praised Nakase’s incredible potential, emphasizing how crucial she was in leading the Aces to consecutive championships. The Aces coach opened up about their working relationship, noting that while they didn’t always see eye to eye, those disagreements ultimately didn’t hinder their shared goal of elevating the franchise.

“One thing I always liked about Natalie is you know, part of what goes into building a staff is I wanted different perspectives and I always wanted my staff, my players always to be like, authentically themselves. And so sometimes she’ll think something and it might be different from what I think and, I like that we have like, disagreements. I know that sounds funny but like disagreements are necessary to come up with the best solution a lot of times,” noted Hammon. 

This highlights how their differing perspectives contributed to the Aces’ success, often pushing the team to reach new heights. She also took a moment to share what makes Natalie Nakase stand out as a coach while wishing her all the best in her new role with the Golden State Valkyries. “She’s going to be a great head coach because of her care factor, her perfectionism and laugh. I mean, we laugh a lot in staff meetings. So yeah, she’ll be missed but you know good things ahead for her,” the Aces coach mentioned.

However, taking charge of the Golden State Valkyries, who are generating significant buzz ahead of their debut, adds a hefty responsibility to Nakase’s plate.

A Dream Realized: Natalie Nakase makes history as WNBA’s first Asian American Head Coach

“I just remember telling myself … I want to work for Golden State, I want to be a part of that. Fast forward nine years later, I’m sitting here, in Golden State,” Nakase shared her thoughts upon her official announcement as the head coach of the Golden State Valkyries, the expansion team based in San Francisco that is set to hit the court in 2025. This milestone made Nakase the first Asian American head coach in WNBA history, and she feels that this role fulfills a lifelong dream.

Nakase has made quite a name for herself in the world of basketball. For the past three years, from 2022 to 2024, she served as the first assistant coach for the Las Vegas franchise. Now, stepping into the spotlight as the WNBA’s newest head coach, she brings with her an impressive 16 years of professional coaching experience. That includes a solid decade spent in the NBA with her hometown team, the Los Angeles Clippers.

Her coaching career started when she was just 28 and initially had stints with overseas clubs from Europe and Asia. When the franchise assigned her the responsibility of managing the brand-new team, her former associates openly praised her excellence. “Her basketball knowledge has added tremendously to our success,” said Hammon. In fact, Tyler Marsh, Nakase’s fellow assistant coach at the Aces, shared an emotional message on X. He wrote, “even though you’re the opp now, you’re my sister for life.” 

Nakase made an impact in the NBA, particularly during her decade-long tenure with the Los Angeles Clippers, and Clippers head coach Ty Lue noticed her accomplishment. He voiced his admiration for her recent promotion, saying he anticipated this step in her career. “I love it. One thing about it, she’s going to grind. She’s going to work hard, and she’s a true grinder,” Lue said after the move was announced.

As Nakase embarks on this new chapter with the Golden State Valkyries, her journey not only inspires future coaches but also highlights the importance of “diverse perspectives and perfectionist personality” in building a successful team. Hopefully, she will carry that spirit to San Francisco and fans will witness an impressive debut season from the Valkyries.