“I’m going to be a truth-teller. I’m going to be a pusher,” the Golden State Valkyries’ head coach Natalie Nakase stated in their new announcement post on X. The new expansion team from the Bay Area revealed Nakase as their first head coach on Thursday. While this will be Nakase’s first head coaching job in the W, there might already be a lot of attention on the coach, particularly because the Valkyries’ general manager Ohemaa Nyanin had enumerated that the chosen coach would “dictate the type of game we play.”

This might be a hint of what is to come from the Golden State Warriors’ sister organization in the next season. But until then, here is all about the coach and her connection to the 2x WNBA champions: the Las Vegas Aces.

Natasha Nakase’s playing career

Born in Anaheim, California on April 18, 1980, Nakase is a third-generation Japanese-American. She is the youngest daughter of Gary and Debra Nakase and, as per her own admission, her father pushed her to perform well while supporting her throughout her career.

Playing for Marina High School, the 44-year-old was a four-year letterman player. In 1998, she helped her team to their maiden California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section title. For her exemplary performances, she was named the 1998 Orange County Player of the Year. Her great scoring and playmaking helped her immensely when she got to UCLA.

From 1998 to 2003, Nakase attended the UCLA. While initially she didn’t get much time, from her second year onwards, Nakase became the fourth/fifth player for the Bruins. Though she underwent an ACL surgery during her freshman year, she didn’t let it define her. For her scintillating performances in the clutch moments, the LV Aces assistant coach earned the All-Conference Player in the Pacific-10 award. And this was just the brim of her balling prowess, which ran deep down and helped her earn applause during her coaching stints.

Natasha Nakase: The Making of a Mentor

After graduating, Nakase started plying her trade for the National Women’s Basketball League (NWBL). Although it didn’t get her much success, she decided to maintain her resolute path for some time. Post that, she tried her hands with the Phoenix Mercury but was waived by them. Hence, when she re-injured her knee during a game for the Herner in 2007–08, Nakase decided to give up her playing career and concentrate on coaching athletes.

She got her first coaching job for the Wolfenbüttel Wildcats of the German league. However, there was still a long-lost wish in her to show her mettle. Therefore, when Nakase decided to go to Japan to ply her trade, it came as a surprise for many. But as destiny would have it, later she was told that the Japanese league doesn’t accept foreign players. Taking note of that, a heartbroken Nakase started observing games and prepared a scouting report for the Tokyo Apache before being accepted as an assistant. With time, more doors opened for her, and by 2012, she was an intern for the Los Angeles Clippers of the NBA.

During her time as the assistant, Nakase was also given the responsibility of the team’s assistant video coordinator. She bagged accolades such as the Champions of Change from the White House. All this coupled with her balling knowledge got her to be the first woman to get on the bench as an NBA assistant. And since the NBA franchise as big as the Clippers had accepted her, it was time to foray into the W.

In February 2022, Nakase got the job of an assistant coach with the LV Aces and during her first two seasons, she led the franchise to their first two Championship titles. Consequently, she became the first Asian-American coach to earn a World Championship title. Hence, when now she parted ways with the Aces, her ex-boss Becky Hammon came forward to applaud her contribution to the team. As per her, Nakase had a vital role in the Aces’ success, and her “relentless work ethic” had an unparalleled impact on the staff and the players. Although she remained in the shadow of Hammon all the time, who knows if this is her opportunity to shine individually in the W.

Now, it remains to be seen if Nakase will be able to replicate her success with the Valkyries. To some extent, that will be clear when the Valkyries announce their team. Who knows, as expected by many, the number one pick for the 2025 WNBA Paige Bueckers might land with them, forging a successful mentor-mentee relationship in the W.