WNBA's Golden State Valkyries tab Natalie Nakase as franchise's first head coach

The next building block is in place for the Golden State Valkyries.

The WNBA expansion team announced Thursday the inaugural head coach will be Natalie Nakase, who just completed her third season as a Las Vegas Aces assistant.

Nakase joins general manager Ohemaa Nyanin and president Jess Smith in Golden State’s leadership group. The Valkyries will begin play in the upcoming 2025 season. Their first opportunity to build their roster will come on Dec. 6 in the league’s expansion draft.

When she was announced as the general manager, Nyanin said, “For the coach, I’m just looking for a person who is unafraid to embrace the unknown, that has a history of understanding the game and just empathy and openness to grow in this space.”

Nyanin said Thursday the coaching search included international, collegiate and professional candidates.




https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5832699/2024/10/10/golden-state-valkyries-natalie-nakase-head-coach/