The Golden State Valkyries have been one of the surprise elements this season. Coming in as an expansion team, no one had a lot of expectations for the franchise. But, despite all the odds, the team has secured its place in the playoffs. And despite the Valkyries set to play their playoff games in SAP Center, the hype around the team is soaring.
One of the main architects of making the team look like a formidable side is undoubtedly Natalie Nakase. The head coach, coming to the WNBA for the first time, made her presence felt immediately. However, despite securing their playoffs, the Valkyries still have a couple of more games to go. And that is something that might hinder their playoff standings.
Golden State Valkyries Face Tough Road Games To Sign Off The Regular Season
Nakase’s girls will have to undergo a stiff road challenge before they enter the playoffs. And both the names they are staring at are looking pretty menacing. The next game will be against the Seattle Storm. Placed in eighth, the Storm has still not secured their playoff berth. Thus, the team will be looking to go all out against the Valkyries to make some solid progress.
Next up, the Golden State will play the final regular-season game against the Minnesota Lynx. And by every means, this will be the toughest test for Nakase’s team. After all, the team has looked like a champion outfit, and the Lynx were the first team to qualify for the playoffs.
Asked Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve what makes the Valkyries dangerous from an opposing coach perspective:
— Kenzo Fukuda (@kenzofuku) September 6, 2025
“When you combine a level of compete with talent and buy-in, that’s the most dangerous thing you can get.” pic.twitter.com/U6ypj6FqdQ
Even in their recent game, the Valkyries lost a close game against the Lynx. And if by chance, the team loses both games, then their current sixth position standing might take a nosedive. Thus, in order to keep their head steady, Nakase doesn’t want the team to celebrate much.
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Natalie Nakase Won’t Let Golden State Valkyries Girls Celebrate Much
Coming for the very first time to the WNBA and securing a playoff berth right away surely calls for celebration. However, head coach Nakase has made one thing very clear. Nobody should be celebrating their playoff qualifications much. And that’s because the head coach wants her team to envision the same big dreams that she is dreaming. Reflecting on the topic, Nakase stated that the team needs to keep itself humble in order to ensure a successful run.
“We’re not done yet… I really don’t allow them to celebrate. They can, obviously. They can enjoy this, but I also keep them humble. … I’m a party pooper. Yes, I am,” Nakase said.
Surely, Nakase knows and has seen the tough phases. This year itself, the Valkyries went through a lean patch where their playoff hopes looked significantly slimmer. Thus, having regained dominance, fans will now be eagerly waiting to see how the Golden State fares in the playoffs.