When the Golden State Valkyries tipped off their inaugural 2025 WNBA season, few folks gave them much of a shot at making noise right out of the gate. As an expansion team pieced together from the draft and free agency scraps, they started with a roster full of overlooked talent and question marks.
But under the steady hand of head coach Natalie Nakase, those low expectations quickly turned into a gritty playoff push that caught everyone off guard. Nakase even shouldered blame for the close defeat to the Seattle Storm, and all of those bold steps have led her to the Associated Press Coach of the Year award.
Natalie Nakase Named AP Coach Of The Year
Just like any other first-time teams, the Valkyries were also speculated to make a good run, but not the best. However, little did everybody know that the last expansion team would go flying into the playoffs. And much of that impressive run goes to the team’s head coach.
However, Nakase’s recognition as the AP Coach of the Year caps off a breakthrough year, where she transformed a band of journeymen into a legitimate threat. Her calm leadership and tactical smarts not only got the Valkyries into the postseason but also earned her a spot in the history books as the first Asian American head coach in the WNBA.
In our first season, she set the standard. Natalie Nakase is the Associated Press Coach of the Year after guiding the Valkyries to the playoffs in year one. pic.twitter.com/tagHwHO0bM
— Golden State Valkyries (@valkyries) September 12, 2025
It’s the kind of story that reminds you why coaching can make all the difference in building something from nothing. Though, after a playing career cut short by injury in Germany back in 2008, she dove into coaching, starting with the Tokyo Apache in Japan before landing a video coordinator role with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2012.
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She spent a full decade there, climbing from entry-level work to assistant coach, honing her eye for the game and building relationships that would pay off later. In 2022, she jumped to the Las Vegas Aces as first assistant under Becky Hammon, helping steer them to back-to-back championships with an 87-29 record over three seasons.
That success made her a hot commodity, and when the Valkyries tapped her in October 2024 as their inaugural head coach, it felt like the perfect fit for a trailblazer ready to lead her own squad.
Natalie Nakase Achieved The Unexpected With Golden State Valkyries
The 2025 season tested Nakase right away, with the Valkyries starting slow amid roster turnover and the challenges of an expansion team. But she adapted fast, earning WNBA Coach of the Month honors for June after guiding them through a tough stretch. By season’s end, Golden State finished 23-21, clinching a playoff spot as the first expansion team ever to do so in their debut year.
However, Nakase’s style, influenced by mentors like Hammon and even Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla, emphasized preparation and quiet intensity, turning an average roster into a cohesive unit that overachieved at every turn. Though Nakase also urged the WNBA to expand the roster, the question was left unanswered.
Asked Valkyries’ Natalie Nakase about Julie Vanloo’s homecoming and what she’s meant to the organization:
— Kenzo Fukuda (@kenzofuku) August 9, 2025
“Excited. Obviously we’re excited that she got an opportunity quickly in LA. She deserves to be in this league.”
Nakase once again emphasized expanding rosters. pic.twitter.com/1AEPdWUIuO
Additionally, her AP Coach of the Year nod, announced on September 12, came alongside teammate honors for players like Veronica Burton as Most Improved and Janelle Salaun on the All-Rookie Team.
What stands out most is how Nakase maximized limited talent. She dealt with heavy European roster influences, meaning disruptions from events like EuroBasket hit harder, yet she kept the team steady through injuries and inconsistencies.