Natalie Nakase: Valkyries Coach & Asian-american Pioneer

This candid and heartfelt meeting with Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase supplies a deactivating look into her journey and management. With the team currently on a strong 9-7 run and holding the sixth seed, the Valkyries are securely on a winning path under her advice.

Nakase’s Groundbreaking Journey

A previous UCLA walk-on turned starter, Nakase additionally broke ground as the first Asian-American gamer in the National Women’s Basketball League. Her Japanese-American heritage and personal trip have shaped a management style specified by grit, humbleness, and inclusivity. She’s not simply coaching a team– she’s symbolizing a path forward for underrepresented voices in the video game.

Valkyries’ Launching Season Impact

In the Valkyries’ launching season, Nakase’s effect is currently noticeable. With a solid defensive identity and disciplined play, they’re not just winning games, they’re establishing a new requirement for what a development franchise business can attain. For numerous, Nakase’s success is bigger than basketball: it’s a breakthrough moment for Asian-American depiction and an effective suggestion of what’s possible with vision and management.

Natalie Nakase is making background as the very first head train of the Golden State Valkyries– and the first Asian-American to lead a WNBA team. A veteran with over 16 years of mentoring experience, she’s held functions with the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers and the WNBA’s Las vega Aces, where she aided win back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023. Her appointment in October 2024 noted the beginning of a bold brand-new period for the Bay Area’s very first WNBA growth team given that 2008.

Building Culture & Success

In this outstanding episode of The Timeout, Dwyane Wade, Dorell Wright, Chris Johnson, and Valkyries head train Natalie Nakase damage down what it really requires to increase– on and off the court. Nakase shares her trip from reducing film to coaching pros, revealing how she builds preparedness, trust, and culture. Johnson unboxes the behind-the-scenes work, from court mapping to routines, while Wright reviews the perseverance and development behind his 12-year NBA profession. From leadership to state of mind, this episode dives into the hidden job that drives success.