Natalie Nakase: The Trailblazing Coach Leading the Golden State Valkyries

In a significant move for the WNBA, the Golden State Valkyries have announced Natalie Nakase as their first head coach. This appointment marks a milestone in the franchise's history, and Nakase's extensive experience in the professional basketball world makes her an ideal candidate for the role.

Nakase joined the Las Vegas Aces as an assistant coach on February 24, 2022, bringing with her a wealth of experience in scouting reports, game planning, film work, and player development. During her tenure with the Aces, she played a crucial role in helping head coach Becky Hammon steer the team to back-to-back WNBA championships and the 2022 Commissioners Cup title. The Aces compiled an impressive 60-16 record and went 16-3 in the playoffs under Nakase's guidance.

Before joining the Aces, Nakase had a distinguished career with the Los Angeles Clippers organization. She began her journey with the Clippers as an intern under Vinny Del Negro in 2012 and later became the teams assistant video coordinator for Doc Rivers. In 2017, she spent one year as an assistant coach for the Agua Caliente Clippers in the G League before becoming the player development/assistant coach for the LA Clippers for three seasons.

Nakase's coaching career is not limited to her time in the United States. She began her coaching career in Germany as the head coach of the Wolfenbttel Wildcats from 2008 to 2010. She then traveled to Japan to work for a professional mens team, the Tokyo Apache, from 2010 to 2011. In 2011, Nakase joined the Saitama Broncos staff, taking over as head coach midway through the year and becoming the first female head coach in the leagues history.

Nakase's journey to becoming a head coach is deeply rooted in her playing career. She was a walk-on at UCLA and played her way into the starting lineup at point guard and team captain for three seasons. After graduation, she played professionally for two years in the NWBL with the San Jose Spiders and San Diego Siege. However, a knee injury ended her playing career prematurely.

The Golden State Valkyries' General Manager, Ohemaa Nyanin, expressed her confidence in Nakase's abilities, stating, Natalie is the perfect candidate to lead the Valkyries as our head coach. She exemplifies every character trait we look for in a leader: dedication, strategic thinking, and a passion for developing talent.

The appointment of Natalie Nakase as the first head coach of the Golden State Valkyries marks a significant step forward for the franchise and underscores her status as a trailblazer in women's basketball coaching.

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