Natalie Nakase: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

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“[Janelle] is versatile, Just having that versatility to go against any type of defender. I think that’s key,” said Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase about Janelle Salaun back in August.

WNBA News / WNBA on ClutchPoints / September 30

Valkyries’ Natalie Nakase celebrates Janelle Salaün’s ‘well-deserved’ WNBA All-Rookie Team selection

Janelle Salaün added to the Golden State Valkyries’ award total as the French rookie was selected to the WNBA All-Rookie team, the league announced today.

Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase wins WNBA Coach of the Year Award

The Golden State Valkyries had a historic first season in the WNBA, in part thanks to head coach Natalie Nakase. Nakase, who formerly coached for the Los Angeles Clippers and the Las Vegas Angels, won WNBA Coach of the Year in her first-ever season as a head coach.

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Clippers Coach Ty Lue's Sincere Message to Valkyries' Natalie Nakase

There are a myriad of factors that have gone into the Golden State Valkyries' league-shaking success in the 2025 season. An ambitious ownership group, diligent operations staff and committed players all played significant parts in the story of their rise.

Exclusive: Tyronn Lue reveals why Valkyries players relate to Natalie Nakase

Why were the Golden State Valkyries so successful, so quickly, in just their first season? It’s a question on everyone’s minds as the most successful expansion team in WNBA history transitions into the offseason, and the long, reflective conversations about the season that just transpired begin to percolate.

Valkyries’ Natalie Nakase drops emotional reaction to historic Coach of the Year honor

While Natalie Nakase downplayed her own importance when it came to winning the 2025 WNBA Coach of the Year award, instead opting to credit her staff, players, and the Golden State Valkyries organization for what they achieved this season, she still understands the significance of her accomplishment.

WNBA News / Sporting News / September 18

Valkyries' Natalie Nakase reveals when Golden State will be WNBA champions

The Valkyries' debut season took them where no one expected.

Natalie Nakase's Touching Message to Valkyries Players After Season-Ending Loss

The Golden State Valkyries' historic 2025 run has come to an end. After becoming the first expansion team in WNBA history to make the playoffs in their inaugural season, the Valkyries got matched up against the first-seeded Minnesota Lynx.

WNBA News / Women's Fastbreak on SI / September 17

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert Botches Valkyries Coach Natalie Nakase's Name

There were several WNBA coaches who saw a ton of success during this 2025 regular season. The legendary Becky Hammon deserves a lot of credit for how she orchestrated the Las Vegas Aces' second-half surge, which included them winning 17 consecutive games before losing to the Seattle Storm on September 16.

WNBA News / Golden State Valkyries on SI / September 17

Valkyries Make Starting Lineup Change for Game 2 vs Lynx Due to Injury

The Golden State Valkyries have put together a historic 2025 season, and Natalie Nakase was rightfully recognized for it on Wednesday by being named WNBA Coach of the Year.

WNBA News / Swish Appeal / September 17

Golden State Valkyries’ Natalie Nakase honored as 2025 WNBA Coach of the Year

Congratulations to Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase, the 2025 WNBA Coach of the Year. Nakase received 53 of 72 first-place votes, with the Atlanta Dream’s Karl Smesko finishing second with 15 votes.

Valkyries' Nakase wins COY for successful debut

Natalie Nakase has been named the WNBA Coach of the Year after leading the expansion Valkyries to the playoffs.

WNBA News / Swish Appeal / September 17

Will the Golden State Valkyries’ fight be enough to avoid a sweep against the Minnesota Lynx?

You have to love Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase’s approach to coaching. Like the legendary soccer coach Jose Mourinho, Nakase never shies away from mind games, using press conferences and interviews to send messages to her team, rather than communicating with the fans and the press.

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Valkyries’ Natalie Nakase stand firm on officiating stance after getting fined

SAN JOSE– After Natalie Nakase blasted the officiating in Game 1 of the Golden State Valkyries’ first-round WNBA playoffs series against the Minnesota Lynx, Natalie Nakase stood by her words at the team’s open practice at the SAP Center in San Jose.

Valkyries' Nakase: Fined for criticism of officials

Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said Tuesday she was fined an undisclosed amount for critical comments she made about the officiating after her team's Game 1 loss to the Lynx.

WNBA News / Yardbarker / September 14

Valkyries head coach calls out officials following Game 1 loss

The Golden State Valkyries debut season in the WNBA has been a massive success by pretty much every objective measure. But their playoff debut did not go as planned.

Lynx open WNBA playoffs with a dominating win over Valkyries

Natasha Cloud, Liberty take Game 1 from Mercury in overtime

N.Y. star Breanna Stewart injures knee in playoff win over Phoenix

Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard help Dream get long-awaited playoff win vs. Fever

A’ja Wilson's 29 points powers Aces over Storm in Game 1

Five teams with the best chance of winning the WNBA championship

WNBA News / Field Level Media / September 14

Lynx open playoffs with dominating win over Valkyries

The Minnesota Lynx showed why they are the class of the league WNBA, rolling to a 101-72 victory over the Golden State Valkyries on Sunday at Minneapolis in the opener of a best-of-three playoff series.

Valkyries Coach Natalie Nakase Wins Big Honor Ahead of Valkyries-Lynx Playoffs

Natalie Nakase and the Golden State Valkyries have stormed ahead since their inception and made their 2025 debut a season to remember. Nakase joined the Valkyries as the franchise's first-ever head coach looking to put her wealth of coaching experience to the test as the head of a staff for the first time.

WNBA News / Athlon Sports / August 31

Valkyries coach has strong words for Caitlin Clark

Caitlin Clark missed her 18th straight game Sunday night.

Valkyries sharp from beyond the arc, sink Fever

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WNBA News / Burn City Sports / August 20

Valkyries’ Nakase criticizes Mercury’s Akoa Makani for ‘unacceptable’ physical play

SAN FRANCISCO — Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase called out Phoenix Mercury guard Monique Akoa Makani for her physicality during their game on Tuesday night.

WNBA News / Women's Fastbreak on SI / July 15

Valkyries' Natalie Nakase Rips WNBA Referees Over Controversial Foul vs Mercury

The Golden State Valkyries fell to 10-11 on the 2025 WNBA season after their 78-77 defeat against the Phoenix Mercury on July 14. The Valkyries looked like they were going to send the game to overtime after Janelle Salaun drained a midrange jumper to tie the game at 77 with 6.1 seconds left.

WNBA News / Athlon Sports / July 3

Valkyries Make Strong Natalie Nakase Statement on Thursday

The Golden State Valkyries closed out June with a strong 7-4 record, ranking among the top half of the WNBA in both offensive efficiency (46.1% field goal

WNBA News / Athlon Sports / July 3

Valkyries Coach Natalie Nakase Receives Major News on Thursday

The WNBA announced on Thursday that Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase has been named June’s Coach of the Month. Nakase, 45, is in her first season of coaching the league’s newest team.

Natalie Nakase Asserts Valkyries Cut Julie Vanloo in 'Respectful' Way Amid Backlash

On June 30, news broke that the Golden State Valkyries had cut veteran guard Julie Vanloo. While this is an unavoidable aspect of professional sports,

WNBA News / Field Level Media / June 22

Valkyries leverage torrid second quarter to win over struggling Sun

A 36-point second quarter blew up the game open as the Golden State Valkyries rolled to a 87-63 rout of the visiting Connecticut Sun on Sunday in San Francisco.

WNBA News / Athlon Sports / June 19

Valkyries Coach Makes Strong Caitlin Clark Statement Before Fever Game

The Indiana Fever were set to face the Golden State Valkyries for the first time this season, showcasing a matchup between Caitlin Clark and Kate Martin.

WNBA News / Field Level Media / June 19

Caitlin Clark leads Fever against upstart Valkyries

Caitlin Clark makes her first appearance in San Francisco when the Indiana Fever tip off a three-game Western swing with a matchup against the expansion Golden State Valkyries on Thursday night.

Caitlin Clark issues nine-word postgame response to Fever-Sun fights

Punishments for Fever-Sun scuffles show WNBA still not doing enough to protect Caitlin Clark

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WNBA News / Field Level Media / June 7

Kayla Thornton helps Valkyries shock Aces in blowout win

The Golden State Valkyries didn't play like underdogs on Saturday and Kayla Thornton had 22 points and 11 rebounds to lead the way in a 95-68 victory over the Las Vegas Aces at San Francisco.

Marina Mabrey, Sun look to topple struggling Mystics

Lynx aim to stay undefeated in clash vs. struggling Wings

Five reasons why Fever, WNBA desperately need Caitlin Clark back