Expansion Valkyries names Natalie Nakase as the Aces' first female coach

When Natalie Nakase watched the Golden State Warriors win their first NBA championship under new ownership in 2015, she knew she wanted to work for the team.

That day came true nine years later when Nakase was named Thursday as the first head coach of the Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA's newest expansion franchise owned by the Warriors.

Recalling championship day, Nakase said she was impressed not only by the fact that the Warriors won, but also by the joy and joy they showed in doing so. But she knows that the job with the Valkyries comes with the same expectations that owner Joe Lacob had for the Warriors when he took over: win a championship within five years.

“I understand the expectations here. They made it really clear,” Nakase said during their introductory press conference, recalling a conversation with Lacob in which he mentioned this five-year plan for the Valkyries. “And I thought, 'Damn, we're going to win a championship.' And I wanted it, just because of his passion and his energy and also his belief.

“I remember leaving our conversation but I was like, ‘I want to work for Joe. I want to work for him.' And not only that, I want to bring home his first championship for him.”

As Lacob's Warriors won more championships in 2017 and 2018, Nakase wondered what the secret ingredient to their success was, she recalled Thursday. She once asked Willie Green, a former Clippers player of hers who later served as an assistant with the Warriors, and he gave her a simple answer: “Joe only hires great people.”

“This is important. “People are important,” Nakase said. “That’s really why I wanted to work for Golden State.”

Nakase comes to Golden State with 16 years of professional coaching experience, including the last three seasons as a first assistant coach with the 2022 and 2023 WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces, where she also served as a top scout for collegiate and international athletes. Prior to her stint in Las Vegas, she spent 10 seasons with the NBA's LA Clippers.

Clippers head coach Ty Lue, who worked with Nakase during her time as an assistant coach with the Clippers, said the Valkyries made the right hire.

“I love it,” Lue said after the Clippers practice on Thursday. “One thing about it is that she’s going to work hard. She will work hard and she is a true grinder. If she doesn't know the answer, she will approach anyone and get the correct answer. But I'm glad about it.” She and I knew it was coming.

“I’m really happy for Natalie. She deserves it. She started here (with the Clippers), then went to the Aces, won two championships and now got her own head coaching job. She's definitely ready and they're going along with being happy with the selection they've made.”

Nakase also has previous coaching experience, including as a head coach, in the Women's Professional Basketball German League and the Men's Professional Basketball Japan League. In college, she played at UCLA (1998-2003) as a reserve player and captain for three years.

According to the Valkyries, Nakase is considered the first Asian-American female head coach in league history.

According to general manager Ohemaa Nyanin, Nakase stood out as a candidate because of her “extremely determined” and curious nature, her work ethic and her role as a “unifier.” The coach said she hopes to build a team based on competitiveness and strong work ethic, while also embracing ball movement and speed, traits the Warriors have brought with them to the NBA.

“You really have to work because if you're trying to beat established teams like New York or Minnesota now, we have to work to reach that level in a few years,” Nakase said.

Nakase, Nyanin and basketball boss Vanja Cernivec have two months to prepare for the expansion draft on December 6th, where they can finally select the first members of their new team. The league has not yet announced how the Valkyries will fit in the 2025 college draft.

Nakase took some time to thank the Aces for their experience with the franchise, which she said taught her how to win with two championships in her and Hammon's first two years in Las Vegas. “Becky Hammon just has a really big heart and she created such a loving and caring environment from the beginning,” Nakase said. “We had the initial buy-in from the start, and that’s why I will forever be grateful to them.”

“Natalie has played a huge role in our Aces’ success over the last three years,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said in a statement. “Her bright mind, tireless work ethic and ability to build relationships with our players have had a lasting impact not only on our organization, players and staff, but also on the entire Las Vegas community! We wish her all the best in her next great opportunity as… “first head coach of the Golden State Valkyries!”

Nakase said she called the Aces players last night to tell them the news and had several tearful and heartfelt conversations.

“I will just miss every single player I coached with the Aces and they will be my family forever,” she said.

As the WNBA's first expansion franchise since 2008, the Valkyries will open play for the 2025 season with games at the Chase Center in San Francisco and training at the Warriors' former practice facility in Oakland – resources that Nakase said will “determine (the team and the workforce) on the road to success.”

ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk contributed to this report.