Natalie Nakase, who spent a decade with the Los Angeles Clippers, has made history by leading the Golden State Valkyries to a WNBA championship in only the franchise's second year. This achievement, as reported by the New York Post, marks the fastest expansion team title in North American professional sports history and raises questions about why the NBA did not provide Nakase a head coaching opportunity.
Nakase's path to a championship was remarkable. She took a Valkyries team that had the league's worst field goal percentage into the Finals by emphasizing defensive effort and building a strong bench. The team, which was not expected to contend after the 2024 expansion draft, overcame its perceived limitations to reach the mountaintop.
"This is for all the people that have been underrated, misunderstood," Nakase stated after the Valkyries' Game 7 victory over the Atlanta Dream. "This is proof: if you put all your heart and all your soul, you f–king win championships!"
Nakase's journey in basketball has been a series of breaking barriers. She went from a walk-on at UCLA to a three-year starter, then to an unpaid intern video coordinator with the Clippers in 2012, eventually becoming an assistant coach. She was also the first female assistant coach to sit on an NBA team's bench during Summer League in 2014. Her current success makes her the first Asian-American head coach to win a WNBA championship.
Her dedication was evident during her time with the Clippers and their G League affiliate, the Agua Caliente Clippers, where she reportedly watched multiple games daily, often working until 3 a.m. and sleeping only four hours a night. Her work ethic and coaching acumen were recognized by players and coaches, including Tyronn Lue, under whom she served as an assistant and player development coach.
"She asked me if I have any tips going into the Finals," Lue recently told reporters. "I said, ‘You don’t need my advice. You’re way better than me. You’re doing a better job than I am. So you got it. You’ve done a great job.’ I’m very happy for her."
The New York Post article suggests the NBA may have missed an opportunity by not promoting women like Nakase, Becky Hammon, and Teresa Weatherspoon to head coaching roles, leading them to pursue opportunities in the WNBA. The article points out that NBA teams have been willing to take risks on male coaches with limited prior experience, such as JJ Redick, who transitioned from player to head coach for the Lakers. Nakase's championship success now stands as a testament to her capabilities and a potential indicator for the NBA to reconsider its approach to hiring female coaches.