Former Bruin hired as head coach of WNBA expansion team

The Golden State Valkyries have selected Natalie Nakase as head coach of the new team. The expansion franchise begins play next season.

Nakase is originally from Bruin and is a Los Angeles native. The point guard was a walk-on at UCLA in 1998 and served as team captain for three seasons.

Nakase spent the last three years as an assistant with the Las Vegas Aces. She helped the Aces win back-to-back WNBA championships in 2022 and 2023.

“Being named head coach of the Golden State Valkyries is a lifelong dream come true,” Nakase told the AP. “I am grateful to Joe Lacob, Ohemaa Nyanin and the Golden State front office for entrusting me with this responsibility. We strive to build a winning culture of courage, hard work and competitiveness. We will strive to improve, compete and ultimately bring home a championship for our fans and this organization.”

Prior to her three years in Las Vegas, Nakase spent 11 seasons in various roles with the Los Angeles Clippers. Her final role before leaving the NBA team was as an assistant coach and player development coach.

Her position was a dual role with the Clippers and their G League affiliate, the Agua Caliente Clippers.

“Natalie is the perfect candidate to lead the Valkyries as our head coach,” said Golden State GM Ohemaa Nyanin. “She embodies all the characteristics of what we look for in a head coach and has extensive knowledge of professional basketball.” Her journey is representative of the courage and perseverance our team will demonstrate towards our ultimate goal “To win championships, to achieve.”

Nakase's coaching career began in 2008 in the Women's Professional Basketball German League, where she served as head coach for the Wolfenbüttel Wildcats for two seasons. From 2010 to 2011, she served as an assistant coach for the Tokyo Apache in the Men's Professional Basketball Japan League.

Nakase became head coach of the Saitama Broncos in 2011. This success made her the first woman to serve as the league's head coach.

The former Bruin played two years of professional basketball in the NWBL with the San Jose Spiders and San Diego Siege.

The interview process with the Valkyries began around the Olympic break. As soon as the Aces' season ended, she traveled to the Bay Area for a permanent residency.

“I was literally in meetings with the Las Vegas Aces two days ago. So it was a quick change once I found out,” she said. “It's exciting. And when I heard the news, I obviously jumped for joy and was ready to go.”