The Golden State Valkyries took the WNBA by surprise in 2025. Despite it being the expansion team’s first season, the Valkyries rallied to go 23-21 and make the playoffs. At the center of the team’s excellence was first-time head coach Natalie Nakase.
Nakase’s excellence was recognized Wednesday, as she was named the WNBA’s Coach of the Year.
Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase is the 2025 State Street Investment Management SPY WNBA Coach of the Year! pic.twitter.com/dRyPMSyoZr
— WNBA Communications (@WNBAComms) September 17, 2025
Nakase received 53 of 72 first-place votes, beating out Atlanta Dream head coach Karl Smesko for the award.
After a slow start, in which the Valkyries opened the season 2-5, Golden State improved as the year went on. Led by an excellent defense, which limited teams to a league-low 76.3 points per game, the Valkyries went on four winning streaks of at least three or more victories to propel themselves into the final playoff spot.
On the court, the team was led by Kayla Thornton and Veronica Burton, two players who took major steps forward in their first seasons under Nakase. Thornton, who averaged just 5.5 points per game last season, saw her scoring jump to 14.0 points per game, leading the team before suffering a season-ending injury in July. Burton was equally as impressive, averaging 11.9 points, 6.0 assists and 4.4 rebounds after being a part-time player with the Connecticut Sun last season. That performance earned Burton the WNBA’s Most Improved Player award Monday.
Success under Nakase in Year 1 was not a given. In addition to the team’s uncertain roster entering the season, Nakase had never served as a head coach at the professional level. After graduating from UCLA in 2003, where she was a point guard on the women’s basketball team, Nakase played in the NWBL and in Germany. She tried out for the Phoenix Mercury in 2007 but did not make the cut.
Nakase went into coaching in 2008 and eventually became an assistant with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2018. In 2022, she joined the Las Vegas Aces as a member of Becky Hammon’s staff. Nakase served as an assistant with the team until the Valkyries hired her in October.
After an excellent first season, Nakase put herself — and the Valkyries — on the WNBA radar. While expectations are low for Golden State after the team eked into the playoffs, the team won’t take anyone by surprise next season.
It will be on Nakase and the team’s returning players to prove their debut wasn’t a fluke. If Wednesday’s voting results are any indication, those around the WNBA believe Nakase has what it takes to keep building a winner in Golden State.
