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The Bay Area is home to people of all backgrounds who lay the groundwork for others to thrive, shaping the city into what it is today. Whether you're born and raised in the Bay or found your way here later, that impact leaves a mark. It’s the essence of the Yay Area.
Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase is the latest gamechanger, leading the Bay’s first W franchise with power and purpose. She’s brought stars like Kayla Thornton, Tiffany Hayes, Kate Martin and more into the spotlight, igniting the city with a new kind of energy.
The Valkyries are now the heartbeat of the Bay and the pulse of the W. Not just the most valuable franchise in the League, but a defining force in the history of women’s sports. If Coach Nakase and the Valks have taught us anything, it’s this: why wait to make waves? Make your splash now.
WSLAM: We had the pleasure of interviewing you before the season and you said to “trust the process” in what was brewing in Golden State. Seeing everything you wanted come to fruition, how does it feel?
NATALIE NAKASE: It feels like a dream. I have the best staff, and I think I have the most understanding and hardworking players. And so “trust the process” is definitely coming to fruition because, again, the big hearts and my coaching staff and the collaboration of hard working and coachable players, the trust is definitely vibing.
WSLAM: What does Valkyries basketball mean to you?
NK: I think Valkyries basketball is vicious. I think it's gritty. I think it's passionate, and I think it's inspirational, because when you have 12 players on the court fully connected and bringing the best out of each other, I think anything can happen.
WSLAM: You've set this killer mentality in your locker room, and we've seen it on the court. How has this vision evolved within the team? How did you create it?
NK: This is how I want the team to go, and watching them adapt and get out of their comfort zones, it's really them being themselves. It's the players being their authentic self. I don't really feel like I could really create them to be anything other than themselves, and I want them to be themselves. I think when people are out of their comfort zone, people are doing their passion—they're at their best when they can be themselves. I’m really just trying to push them to be the best version of themselves. Sometimes it's uncomfortable. Sometimes truth telling is difficult to hear, but like I said, I have 12 coachable players that love to work hard. And when you have that combination, anything is possible.
WSLAM: Halfway through your first season as a head coach, what are some things you've learned? Any off-court milestones?
NK: I think being able to work with less sleep. I thought four hours was tough, but there's been nights of like two or three hours of sleep. You know, the ability to push through fatigue and exhaustion has been, I think, a milestone really for me to accomplish just because, I'll do whatever it takes to win, and I'll do whatever it takes for the players to be successful. And so [if] that means less sleep for me, I'm all about it.
WSLAM: You’ve found a way to create a melting pot of a roster with different strengths, personalities and a culture we haven’t seen in the W. Is this what you imagined for your locker room?
NK: I try not to give my secrets away, but I think from day one, my coaching staff and I, we agreed that we're going to create an environment and a culture that we call a safe space. So from day one, we said our identity is killers, but we want you [the players] to make mistakes. You can turn over the ball, you can miss shots. We didn't care. So I wanted [them] to make as many mistakes as possible. And we'll be here to teach you how to, you know, be better and play the right way. And so I think with that type of safe environment, I think it allows [players] to play at their best or at least push themselves to be, you know, more than what they are normally able to get each day. I think just giving them the space to make mistakes, that's room.
WSLAM: Think back to a year ago—did you know you’d be here?
NK: No, I was, I mean, candidly, I was with the Las Vegas Aces. We were one of the top teams in the world, and [they are] a family that I will be forever grateful for. So, no, I never thought I could. I'm very grateful.
WSLAM: You’ve impacted your players this season, but how do they impact you?
NK: My players show up. My players show up with a positive attitude, with smiles, with happiness, with laughter, new dance moves that I haven't seen before. So they make every day literally a dream come true. It sounds cliché, but every time I walk into the practice facility or the Chase Center, I'm literally living my dream. And so without the personalities of our players and the big hearts that they have, my dream wouldn't be coming true right now.
WSLAM: If you could give a message to the Bay Area, what would you say?
NK: Bay Area, Ballhalla! We love you! We can't win these games without you, so please continue to support us. If you haven't been to Ballhalla, come on through. We welcome anyone and everyone, and we want to create as much hostility as possible. Please keep coming and be loud!
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