League: WNBA Sport: Basketball Country: United States Category: Coaching

Natalie Nakase's journey leads her to the WNBA Finals with the Valkyries

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Oct 26, 2026, 10:16 AM

Last updated Oct 26, 2026

Natalie Nakase's journey leads her to the WNBA Finals with the Valkyries

Summary

Natalie Nakase, a 5-foot-2 coach, has taken the Golden State Valkyries to the WNBA Finals, tied 2-2 against the Atlanta Dream. Her unconventional path included a career as a walk-on at UCLA and coaching in Japan and Germany. Nakase has molded her roster of underdogs into a competitive team, emphasizing determination and heart. As the Finals continue, Nakase aims to secure a championship in her second year with the expansion franchise.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

Key Details

•Valkyries are tied 2-2 with the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA Finals
•Nakase previously coached in Japan's top-tier men's league
•She was a walk-on at UCLA and played professionally
•Her coaching emphasizes determination over physical attributes
•This is Nakase's second year as a head coach in the WNBA

Latest Updates

10:16 AMYahoo Sports — Natalie Nakase’s unlikely journey: a 5-foot-2 walk-on, coach in Japan, and now in the WNBA Finals

What they're saying

"
Every step of her basketball journey, there was a logical reason why Natalie Nakase was unlikely to get a shot. At 5-foot-2, she didn’t have the profile (even as a walk-on) to play at UCLA. She played professionally in the shadows, competing for unheralded teams like the San Jose Spiders and San Diego Siege in the short-lived and now-defunct National Women’s Basketball League. From there, she coached in largely unrecognized outposts, like leading the Saitama Broncos in Japan or the Wolfenbüttel
— Yahoo Sports

Related Teams & Leagues

Los Angeles Clippers Atlanta Dream Golden State Valkyries WNBA Basketball