SAN FRANCISCO — Earlier than she turned the Golden State Valkyries’ first head coach in franchise historical past, Natalie Nakase spent her first three years within the WNBA as an assistant on Becky Hammon’s employees in Las Vegas.
Nakase, 45, gained back-to-back championships with Hammon and the Las Vegas Aces in 2022 and 2023. The 2 coaches fashioned an in depth bond that noticed them create one of the crucial dominant groups in WNBA historical past.
Nakase credited her time with Las Vegas and Hammon as essential to her teaching profession, which made Saturday’s sport a full circle second.
In her first matchup towards certainly one of her largest teaching mentors, Nakase and the Valkyries blew out the Aces 95-68 at Chase Heart. The win was Nakase’s first marquee victory as Golden State’s coach.
Hammon praised her former assistant’s dedication and drive.
“One of the things that makes Natalie great is just her work ethic and her willingness to learn,” Hammon mentioned earlier than Saturday’s sport. “There was, I’d say, in all probability a whole lot of nights that we have been on the cellphone, texting backwards and forwards at two, three within the morning as a result of we’re simply each attempting to determine it out.
“She’s a student of the game. She always wants to learn. And I think that’s a sign of not only a great leader, but a great coach.”
Nakase mentioned she nonetheless has a methods to go to get to Hammon’s degree.
“I’m trying to learn from her, but obviously she’s one of the best coaches in the world. So, yeah, I’m still working,” Nakase mentioned.
Nakase and Hammon are reduce from an analogous teaching material as each had been the NBA’s two longest-tenured girls coaches earlier than touchdown with Las Vegas.
Hammon discovered below legendary San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and Nakase labored within the Los Angeles Clippers group for over a decade earlier than they each made their debut with the Aces in 2022.
Of their three-year run collectively, Nakase and Hammon constructed the Aces into one of the crucial dominant groups within the league. With stars reminiscent of A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, Chelsea Grey and Jackie Younger, the Aces compiled an 87-19 file whereas Nakase was on Hammon’s teaching employees.
In keeping with Hammon, Nakase had possibilities to depart the Aces after her first 12 months, however opted to proceed her growth as a coach in Las Vegas.
“I think it shows a lot of maturity and wisdom that she wanted to stay,” Hammon mentioned.
Nakase accepted the job to turn out to be Golden State’s coach final October after finishing her third 12 months on employees with Las Vegas. Nakase mentioned leaving the Aces was a tricky choice, however felt that this was the precise time.
“I didn’t even take the interviews my first year,” Nakase mentioned. “(Becky) was like, ‘What are you doing?’ And I’m like, ‘I love working with you and your staff, and I love the players.’ The players are amazing superstars, but they’re super humble as well. And that, I think, was why we won so much. That’s really why it was tough to leave.”
Saturday’s sport was like a household reunion. Kate Martin and Tiffany Hayes have been each on final 12 months’s Aces group and made massive impacts on Las Vegas’ run to final 12 months’s semifinals.
Martin was chosen by the Valkyries in December’s growth draft and Hayes signed with Golden State after successful Sixth Participant of the 12 months final season.
“You want a coach who knows what they’re talking about and cares about their players and both do,” Martin mentioned. “Coach Hammon was great to learn from last year and I’m grateful that I still get to be with Natalie this year.”
Nakase has the Valkyries heading in the right direction, despite the fact that their file won’t replicate many wins. It’s evident that Golden State has constructed a powerful defensive id below Nakase and the group has been aggressive in virtually each sport.
For Nakase, the chance to return to the Bay Space wouldn’t have occurred with out Hammon permitting her to chase her dream of turning into a head coach.
“You don’t want to sometimes detach yourself, obviously, from a good winning environment,” Nakase mentioned. “I’m grateful for her as a result of lots of people wouldn’t push their assistants away. So, I’m simply form of actually grateful that she actually nudged me.
“I won’t ever forget when I told her in her office, and I was nervous to tell her. But when I told her, we just embraced and we hugged for like the longest time. We cried and I knew I made the right decision.”
Initially Revealed: June 7, 2025 at 5:04 PM PDT
