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Abhinav Sharma

Golden State Valkyries' Natalie Nakase wins 2025 WNBA Coach of the Year Award

Nakase helped the Valkyries become the first expansion team to make the playoffs in their debut season

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  • Nakase named WNBA Coach of the Year amid expansion club's historic season
  • The Valkyries (23-21, No. 8 seed) became the first expansion team to make the playoffs
  • Nakase got 53 from a possible 72 votes
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  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase has been honored as the 2025 WNBA Coach of the Year, the league confirmed on Wednesday. Nakase etched her name into history by steering the Valkyries (23-21, No. 8 seed) to the postseason, making them the first-ever expansion franchise to reach the playoffs in their debut campaign.

    Nakase earned 53 of the 72 possible votes to secure the award. Atlanta Dream coach Karl Smesko placed second with 15 votes, while Las Vegas Aces boss Becky Hammon and Minnesota’s Cheryl Reeve each picked up two votes apiece.

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    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    After three seasons on Becky Hammon's staff with the Las Vegas Aces, Natalie Nakase was brought on board by team owner Joe Lacob to lead the Golden State Valkyries in October 2024. In her very first year at the helm, Nakase made history, guiding the franchise to a WNBA-record 23 wins for an expansion team and securing a playoff berth in their debut season.

    The campaign didn’t start smoothly, as Golden State stumbled out to a 2-5 record. But Nakase quickly steadied the ship, sparking a 7-2 run that earned her WNBA Coach of the Month honors in June. Down the stretch, with postseason hopes hanging in the balance, the Valkyries surged again, ripping off a four-game winning streak in mid-August and following it up with five straight victories from late August into September.

    Her team’s identity was forged on defense, holding opponents to just 76.3 points per game and a league-low 40.5% from the field. Offensively, the Valkyries stretched the floor better than anyone, averaging a WNBA-best 9.7 threes per outing. Individually, guard Veronica Burton was crowned the 2025 Kia WNBA Most Improved Player, while forward Kayla Thornton earned her first All-Star nod, further underlining Nakase’s impact on the team’s rapid rise.

  • WHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

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    WHAT NEXT FOR VALKYRIE?

    The Valkyries trail 1-0 in their opening-round matchup against the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx but will have the chance to rally when the series shifts back to San Francisco for Game 2 on Wednesday night.