When the Golden State Valkyries tipped off their inaugural season, few expected them to rewrite history.
But under the steady leadership of first-year head coach Natalie Nakase, the WNBA’s newest franchise turned promise into reality — making it to the playoffs and earning their coach the league’s highest honor.
Nakase claimed the 2025 WNBA Coach of the Year after guiding the Valkyries to a record-setting debut season.
She received 52 first-place votes to finish ahead of Atlanta Dream coach Karl Smesko, as well as former championship coaches Becky Hammon of the Las Vegas Aces and Cheryl Reeve of the Minnesota Lynx.
“The success doesn’t lie within me — it relies on every single person in this organization. That’s what I’m really proud of,” the 45-year-old shots caller said.
"The success doesn’t lie within me, it relies in every single person in this organization... that’s what I’m really proud of.” 💜
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 17, 2025
-Natalie Nakase on being named @StateStreetETFs WNBA COY
With the first-year coach leading the way, Golden State set the WNBA record for victories by an expansion team in its first season with 23.
The Valkyries have set a new WNBA record for most wins by an expansion team! 🔥
— ESPN (@espn) August 16, 2025
The Valkyries (23-21) also became the first team to qualify in the postseason in its inaugural season, and are currently trailing 1-0 in their opening round duel with the top seeded Lynx.
Earlier, they put the league on notice after jumping to a 10-9 record to start the season, becoming only the third expansion team in league history to pick up its 10th victory in 20 games or less.
As the Valkyries competed for a playoff spot in the final weeks of the regular season, they went 12-7 in their final 19 games including winning four and five straight games during that span in different instances.
Nakase was hired as the Valkyries’ head coach in October 2024 after serving three seasons as an assistant coach under Hammon.
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.
