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When Joe Lacob hired Natalie Nakase to be the Golden State Valkyries’ first coach in franchise history, it came with a timeline.
“The goal is going to be five years; you have to bring home a championship,” Lacob told Nakase.
Lacob is no stranger to winning. As co-owner of the Golden State Warriors he has been part of the four titles the franchise has won behind Steph Curry. He is the majority owner of the Valkyries, the WNBA expansion team that starts play in 2025, and is expecting similar results to what he’s had with the Warriors.
Speaking on the Front Office Sports Today podcast, Nakase said in her interview with Lacob, he discussed how he got to where he is in life, which has stuck with her since. Lacob, who is worth just more than $2 billion, according to Forbes, made much of his money in the venture capital industry.
“My conversation with Joe was one of the most inspiring, impactful conversations I’ve ever had,” Nakase said. “This guy’s telling me the secret sauce. Who wouldn’t want to be like Joe?”
No WNBA expansion team has ever won a title within the first five years of the franchise’s existence, but Nakase isn’t running from the expectations. Nakase, who was an assistant for the Las Vegas Aces before taking the job, said the team is starting play with its own practice facility in Oakland, which she considers a major factor in free agency.
“I’m trying to tell people who don’t have their own practice facility that it’s a huge advantage,” Nakase said.
The Valkyries are off to a hot start as a franchise, accumulating more than 17,000 season-ticket deposits while regularly selling out of merchandise—months before the team opens play in May 2025.
Nakase will now look to build out her staff and has her attention primarily focused on the WNBA expansion draft, which falls on Dec. 6. As for the expectations she’s walking into, Nakase isn’t shying away from them.
“Just the way [Lacob] knew how to win, I have to take that recipe as well. You’re providing me with all these resources that I can’t fail. People are saying, ‘Is that pressure?’ No. I’m excited,” she said.
You can listen to the rest of Nakase’s interview here.
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