• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
Tune in on Dec. 11 at 1:05 p.m. ET for our last Future of Sports virtual summit of the year – Future of Sports: Marketing! Register Now

Valkyries Make Natalie Nakase First Female Asian American WNBA Head Coach 

  • The expansion franchise named Nakase its first head coach.
  • She is the first female Asian American head coach in league history.
Natalie Nakase
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The Golden State Valkyries continue to make waves a year before they’re officially welcomed into the WNBA.

The franchise announced Thursday that Natalie Nakase would be its first head coach, making her the first female Asian American head coach in league history. Nakase, who is of Japanese descent, had been an assistant coach with the Las Vegas Aces since 2022 and won back-to-back titles under head coach Becky Hammon.

In 2014, Hammon was the first woman to be named an assistant coach in the NBA by the Spurs. Though Hammon was technically the ceiling-breaking hire, Nakase beat her to becoming the answer to a trivia question when she became the first woman to sit on an NBA bench that summer when she served as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers’ Summer League team.

She totaled 10 years with the Clippers organization, going from intern to assistant with the G League all the way up to assistant coach to Tyronn Lue. Before joining the Clippers, Nakase, 44, was a head coach in the top German women’s pro league and a men’s assistant in Japan.

As a player, Nakase became the first Asian American woman to play in the now-defunct National Women’s Basketball League from 2005 to 2006. She played college basketball at UCLA for four years.

The Valkyries will make their debut as the WNBA’s 13th franchise next season. The expansion franchise was announced last October, with Warriors owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber paying a $50 million fee for the team. 

In July, two months after the franchise unveiled its name and logo, the team announced it had sold a woman’s pro sports record 15,000 season-ticket deposits.

The ticket sales record came despite the Valkyries being months away from knowing a single player on their roster. The WNBA expansion draft for the Valkyries, the league’s first in 16 years, is scheduled on Dec. 7

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Nov 15, 2024; Arlington, Texas, UNITED STATES; Mike Tyson (black gloves) fights Jake Paul (silver gloves) at AT&T Stadium.

Netflix Spectacle Made Tyson, Paul Top Trending U.S. Athletes of 2024: Google

The Yankees and Dodgers were among the top trending sports team searches in 2024.
Joe Tsai

NFL Owners Set to Vote on Dolphins, Bills Stakes for Tsai, Carter,..

The deals are likely to be approved at the owners meetings in Dallas.

BYU Secures No. 1 2026 Hoops Recruit With $7 Million NIL Deal

Dybantsa chose BYU over UNC, Kansas, and Alabama.
Dec 7, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Wizards guard Jordan Poole (13) reacts after the final horn against the Denver Nuggets at Capital One Arena.

Capitals, Wizards Owner Monumental Aims to Drive ‘Downtown D.C.’s Comeback’

Monumental Sports, which owns the Wizards, is ready to anchor a D.C. comeback.

Featured Today

Nov 2, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Detailed view of a Wilson NBA basketball held by a referee during the second half between the Utah Jazz against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena

‘Obvious Weak Point’: Refs Remain an NBA Gambling Concern

A season after Jontay Porter, the biggest risk may not be players.
Nov 2, 2024; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Michigan Wolverines cheerleader runs with a flag before the game against the Oregon Ducks at Michigan Stadium.
opinion
December 7, 2024

College Football’s Billionaire Backer Era Begins

Is this the new normal in CFB recruiting?
LA Galaxy forward Dejan Joveljic (9) celebrates with midfielder Riqui Puig (10) after scoring a goal against Seattle Sounders FC in the second half in the 2024 MLS Cup Western Conference Final match at Dignity Health Sports Park
December 6, 2024

With or Without Messi, Major League Soccer Is Barreling Into the Future

After the Cup final, the league looks to accelerate its growth.
Dec 18, 2022; Lusail, Qatar; FIFA president Gianni Infantino claps during the awards ceremony after the 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium.
December 2, 2024

FIFA Wants More Matches. Resistance Is Growing Inside the Global Soccer World

Resentment and frustration over expanded schedules is nearing a breaking point.

Soto Contract Echoes 2000 A-Rod Deal. Could Similar Fallout Follow?

The record-setting Soto deal recalls A-Rod 24 years ago.
Jul 20, 2024; Phoenix, AZ, USA; NBA commissioner Adam Silver arrives prior to the WNBA All Star Game at Footprint Center.
December 6, 2024

NBA Set for China Return Five Years After Morey–Hong Kong Fiasco

The Nets and Suns will play two games in Macao in October 2025.
Iowa’s Kate Martin waves to the crowd during a celebration of the Iowa women’s basketball team Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.
December 6, 2024

WNBA’s Valkyries Assemble Roster With Fan Favorite Kate Martin

It’s the WNBA’s first expansion draft since 2008.
Sponsored

How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture

As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
Dec 1, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens safety Ar'Darius Washington (29) tackles Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) on the one yard line during the first half at M&T Bank Stadium.
December 5, 2024

NFL Relaxes Drug Policy by Reducing Fines and Resetting Violation Clocks

It makes it harder to test positive for marijuana and reduces fines.
From left, Jeeno Thitikul, of Thailand, Lydia Ko, of New Zealand, and Yan Liu, of the Republic of China, walk onto the first green during the Kroger Queen City Classic in Cincinnati on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024.
December 4, 2024

LPGA Alters Transgender Player Policy, At Least One Player Barred

The new rules disqualify a current transgender golfer, Hailey Davidson.
December 4, 2024

WNBA Expansion Draft Drama: Picks Will Be Revealed, Not Player Pool

Only the final selections of the Golden State Valkyries will be revealed.
December 4, 2024

Toronto Tempo Announced Day After WNBA Leaked Team Name

Screenshots circulated on X of the team name on the WNBA’s website.