Golden State Valkyries Press Conference: Head Coach Natalie Nakase | October 10, 2024

[@Toxophilix]

Aces fan here. This is a great choice by the Valkyries. Natalie has been a big part of the Aces' success. Looking forward to seeing our teams compete.

[@ak_hoops]

that part!

[@ginadelapuerta8297]

new team?

[@711-v2r]

I'll be rooting for the Golden State Valkyries simply because of Natalie Nakase. Excellent choice for head coach.

[@PhilTheBronxite]

As a Liberty fan. This is one heck of a hire as Golden States first HC. They got it right!

[@marcusb.3038]

Let’s go Natalie!!! Congrats!!! Let’s get that roster straight for 2025!!

[@FoxterFiftyfive]

Congratulations and good luck!!! I cheer for Dallas Wings, but happy that Valkyries got a great coach!

[@Jazzynupe1911]

AWESOME to see the new coach... Go get em Valkyries!!!

[@audreybowles6357]

Congratulations and make it a great Ride of the Valkyries!!!!!!!

[@sandragomez4309]

I was praying we would hire her, and we got her 💜

[@cookieb5029]

Congrats Natalie will miss you with the Aces , all the best in your new role as Head Coach 👏👏🏀♥️

[@columbusobanner5042]

Congratulations! Welcome to Golden State! It’s about accomplishing your goals and winning championships!

[@Finishnails4F1]

Natalie Nakase is so well spoken, empathetic, and seems completely ready to take on the challenges ahead. so hype she's coming to the bay!!

[@teesweezee26]

IMO “well-spoken” isn’t much of a compliment…it’s as if you weren’t expecting someone to speak articulately. Also, for such a well-spoken speaker, she says “like” A LOT.

[@Xfactor444-x4n]

"Well spoken" is such sn outdated racist troupe. We you expected her to not be able to converse on even a basic level?

[@Finishnails4F1]

@@teesweezee26 I understand that in certain contexts, but I don't think there are stereotypes about Asian-Americans being inarticulate. As a head coach being am excellent communicator is an important part of the job... but not all of them are! So no, I don't necessarily expect that from the coaches. And "like" isn't a sign of being inarticulate, it's a linguistic filler word that people use when they are gathering their thoughts to continue speaking articulately without losing the "speaking stick". Pretty basic concept in linguistics, surprised you haven't heard about this!

[@AbsolutelyAvaa]

Just an FYI: Well spoken is offensive. …… I seriously don’t think that was your intention. Just an fyi. The more you know.

[@defresh24]

Great hire. Classy, gracious and successful.

[@shastica]

Im excited and happy for all the woman that will be able to play profesional!!! ❤ fan from Mexico 🇲🇽

[@josuemenjivar618]

This was a great hiring. I wish the organization all the best.

[@sfdisneygeek3769]

Solid foundation to build on. Good move 👍🏻👍🏻

[@JayzoTheNextKobeBryant2.0]

Go Valkyries !!!!

[@williamokuda8882]

Love how she remembers her dad. First Japanese American WNBA head coach.

[@karlculpepper]

Congratulations 🎉

[@kimsampson41]

I LOVE this coach pick! She will do so well. Now get the Sabally sisters somehow, someway! The marketing alone would be HUGE, plus they are from Oregon. Please recruit the Sabally sisters!!!

[@etokun1]

Nat dreams big and achieves even bigger. You dont' knock on the Associations door and get handed free lunch. She kicked the door down and workd her ass off to join the clippers coaching staff. This is what she has been working for her entire career. So happy for her.

[@freedomsky21]

Hopefully the GM (Ohemaa Nyanin) would try to consider getting Marine Johaness and Li Meng, they can absolutely contribute right away and not only that they will definitely draw fans to see them play at Chase Center or even from opponents home court. Now the Valkyries have a Great Head Coach (Natalie Nakase) she can bring the best on these two amazing ladies. #SupportWomensBasketball 🏀🔥💯

[@etokun1]

Gaddamnit, I wish I had a young daughter right now. Just to be able to show her Natalie Nakase and tell her that's how you win at life.

[@CFWB]

Congratulations!! So happy for all Asians!! This is historical!

[@1in8Thrive]

Oh I had a feeling it would be her! Congrats! Hoping we draft UConn’s Kaitlyn Chen for Valkyries:)

[@certifiedvibez]

I’m a caitlin clark fan but I’m interested in seeing how well this Valkyries team does. I’ll def be looking out.

[@randyrobert7122]

Since I have been in Oakland, they have lost the, Bay-Bombers, Seals, Raiders (2times), Warriors, and As.

[@Bford84]

let’s go it’s a guarantee championship

[@darrylanderson4764]

God is great

[@darringarcia4979]

Let's goooo

[@justqua9510]

Bittersweet but happy for her

[@w.k.liggins2870]

20:48 Six Aces players are playing in Unrivaled.

[@zionthedon7745]

I'm still a casual but she seems like a great choice

[@CONTROLFIRE9]

A championship in the first 5 years? That's super rare for an expansion team. I hope the franchise is patient in trying to build a championship roster.

[@annettemitchell9253]

Gonna miss you coach, good luck in your next chapter!!

[@singloc3021]

She has 5 years to bring a championship to an expansion team. I'm glad the owner is willing to put money into his team. Money doesn't buy championships but it does show the players you're willing to invest in them. Especially since this is the WNBA. These athletes had to fight to just get chartered flights. I understand the argument that the league has been bleeding money, but the growth is there. I'm a Liberty fan and the Liberty was one of the original 4 teams in the WNBA and we still don't have a championship.

[@terrytourettes9251]

I have to say that i am kind of pissed off that golden state does not get 1st draft pick. I get sparks want it. But they have a team and i doubt they would swap 1 player for anyone the golden state will have. It will be a team full of bench warmers. So to me drafting someone like paige will give them a base that they can build a team around. I say this as a fever fan. 1st draft pick gives you the best player and it can turn a bottom team into a playoff team

[@samanthahandley1184]

It doesn’t make sense for a brand new team to get first pick, considering the next 2 years there will be multiple teams that will also expect first draft picks. So for the next 3 years existing teams won’t get first picks. Then next year two teams are entering. Just ridiculous to think new teams deserve first picks when they get to pluck players from other teams.

[@clarencejackson8165]

Go get diamond miller and dorka on the team great hire

[@noalacensurasolowrestling3727]

Now we just need to know which players are to the liking of this unknown coach: will it be Nalyssa Smith, Dorka Juhasz, Marine Johannes, Kia Nurse, diamond deshields ,Gabby Williams, Queen Egbo, to name a few names to compete in the Valkyries' debut in the WNBA?

[@theesquad4722]

Ooof, if they get Gabby Williams😭😭😭😭

[@lynnhazlewood9738]

I wouldn't get Smith. No disrespect. I like her, but she's up and down.

[@noalacensurasolowrestling3727]

@@lynnhazlewood9738 It's the best the Valkyries can get with the perverse 2025 draft regulations

[@noalacensurasolowrestling3727]

@@lynnhazlewood9738 It is the best that the Valkyries can choose within what there is with the strict 2025 draft regulations

[@kimmnicolay6370]

please take smith out of fever court ....

[@MikeyWilliams-14m]

Hi

[@Kristen-vz7eu]

Why did you have to leave the Aces.😭😭

[@juanmachado1844]

Oh man... does this mean Plum Dawg is going to Golden State? I hope not.

[@FURPRONOUNS]

Who?

[@jboy2621]

Okay let's draft Paige Bueckers (UCONN) and select Kate Martin (LV ACES). And draft Lucy Olsen (Iowa).

[@lynnhazlewood9738]

They don't have the 1st pick, so no Bueckers.

[@Xfactor444-x4n]

You clearly have no concept of good the expansion works

[@noalacensurasolowrestling3727]

It is worrying to choose a rookie assistant coach for a new franchise like the Golden State Valkyries and not having top players like Gabby Williams or Marine Johannes for example is complicated to be able to compete in the WNBA.

[@Hegelschmegel-rk8vh]

Rookie? She started coaching since 2008. They're a bottom slot team. So they'll inevitably get some good players and the new draft allows them to get 1 player from each team that isn't protected. It's certainly a risk, but she already comes from a winning culture (2 rings with the Aces). Besides, Mark Jackson and Steve Kerr had 0 coaching experience when they got hired to be HC of GSW... You have to give credit to the GS front office. They've always had an eye for finding good talent when it doesn't seem like it on face value.

[@noalacensurasolowrestling3727]

@@Hegelschmegel-rk8vh whatever you want but she has never made decisions in a team so for me she is a rookie coach and regarding the players she cannot choose much with the strict rules of the draft

[@Hegelschmegel-rk8vh]

@@noalacensurasolowrestling3727 it’s a toss up. Only time will tell if they’re able to make some great roster decisions. I’m banking on them getting some steals and even some sleeper picks. I mean with their front office and others like Kerr giving her advice/support, it’s hard for me not to root for them. And yeah, maybe she wasn’t the final say in her previous orgs, but like I said. Neither Mark Jackson or Steve Kerr were head coaches before being on GSW and they ended up building a dynasty. Of course, this is all theoretical. She could be a complete bust, but who knows. I like her spirit.

[@lynnhazlewood9738]

She's already been a head coach. Her dad encouraged her 2 return 2 the states and make her career over here. Unless you're in A es mgt, you have no idea what she's responsible for..Besides I'm sure they talked to Becky, the Clippers and others b4 they made their decision.

[@Xfactor444-x4n]

​@@noalacensurasolowrestling3727becky hammon was also a rookie coach. Also how do you get experience unless you get a chance to get experience? Is it by osmosis?

[@72stones43]

WNBA and the Carrington eye poke lost all respect for the league.

[@lowercase01]

Becky Hammon about to be fired and Kelsey Plum on her way to California?

[@isgrad07]

😂

[@teesweezee26]

Fired for what? & there’s nothing wrong with KP.

[@lynnhazlewood9738]

Van Lith might be a good player.

[@isgrad07]

@@lynnhazlewood9738 I could see her being available at 5

[@lowercase01]

@@teesweezee26 Nothing wrong with Kelsye at all! Wish she would stay at the Aces, but the talk is she is leaving. Becky pretty much had the Olympic team, back to back Champions and barely made 4th seed. Also the center of the Hamby problems which the Aces are keen to separate themselves from.

[@kimmnicolay6370]

poor decisions if your plan is to have a championship in five years ...of course everyone is wishful and on a high . I did not feel continuity from the media table interview .. many aspects of coaching are learned from experience of failures, then adaption .expansion teams do not have a core of familiar players, nor management. the interview answers were low in content and do not have the feel of a successful corporate venture .. wishful thinking a few years of the number one draft ...but this next year looks like #7 position lots of guards but not really height .....not betting on their five year plan ..doesn't matter about how great their facility is or will be when you don't have the personnel on and off the court .... not seeing it without a lot of movement to hire better management

[@BBG2K]

interesting take... they get the 5th pick in each of the 3 rounds....so, they better choose wisely in the expansion draft and in Free Agency... they can get a good core through Free Agency. But even with that, you never know how much chemistry players will have until they get that time to play together...

[@kimmnicolay6370]

@@BBG2K draft is not like last year ....too many short guards .....kiki and Maddy only forwards with drafting ...if Nikka mulh didn't get played by Seattle , went to Europe and got injured , do u think there are any coming draft prospects that good ,??

[@BBG2K]

@@kimmnicolay6370 I guess it depends on what they are looking for...if I were them, I would go after Kelsey Plum and add Chennedy Carter from Restricted Free Agency... excellent backcourt. I would try and draft Kennedy Burke, Emily Enstler ..maybe Jordan Horston if they don't protect her. In the rookie draft, it depends. Sonia Citron would be great or Pao Pao... They have to strike in the expansion draft and a few key free agents. They want to play fast paced so that is key to who they draft. But I agree... this upcoming rookie class is not as deep, imo.

[@kimmnicolay6370]

@@BBG2K thanks ...you have done good choices ...amore is in draft too...after moving to KY with coach from Virginia

[@deaareonmorris6536]

I can’t wait, now that the season is over I’m no longer a aces fan but ima still rock with the GOAT A’ja Wilson, that being Said My Valkyries are coming and I can’t wait, we’re gonna take over the league.⚫️🟣🪽

[@WYSEEWIG]

Here comes the big girls.... The "Amazonian" way of that league will be changed. Raise the bar and standards for professionalism. That product (league, hall of famers and mediocre players with big mouth) is like an old peanut butter with an after taste..

[@jmac6991]

Women sure do like spending somebody else’s money.

[@meatlesss]

Are you paying? If not, I wouldn’t say anything.

[@wernercronauer5432]

I give you 5 years max before you fold up and disappear 🏀🏀

[@zionthedon7745]

Let's gooo