Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase wins first WNBA title in second season
The gist
Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase won her first WNBA title as the team beat the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in Game 7.
The expansion franchise won three years ahead of owner Joe Lacob's five-year target.
How it unfolded
- Oct 2024Natalie Nakase interviewed with Valkyries owner Joe Lacob for the head coaching job; he told her the goal was to win a championship in five years.
- Oct 31, 2026The Golden State Valkyries beat the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in Game 7 of the WNBA Finals at Chase Center in San Francisco to win their first title.
- Nov 1, 2026Reports published Nakase's post-championship comments, including that she planned to rest over the winter before outlining the path to another championship.