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Natalie Nakase leads the Valkyries to the WNBA Finals in only their second season
Natalie Nakase is the first Asian American head coach in the WNBA and her Golden State Valkyries swept the defending champion Aces to reach the Finals.
The Golden State Valkyries are going to the WNBA Finals and an Asian American coach is guiding them there. Natalie Nakase became the league's first Asian American head coach and now she has her club one step from a title. The Valkyries beat the reigning champion Las Vegas Aces in three straight games and no expansion team had ever reached the Finals so quickly since this is only their second season.
A dream in year two
Golden State closed the series with an 87-77 overtime win in Game 3. Nakase told reporters afterward that reaching the Finals in the team's second year is a dream come true.
Kaitlyn Chen's role
Guard Kaitlyn Chen is another Asian American voice on the roster. The Valkyries picked her 30th overall in the 2025 draft. She does not start but she has been a steady part of the rotation this postseason with averages of 6.0 points and 1.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists. In a recent Instagram caption she wrote that she loves her teammates and loves "ballhalla."
What comes next
The Finals open Oct. 17 against the Atlanta Dream. Atlanta swept the New York Liberty in its own semifinal. For Nakase the matchup adds one more milestone to a historic season.
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