SAN FRANCISCO — Before she became the Golden State Valkyries’ first head coach in franchise history, Natalie Nakase spent her first three years in the WNBA as an assistant on Becky Hammon’s staff in Las Vegas.
Nakase, 45, won back-to-back championships with Hammon and the Las Vegas Aces in 2022 and 2023. The two coaches formed a close bond that saw them create one of the most dominant teams in WNBA history.
Nakase credited her time with Las Vegas and Hammon as crucial to her coaching career, which made Saturday’s game a full circle moment.
In her first matchup against one of her biggest coaching mentors, Nakase and the Valkyries blew out the Aces at home 95-68. The win was Nakase’s first marquee victory as Golden State’s coach.
Hammon praised her former assistant’s dedication and drive.
“One of the things that makes Natalie great is just her work ethic and her willingness to learn,” Hammon said before Saturday’s game. “There was, I’d say, probably hundreds of nights that we were on the phone, texting back and forth at two, three in the morning because we’re just both trying to figure it out.
“She’s a student of the game. She always wants to learn. And I think that’s a sign of not only a great leader, but a great coach.”
Nakase said she still has a ways to go to get to Hammon’s level.
“I’m trying to learn from her, but obviously she’s one of the best coaches in the world. So, yeah, I’m still working,” Nakase said.
Nakase and Hammon are cut from a similar coaching cloth as both had been the NBA’s two longest-tenured women coaches before landing with Las Vegas.
Hammon learned under legendary San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and Nakase worked in the Los Angeles Clippers organization for over a decade before they both made their debut with the Aces in 2022.
In their three-year run together, Nakase and Hammon built the Aces into one of the most dominant teams in the league. With stars such as A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young, the Aces compiled an 87-19 record while Nakase was on Hammon’s coaching staff.
According to Hammon, Nakase had chances to leave the Aces after her first year, but opted to continue her development as a coach in Las Vegas.
“I think it shows a lot of maturity and wisdom that she wanted to stay,” Hammon said.
Nakase accepted the job to become Golden State’s coach last October after completing her third year on staff with Las Vegas. Nakase said leaving the Aces was a tough decision, but felt that this was the right time.
“I didn’t even take the interviews my first year,” Nakase said. “(Becky) was like, ‘What are you doing?’ And I’m like, ‘I love working with you and your staff, and I love the players.’ The players are amazing superstars, but they’re super humble as well. And that, I think, was why we won so much. That’s really why it was tough to leave.”
Saturday’s game was like a family reunion. Kate Martin and Tiffany Hayes were both on last year’s Aces team and made big impacts on Las Vegas’ run to last year’s semifinals.
Martin was selected by the Valkyries in December’s expansion draft and Hayes signed with Golden State after winning Sixth Player of the Year last season.
“You want a coach who knows what they’re talking about and cares about their players and both do,” Martin said. “Coach Hammon was great to learn from last year and I’m grateful that I still get to be with Natalie this year.”
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For Nakase, the opportunity to come to the Bay Area wouldn’t have happened without Hammon allowing her to chase her dream of becoming a head coach.
“You don’t want to sometimes detach yourself, obviously, from a good winning environment,” Nakase said. “I’m grateful for her because a lot of people wouldn’t push their assistants away. So, I’m just kind of really grateful that she really nudged me.
“I won’t ever forget when I told her in her office, and I was nervous to tell her. But when I told her, we just embraced and we hugged for like the longest time. We cried and I knew I made the right decision.”
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