Natalie Nakase was born to lead an expansion team. Raised by a father who spoke more in actions than words, she inherited that quiet strength. Then came Golden State, a franchise built on flash, fame, and global reach. But even with the league’s loudest fanbase, nonstop buzz, and endless attention, Nakase stays grounded. She doesn’t chase the spotlight or prestige. Her fire burns inward. And that calm, steady presence is exactly what Valkyries basketball needed in Year 1. Because real foundations aren’t made for show, they’re made to last. Still, in a rare moment, we saw Nakase fired up and heard.
Minnesota vs. Golden State looked like a mismatch on paper from the start. The Lynx, one of the top teams in the league, were expected to breeze past the expansion Valkyries. And well, that’s how it played out but as expected not without a fight. The Golden State Valkyries held their own until just under five minutes remained in the third quarter on Saturday at Target Center, when the Lynx finally pulled away.
But in that same moment, something else happened…something rare. Golden State head coach caught fire.With 2:34 left in the third, Nakase was hit with the first technical foul of her head coaching career. The reason? Arguing a foul call on rookie Kate Martin. It was one of those moments where frustration finally boiled over, and if you were watching closely, it didn’t come as a surprise.
Golden State beat reporter Kenzo Fukuda captured the mood perfectly in real-time, writing, “She’s [Nakase] heated.” And when Nakase was asked about it later in the postgame press conference, her response was raw, honest, and direct..much like her coaching style. “I wanted to get one. I wanted to. I felt like we weren’t getting a great whistle…if I don’t say anything, my girls are going to get one or someone’s going to get injured,” she said.
Natalie Nakase on getting her 1st tech
“I wanted to get one. I wanted to. I felt like we weren’t getting a great whistle…if I don’t say anything, my girls are going to get one or someone’s going to get injured.”
— Moreau Sports Media Prod Co. (@MoreauSportsCo) July 6, 2025
This issue of officiating and teams not getting calls has been a recurring theme throughout the WNBA season. Nakase is far from the first to speak out or act out. Indiana Fever coach Stephanie White, Phoenix Mercury’s Nate Tibbetts, and Sparks’ HC Lynne Roberts have already picked up two technicals each. White, in particular, has been vocal about her constant frustration with the officiating this year.
Nakase now joins a group of coaches including Sandy Brondello, Becky Hammon, Sydney Johnson, and Tyler Marsh who have all been hit with one tech apiece this season. That brings the current total to 11 technical fouls charged to WNBA coaches alone. For reference, last season ended with a total of 25 techs for head coaches, with Nakase’s former head coach at the Las Vegas Aces, Hammon, leading the league with five.
But this wasn’t the first time Nakase’s fire lit up over the officiating. Even back during an 88–77 win over Indiana earlier this season, she wasn’t shy about making her feelings known. That night, Caitlin Clark’s mistakes were exploited by Golden State’s guards- especiallyCarla Leite – but there were still moments that left Nakase furious.
With 1:30 left in the second quarter, Leite picked off a bad pass from Clark and took off in transition, only to turn the ball over after appearing to step out of bounds. Nakase believed a whistle should’ve come, but none did. Moments later, a questionable off-ball foul on Monique Billings only added fuel to the fire.
Once again, Fukuda captured the sideline drama, “Natalie Nakase is furious at the referees for the no call on Carla Leite’s turnover and the off-ball foul called on Monique Billings.” There was no tech that night, but the frustration was loud enough to echo. This time, though, she let it fly and got the whistle. And to make it worse, it came in a loss.
GS Valkyries run out of gas in the second half vs. Lynx despite strong start
It was a battle of the W’s best defenses on Saturday in Minneapolis, and for a solid stretch, the Golden State Valkyries looked like they might just pull off something big. Facing off against the powerhouse Lynx at Target Center, the expansion team held its ground through a physical game until the wheels came off late in the second half.
The Valkyries ultimately fell 82-71, snapping their two-game win streak. Right out the gate, the Lynx were off rhythm. Minnesota couldn’t buy a bucket early, managing just five points in the first five minutes. Kayla McBride was the early spark, scoring the team’s first five and setting up Alanna Smith and Napheesa Collier with some slick passes.
Still, it was a scrappy start, and Golden State capitalized. The Valkyries punched back hard, cutting through the Lynx’s typically airtight defense and clawing back after falling behind by double digits in the second quarter. Then came the third quarter. Down just five at halftime, Golden State opened the second half on fire. They made eight of their first 10 shots, including a perfect 4-of-4 from deep. In the blink of an eye, the Valkyries had taken a 56-54 lead. It was the kind of punch teams don’t usually land on Minnesota.
But everything after that fell apart fast. Over the next eight minutes and 40 seconds, Golden State made just one of 11 field goals, missed all seven of their three-point attempts, and got outscored 21-4. The energy was drained. A dagger three from Bridget Carleton with just under six minutes left stretched the Lynx lead to 16, and that was that.
May 11, 2025; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase with guard Veronica Burton (22) against the Phoenix Mercury during a preseason game at PHX Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The final box score was closer than the result felt. Golden State shot 41.5% from the field, Minnesota 45.3%. The Valkyries grabbed 33 boards to the Lynx’s 31, and turnovers were nearly even. But down the stretch, it was MVP candidate Napheesa Collier who took over, dropping 22 points on 8-of-11 shooting, adding six rebounds, a block, and a steal.
McBride and Courtney Williams combined for 27 points, knocking down five threes between them. Tiffany Hayes kept Golden State in it for as long as she could, scoring a team-high 23 points. But after that third-quarter surge fizzled, so did the Valkyries’ chances.
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