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Kate Martin Had One Word for Valkyries Coach on Thursday
Kate Martin Had One Word for Valkyries Coach on Thursday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Golden State Valkyries were one of the best teams in the WNBA for the month of June. They won seven out of their eleven games last month, including a statement 88-77 victory at Chase Center against Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever on June 19. Advertisement On Thursday, the WNBA announced that Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase has been awarded the league's Coach of the Month title for June. The rookie shot-caller led her team to a strong month, which, as of writing, has them sitting in the sixth spot in the league with a 9-7 record. Golden State guard Kate Martin caught wind of the big news. The former Iowa star reacted to Nakase's major milestone with just one word. "Yasssssss," she wrote. This is Nakase's first Coach of the Month award. She is in her first season as a WNBA head coach after being an assistant under Becky Hammon with the Las Vegas Aces over the past three years. Advertisement Nakase has made waves in her debut campaign, and she has now been recognized for the hard work that she's put in. Martin, on the other hand, has been a key player in Nakase's rotation this season, averaging 7.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.3 three-pointers per game. Golden State Valkyries guard Kate Martin reacts to Natalie Nakase Yamashita-Imagn Images The expectations were not very high for the Valkyries in their first season in the WNBA, but thanks in part to Nakase's vision and excellent coaching skills, this team has now established itself as a serious playoff contender. The Valkyries get a tough test in their next game as they battle Napheesa Collier and the league-best Minnesota Lynx on Saturday. This kicks off a four-game road trip for Golden State, which includes a matchup against the Fever on Wednesday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Advertisement Related: Kate Martin's Actions Before WNBA Game Grab Attention Related: Steph Curry's Live Reaction to Kate Martin's Strong Play for Valkyries Related: Warriors Player Turns Heads After Taunting Caitlin Clark During Fever-Valkyries Game This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
a day ago
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Valkyries Make Strong Natalie Nakase Statement on Thursday
Valkyries Make Strong Natalie Nakase Statement on Thursday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Golden State Valkyries closed out June with a strong 7-4 record, ranking among the top half of the WNBA in both offensive efficiency (46.1% field goal percentage, 82.1 points per game) and defense (holding opponents to 75.1 points per game). Advertisement They posted three victories by 24 points or more and became the first team this season to feature five players scoring in double figures for three straight games (June 5 at Phoenix Mercury, June 7 vs. Las Vegas Aces, June 9 at Las Vegas). The team's +6.9 net plus/minus in June was second in the league, underscoring an immediate impact under first-year head coach Natalie Nakase. In recognition of that performance, the WNBA named Nakase its Coach of the Month for June, her first such honor in just her second month at the helm. To celebrate, the Valkyries took to X, declaring simply, "In Natalie we trust 😤." Advertisement Nakase has carved an unconventional path to the WNBA's head coaching ranks. A walk‑on guard at UCLA, she worked her way up to becoming a three-year starter at point guard for the Bruins, earning All-Pac-10 Team honorable mention as a junior. After college, Nakase continued playing professionally in the National Women's Basketball League before knee injuries and league closure prompted her to pivot into coaching overseas in Germany and Japan. Golden State Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase during a preseason J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Her break into the NBA came via a video intern role with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2012, where over the next decade, she rose to assistant for the Clippers and their G League affiliate, Agua Caliente Clippers. Advertisement In 2022, she joined the Las Vegas Aces as an assistant under Becky Hammon, helping lead the Aces to back‑to‑back league titles, becoming the first Asian American coach to win a WNBA championship. In October 2024, Nakase made history again as the inaugural coach of the Golden State Valkyries, the league's first expansion franchise in 17 years. Related: New DeWanna Bonner Update Emerges After Release From Indiana Fever Related: Chicago Sky's Kamilla Cardoso Shares New Photo With Indiana Fever Player This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
a day ago
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Valkyries Coach Natalie Nakase Receives Major News on Thursday
Valkyries Coach Natalie Nakase Receives Major News on Thursday originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The WNBA announced on Thursday that Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase has been named June's Coach of the Month. Advertisement Nakase, 45, is in her first season of coaching the league's newest team. She led Golden State to a 7-4 record in June by defeating the Las Vegas Aces (95-68), Los Angeles Sparks (89-81), Seattle Storm (76-70), Indiana Fever (88-77) Connecticut Sun (87-63), Chicago Sky (83-78) and Storm for a second time (84-57). Golden State holds a 9-7 record and is ranked seventh on the official WNBA standings on Nakase has a good amount of coaching experience from previously working as an assistant for the Las Vegas Aces from when they won back-to-back championships in 2022-23. She also worked in the NBA as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers from 2018-2020. Furthermore, Nakase's vocal and loud coaching style could help Golden State's players develop into future WNBA All-Stars. Advertisement Veteran forward Kayla Thornton has averaged a career high in points and rebounds at 15 points and 6.9 rebounds per game as the Valkyries' leading scorer. Veteran guard Tiffany Hayes has averaged 13 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 0.6 steals in nine games. Hayes did miss time this season with a facial and nose injury. Golden State Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase (right) talks with guard Julie Vanloo (35).Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Meanwhile, forward Cecilia Zandalasini has averaged 10 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game. The Valkyries are preparing for their next game and first of July on Saturday against the Minnesota Lynx, as Nakase will look to lead them through another stretch of games. Related: Ranking the 25 Best WNBA Players of All Time This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
