Natalie Nakase’s Coaching Journey from Japan to the WNBA
Learn about the first ever head coach of the Golden State Valkyries of WNBA and her coaching career that led to being a 2x WNBA champion.
Natalie Nakase is currently the head coach of the WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries. She previously served as an assistant coach for the Las Vegas Aces, Los Angeles Clippers, Agua Caliente Clippers, and other coaching positions in international basketball.
In this article, you’ll learn about Coach Nakase’s coaching career and her journey to the Golden State Valkyries.
For more weekly content such as this, make sure to subscribe to “Behind the Coaching” for free and receive all the informative content about basketball coaches today.
Before Coaching
Natalie Nakase was born on April 18, 1980 in Anaheim, California, U.S. She played high school basketball at Marina High School in Huntington Beach, CA, leading them to 2 sunset titles and winning their first California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section title.
Nakase later played for the UCLA Bruins women's basketball team making the All-Pac-10 team. Afterwards, she would play 2 seasons in the National Women's Basketball League (NWBL) with the San Diego Spiders and the San Diego Siege. Nakase also played for the Herner TC, a German basketball club in 2007.
International Coaching
Wolfenbüttel Wildcats (2008-2010)
After retiring, Nakase became an assistant coach for the Wolfenbüttel Wildcats in Germany.
Tokyo Apache (2010-2011)
Darin Maki, a friend of Coach Nakase and player for the Tokyo Apache, a Japanese basketball club located in Tokyo, arranged for a meeting between head coach Bob Hill and Nakase. She made a scouting report for the team’s next opponent which led to her being a volunteer assistant coach for the remainder of the season.
The team would fold after the season, ultimately dissolving in November 2011.
Saitama Broncos (2011-2012)
Shortly after, Coach Nakase would become an assistant coach under Dean Murray who was convinced by Bob Hill to hire her. Murray later stepped down midway through the season, resulting in Nakase taking over as the head coach. She became the first female head coach in the “bj league”, a Japanese men’s basketball league, later finishing with a overall head coaching record of 12-29 in her only season with the team.
NBA Coaching Career
Internship with the Los Angeles Clippers
Nakase started her internship with the Clippers in September 2012 as their assistant video coordinator. She was one of 15 women of Asian or Pacific Islander heritage honored at the White House in 2013 as their Champions of Change.
During the 2014 NBA summer league, she was an assistant coach for the Clippers, making her the first female assistant coach to sit on a NBA bench.
Agua Caliente Clippers (2017-2018)
Nakase became an assistant coach for the Clippers G-League team under Casey Hill, the son of Bob Hill, who she coached under 7 years prior.
Los Angeles Clippers (2018-2020)
Nakase was promoted to player development coach in 2018 under Doc Rivers, becoming one of few female assistant coaches in the NBA.
She notably coached Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lou Williams, Patrick Beverly, Montrezl Harrell, Zubac, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Reggie Jackson, Joakim Noah, and Terance Mann.
Agua Caliente Clippers (2021-2022)
Coach Nakase returned to the Agua Caliente Clippers as an assistant coach under head coach Brian Adams.
WNBA Coaching Career
Las Vegas Aces (2022-2024)
Coach Nakase was hired as an assistant coach for the LAs Vegas Aces under Becky Hammon. The Aces would finish 1st place in the Western Conference and go on to win the WNBA finals in 4 games against the Connecticut Sun. The following season, Aces would once again finish in 1st place and win their second title.
During her tenure with The Aces, the team was ranked the 1st best overall defensive team in the league in 2023 and 4th best in 2024.
She notably coached A'ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, Chelsea Gray, Jackie Young, Sydney Colson, and Candace Parker.
Golden State Valkyries (2024-)
Coach Nakase became the first head coach of the newly added WNBA expansion team the Golden State Valkyries. She will make her head coaching debut when the 2025 WNBA season begins on May 16, 2025.
Coaching Philosophy
Coach Nakase has empathized her defensive strategies and her experience with the pace and space system with the Las Vegas Aces. Nakase has also shared the importance of accountability in what works for the team and how to improve.
“Every year you reevaluate,” Nakase explained about her journey and approach to coaching the Valkyries. “You reflect and see what did work and what didn’t work… For the players on the Valkyries, really competitive, selfless and we work really hard; I think those are going to be key ingredients.”
"Offensively, we want to space the floor, high-pace-like game, but we also want passing. I want passing. I want that ball to be moving, because that's unguardable. Holding the ball, iso, that is so easy to guard, but I want that ball moving."
Natalie Nakase’s path to coaching is truly inspirational. She’s been around a lot of great talent in the NBA and the WNBA, it’s rare where you’ll see a coach having experience in both leagues. On top of that, she’s a 2x WNBA champion. One thing’s for sure, the Valkyries are in good hands.