Golden State Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase is well enough to coach Game 1 of the WNBA semifinals Sunday against the Las Vegas Aces after she went down on the sideline two days earlier in the first-round clincher with what she described as exhaustion. "Just exhaustion," she said. "I ate and drank right after and felt better."
The 46-year-old Nakase said she was examined by a doctor during Saturday's off day and insists she will be "proactive" with both her physical and mental health. "It definitely was like a wake-up call for me, but I got checked through the doctors. Obviously everything looks good," she said. She is considering wearing a heart monitor and taking other steps to deal with her extreme work ethic.
Nakase didn't address the team after the 77-73 win Friday night against the Dallas Wings at Chase Center, when her team rallied from a 16-point deficit. With 1:40 remaining, she lowered to the floor with her head and hands on the court. The best-of-five matchup with the defending champion Aces features Nakase coaching against Becky Hammon, who had Nakase on her staff from 2022 to 2024.
Hammon called Nakase a "little mighty-mouse workhorse" and said, "The stress this time of year is real, the pressure. You don't get a lot of sleep, you're not eating as well as you probably should. It was kind of scary actually to watch. That little sucker popped right back up though."
Source: ESPN General · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing