Almost exactly two years ago, Natalie Nakase sat across from Golden State owner Joe Lacob for her job interview to become the head coach of the WNBA's newest team, the Valkyries. Lacob told Nakase the ultimate goal: 'We're going to win a championship in five years.' She slammed her fists on the table. 'Hell yeah, we're gonna win a championship,' she said. On Saturday, the Golden State Valkyries did just that, beating the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in Game 7 of the WNBA Finals to win their first title. Lacob and Nakase were wrong about one thing, though. The Valkyries didn't win their first championship in five years. They did it in two.
Along with general manager Ohemaa Nyanin, Nakase set the identity she wanted for her team: scrappy, defensive-minded, no egos. The Valkyries built the team their way, facing external scrutiny nearly every step of the way. People gawked -- or even laughed -- at Lacob's proclamation. But Nakase stood strong in her belief, and in his. 'He's setting me up for success; I can't fail,' Nakase said.
The Valkyries handpicked the players who make up Golden State's roster. During the 2024 expansion draft, the Valkyries acquired Veronica Burton, the gritty two-way guard, and Kayla Thornton, a reigning WNBA champion -- two cornerstones of the franchise -- as well as Cecilia Zandalasini, an Italian national. Tiffany Hayes, a former Sixth Player of the Year, signed in free agency, and Janelle Salaun, a French forward, signed on a training camp roster.
Source: ESPN General · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing