Natalie Nakase stepped into the spotlight Friday night, making WNBA history as the league’s first Asian American head coach. Leading the Golden State Valkyries in their long-awaited debut at Chase Center, Nakase commanded the sidelines before a roaring, sold-out crowd of more than 18,000 fans. Though the Valkyries fell 82 to 67 to Kelsey Plum and the Los Angeles Sparks, Nakase’s presence marked a powerful milestone for the WNBA, the Bay Area, and the AAPI community.
Nakase, a proud third generation Japanese American, returns to her home state of California to lead the Golden State Valkyries in their inaugural season. Born and raised in Southern California, she earned a walk-on spot at UCLA before playing professionally overseas. Coaching wasn’t something she initially envisioned, but those around her insisted she’d be great at it — and they were right. Nakase transitioned to the sidelines and steadily rose through the NBA coaching ranks, including time on staff with the Los Angeles Clippers.
“I’ve always been the only girl walking into the NBA gym and all guys — it’s the same,” Nakase said. “No big deal.”
In 2022, she joined the Las Vegas Aces as an assistant under head coach Becky Hammon. That same year, she became the first Asian American coach to win a WNBA title and helped guide the Aces to back-to-back championships.
Nakase’s name has been in the history books, becoming the first Asian American to play in the National Women’s Basketball League (NWBL), the first female head coach in Japan’s top pro men’s league, and the first Asian American coach to win a WNBA title.
“It means everything, but it’s not just that I’m the first,” Nakase said. “I have to make sure that I’m not the last.”
That mindset echoes far beyond the Chase Center in San Francisco. In a league still growing its reach and diversity, Nakase’s presence on the sideline offers visibility for Asian American girls who rarely see themselves reflected in professional basketball, especially in Southern California, where Nakase grew up and where many Asian American families call home.
“I didn’t grow up thinking like, ‘Hey, let’s be a role model.’ Or, ‘Let’s be someone who inspires people.’ I’m honestly just following my passion.” Nakase said. “I’m actually just showing the world that when you have a passion and you work really, really hard, you can do anything.”
The Valkyries are the first expansion team since 2008, and the WNBA plans to add two more teams next season.
“We might have to suffer some short-term pain for long-term results,” Nakase said. “But I want to push the players to always believe that they could win. That’s a big deal for me.”
The decision to waive beloved rookie guard Kaitlyn Chen, the first Taiwanese American player in WNBA history, underscored the emotional weight of that mission. Chen’s brief preseason stint with the Valkyries inspired an outpouring of support online and spotlighted the growing hunger for AAPI representation in women’s basketball. Though Chen didn’t make the final roster, her presence, like Nakase’s, sends a strong message to little girls worldwide.
Next up for the debut Valkyries are the rebuilding Washington Mystics, who visit Chase Center on Wednesday night. While Golden State may face growing pains this season, that’s expected, as expansion teams often take time to find their footing.
The Atlanta Dream, the WNBA’s last expansion team, went 4-30 in their inaugural 2008 campaign. In the NFL, the Houston Texans posted a 4-12 record in their 2002 debut, while the Seattle Kraken went 27-49 in their first NHL season. Under head coach Natalie Nakase, anything feels possible in San Francisco.
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