Natalie Nakase guided Golden State Valkyries to an unprecedented playoff run, becoming the WNBA Coach of the Year as a first-year expansion team with 23 wins and full Chase Center attendance. Her leadership blends fire with resilience, honoring her late father while prioritizing mental health. Owner Joe Lacob’s early faith and the brunch-turned-hire narrative frame a season that rewrote expectations for an expansion franchise.

As the Valkyries prepare for a playoff tilt with Minnesota, the broader landscape features seasoned tacticians like Smesko, Hammon and Reeve, underscoring a season where bold, fresh voices collide with proven schemes in a league-wide push for postseason disruption.