The Golden State Valkyries have put together a historic 2025 season, and despite being just one loss away from getting knocked out of the playoffs, they have been the best story in sports this year. <\/p>\n
The Valkyries have become the first expansion team in WNBA history to make the playoffs in their inaugural season. The Valkryies are starting to be recognized for their incredible season, as Veronica Burton won WNBA Most Improved Player of the Year on Monday, and head coach Natalie Nakase will likely be the next Golden State award winner. <\/p>\n
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Sep 6, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase signals to her team in the second quarter against the Minnesota Lynx at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images \/ David Gonzales-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
Nakase is in her first year as a WNBA head coach after spending four seasons as a top assistant with the Las Vegas Aces under Becky Hammon. Even as a first-year head coach, Nakase has cemented herself as one of the top in the league, and after taking the Valkyries to a 23-21 record with a roster filled with players that other teams did not want, she is en route to winning Coach of the Year. <\/p>\n
Nakase has been widely recognized as one of the league’s top head coaches throughout her debut season, and the Valkyries’ management has received some well-deserved praise for the decision to hire her. <\/p>\n
In our first season, she set the standard. Natalie Nakase is the Associated Press Coach of the Year after guiding the Valkyries to the playoffs in year one. pic.twitter.com\/tagHwHO0bM<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Golden State Valkyries (@valkyries) September 12, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n After such an incredible 2025 season with the Valkyries, the San Francisco Chronicle’s Scott Ostler<\/a> proposed a very interesting scenario. Since Joe Lacob owns the Valkyries and the Golden State Warriors, Ostler wonders if he is thinking ahead by having Nakase lined up to be Steve Kerr’s successor.<\/p>\n Kerr is one of the NBA’s oldest head coaches at 59 years old, and while retirement does not seem to be an option for him right now, he could be considering it in a couple of years. Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler’s contracts will all be up by the 2027 NBA offseason, which could raise a scenario where they all retire together at that point. <\/p>\n May 14, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr looks on against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second half during game five of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images \/ Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images<\/p>\n “In a stroke of genius, Lacob might have already hired Steve Kerr’s successor,” Ostler wrote. “…Natalie Nakase, the coach of the Golden State Valkyries, would need to move her stuff down the hall \u2014 and a few light-years.”<\/p>\n Nakase has NBA experience, as she spent a handful of years with the LA Clippers organization before being hired by the Aces as an assistant. While Ostler admitted that this idea is a long shot, he proposes it as a way for Nakase to be a trailblazer, as she would become the first woman head coach in NBA history.<\/p>\n Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase receives a warm welcome at Chase Center \ud83d\udc9c pic.twitter.com\/OsW3YeqfPY<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n