The Golden State Valkyries have a chance to follow in the footsteps of their NBA counterpart as they prepare for the Finals against the Atlanta Dream in just their second year in the league. The Golden State Warriors won the championship in just their first year of existence, winning the BAA championship in 1947, a year after they were founded. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr wasted no time in congratulating the Valkyries’ HC, Natalie Nakase, on this occasion, as the Valkyries stand on the cusp of ultimate glory.
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“So to see the team in the finals [in their] second year, it’s just incredible, and it makes us very proud. Everybody with the Warriors is really proud of what the Valkyries are doing,” said Kerr, per an X clip by Vegas Sports Today.
The Valkyries have made the trip to the finals after finishing the regular season with a 32-12 record, finishing as the second seed. They defeated the Dallas Wings 2-1 in the first-round series and surprised everyone when they swept the defending champions, the Las Vegas Aces, 3-0 in the semifinals.
The Valkyries have been led by 2026 FIBA World Cup Defensive Player of the Year, Gabby Williams. Williams also finished second on the WNBA DPOY list, only behind her Finals rival Angel Reese.
Williams emerged as an elite two-way player for the Valkyries this season and averaged 14.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.6 steals per game in the regular season. She also accounted for 17.9% of the team’s total assists. Williams boasts an impressive 98.6 defensive rating, per WNBA Advanced Stats. She is also the Valkyries’ leading scorer in the postseason, at 22.7 PPG.
Williams is being supported by Tiffany Hayes and Kayla Thornton, all of whom are scoring in double digits in the postseason, giving Nakase options on offense. Veronica Burton and Cecilia Zandalasini are also providing valuable contributions, especially off the bench.
However, much of the success that the Valkyries have enjoyed till this point has been due to the leadership of Natalie Nakase.
Natalie Nakase May Give Tyronn Lue Some Pointers If She Wins The Title
It’s always a great moment for a master when a pupil reaches great heights in their career. Natalie Nakase worked as an assistant coach under Tyronn Lue with the Los Angeles Clippers and frequently credits Lue as her mentor. Given the Valkyries’ rapid rise since coming into the league, Nakase has certainly made Tyronn Lue feel like he will soon need coaching tips from her.
“Not yet. If she wins it all, she’s probably gonna give me some tips. She’ll be here the next day…,” Tyronn Lue said when asked by basketball reporter Justin Russo if Lue had gotten any coaching tips from Nakase.
Tyronn Lue was also happy that the Nakase and the Valkyries were able to overcome a difficult path on their way to the Finals.
“I congratulated her on beating a very good team. Becky Hammon, the best coach in the WNBA, and the Aces- they won [3 of the last 4]. Going in to beat a team like that tells you what kind of coach Natalie is…,” said Tyronn Lue, per ClutchPoints Tomer Azarly.
“I’m happy for her. She asked me if I have any tips going into the Finals. I said, ‘You don’t need my advice. You’re way better than me. You’re doing a better job than I am. So you got it. You’ve done a great job…”
All this appreciation that Nakase is getting is not without substance. Under her, Golden State suffocates opponents on multiple fronts, owning the WNBA’s best defensive rating at 99.1. When it comes to discipline, they rarely gift easy buckets: sitting third in turnover percentage (15.1% to Dallas’ 15.0%) and holding opponents to a league-best 11.7 points off mistakes. In transitional play, they are nearly perfect, ranking second behind Atlanta (6.95PPG) by allowing just 6.8 fast-break points a night.
Game 1 of the Finals will be played at the Chase Center on Saturday. With the full force of “Balhalla” behind them, the Valkyries will look to bring their first title home. However, it will not be easy. Atlanta Dream are also looking to end their title drought and boast a strong squad led by Angel Reese. For the fans, this series will have no shortage of excitement.