WSLAM: We had the pleasure of interviewing you before the season and you said to “trust the process” in what was brewing in Golden State. Seeing everything you wanted come to fruition, how does it feel?
NATALIE NAKASE: It feels like a dream. I have the best staff, and I think I have the most understanding and hardworking players. And so “trust the process” is definitely coming to fruition because, again, the big hearts and my coaching staff and the collaboration of hard working and coachable players, the trust is definitely vibing.
WSLAM: What does Valkyries basketball mean to you?
NK: I think Valkyries basketball is vicious. I think it’s gritty. I think it’s passionate, and I think it’s inspirational, because when you have 12 players on the court fully connected and bringing the best out of each other, I think anything can happen.
WSLAM: You’ve set this killer mentality in your locker room, and we’ve seen it on the court. How has this vision evolved within the team? How did you create it?
NK: This is how I want the team to go, and watching them adapt and get out of their comfort zones, it’s really them being themselves. It’s the players being their authentic self. I don’t really feel like I could really create them to be anything other than themselves, and I want them to be themselves. I think when people are out of their comfort zone, people are doing their passion—they’re at their best when they can be themselves. I’m really just trying to push them to be the best version of themselves. Sometimes it’s uncomfortable. Sometimes truth telling is difficult to hear, but like I said, I have 12 coachable players that love to work hard. And when you have that combination, anything is possible.
