"Let Them Sit Into It" — Nakase on Her Evolving Approach to Tough Losses

Head Coach Natalie Nakase was candid after the Valkyries' loss to the Minnesota Lynx, starting with accountability. Nakase said the Valkyries came out flat in the first quarter and didn't match Minnesota's sense of urgency from the opening possession. She called the defensive effort in the first half unacceptable, noting zero ball pressure, late rotations on pick-and-roll coverage, and an overall lack of tightness that allowed Minnesota to feel comfortable.

The silver lining, according to Nakase, came in the second half when Valkyries started playing defense and mounted a comeback attempt. She praised Veronica Burton for emptying the tank and Tip Hayes for staying engaged even when shots weren't falling, but acknowledged the team didn't shoot well and that starts with poor defense in the opening half, which leads to difficult offensive looks.

Nakase also discussed the mental lapses that frustrated her, saying she needs to figure out how to push players who didn't show up and must have conversations about expectations when playing elite competition. She expressed a different philosophy for handling tough losses moving forward, choosing to let players sit with the result rather than press them immediately, allowing the film to settle their emotions before conversations happen.

On the Lynx specifically, Nakase noted their aggressive defensive scheme of heavy shifts and stunts in the paint, and said the Valkyries' pace may have suffered trying to navigate that pressure.

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Golden State Valkyries | WNBA | Press Conference | Natalie Nakase, Veronica Burton, Tiffany Hayes | Minnesota Lynx | 2026

00:00 — Learning From Tough Losses and Giving Grace
00:23 — First Quarter Flatness Against Minnesota
00:39 — Defensive Lapses in the First Half
01:24 — Second Half Comeback Attempt and Encouraging Signs
02:02 — Burton and Hayes' Effort When Shots Weren't Falling
02:39 — Kiah's Eye Injury Status
03:16 — Playoff Rotations and Needing Everyone
03:56 — Players' Roles When Offense Isn't Working
04:59 — Ball Movement and Minnesota's Aggressive Defense
05:42 — Tip Hayes on the Loss Being a Learning Tool
06:05 — Internal Conversations and Coach Accountability
06:46 — Mental Lapses and Communication Strategy
07:18 — Letting Players Process and Reflect