"There's No Ego in This Game" — Nakase on Honesty About Fatigue

Head Coach Natalie Nakase spoke after Golden State's Round 2 Game 1 win over Las Vegas, and her message centered on strength in numbers. Despite a quick turnaround with no extra rest day after an emotional Game 3 win over Dallas, Nakase said her players will rarely admit they're tired, but stay honest when asked directly. She went down the line at halftime checking in with every player, rotating fresh bodies throughout the game to keep energy high on both ends.

That approach paid off in a franchise-high and season-high night on the offensive glass. Nakase credited the depth of her roster, explaining that having 12 capable players allows her to substitute freely without any drop-off, crashing the boards with fresh legs throughout the night. Kiah Stokes delivered an MVP-caliber performance, disrupting the Aces' star matchup and anchoring the defense, which Nakase credited to both her individual effort and the team's communication behind her.

Nakase continued to praise Gabby Williams' two-way impact, noting she held her matchup to a low shooting percentage as the primary defender while also making winning plays that don't always show up as highlights. She connected Williams' rise to the culture she and Veronica Burton have built as humble stars, tying it directly to the Bay Area community and the environment at Ballhalla, calling the fans a genuine part of the team.

Nakase also gave an update on Burton, clarifying her not returning in the second half was simply a fatigue-based decision and not injury-related, and praised Laeticia Amihere's energy and quick chemistry with Williams when stepping in for Stokes. She closed by crediting her players' innate competitiveness, saying real motivation comes from within the roster itself rather than anything she has to manufacture.

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Golden State Valkyries | WNBA | Press Conference | Natalie Nakase, Gabby Williams, Kiah Stokes | Las Vegas Aces | 2026

00:00 — Avoiding Fatigue on a Quick Turnaround
00:50 — Franchise-High Rebounding Night
01:27 — Update on Veronica Burton's Minutes
01:45 — Kiah Stokes' MVP-Caliber Performance
02:31 — Keeping Control Through Four Quarters
03:10 — Gabby Williams' Two-Way Impact
04:45 — Gabby's Motivation and Proving Doubters Wrong
05:06 — Culture, Oakland, and the Bay Area Community
06:30 — Innate Competitiveness Over Manufactured Motivation
07:33 — Managing Minutes Without an Extra Rest Day
09:19 — Laeticia Amihere's Energy and Chemistry With Gabby