"It's Tough Love" — Nakase Holds the Valkyries Accountable Even After 7 Straight Wins

Four games. Seven days. Four wins. And Coach Nakase still isn't satisfied.
Fresh off the Valkyries' 7th straight win — a 79-64 victory over the Connecticut Sun — Natalie Nakase keeps it all the way real. She's proud of going 4-for-4 on the road trip, but she's not letting this group get comfortable. Slow starts, communication lapses, fatigue from travel — she sees all of it, and she's not hiding from any of it.
Nakase opens up about Gabby Williams being the loudest voice on the bench despite not playing, why she takes personal accountability for the team's inconsistent starts, and how Veronica Burton and Kiah Stokes stepping up vocally in huddles is a sign of the culture this team is building. She also pulls back the curtain on why the front office intentionally built a 14-deep roster — strength in numbers wasn't an accident, it was the plan from day one.
This is what it looks like when a team wins seven straight and still wants more.
🏀 Golden State Valkyries vs. Connecticut Sun | 2026 WNBA Season
🎙️ Head Coach: Natalie Nakase

00:00 – Gabby Williams Out — Next Woman Up & Leading From the Bench
01:30 – Playing Through Fatigue & Winning 4 Games in 7 Days
03:00 – Defense Holding Opponents to 68.8 Points During the Streak
04:30 – 42 Bench Points & the Roster Built for Depth
06:00 – Slow Starts & Taking Accountability
07:00 – Staying Humble Through a 7-Game Win Streak