Coach Nakase Says the Valkyries' Success Was No Accident

Head Coach Natalie Nakase spoke with the media at practice ahead of Game 1 of the WNBA Finals, and she opened by explaining how the Valkyries’ roster was built with this moment in mind. Nakase wanted all 14 players ready to contribute, and she wanted them to be two way players because the team plays so hard that no possession or second can be taken off. She also tracked what players did in the offseason, including World Cup travel, and calculated how much rest each one needed.

Nakase said the three Valkyries named to an All-Defensive Team reflect the team’s identity, explaining that defense takes pride, conditioning, attention to detail, and buy-in from all 14 players. She said those three lead the empty-tank mentality, and she wants that energy in a defense-minded Finals. The goal now is to put together four quarters of elite defense instead of three.

Nakase praised Kiah Stokes for staying even-keeled, saying it reminds her of what her dad taught her about not wasting energy on emotions. She called Stokes a low-maintenance professional and a winner, and said the team feels calm when she is on the floor. Nakase also spoke on the sisterhood she felt when UCLA’s coaching staff showed up in Valkyries gear, and shared a lighter moment about trash talk at practice after getting a stop herself.

Nakase credited her medical staff for planning the week from the moment the last series ended, and said leading the team into the Finals does not feel lonely because she is collaborating with her staff and leaning on her players. She also reflected on last year’s disappointment of not winning a playoff game, took full responsibility for the injuries, and said the team chose competitors who want to see success in someone else, which she called the secret sauce.

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Golden State Valkyries | WNBA | Press Conference | Natalie Nakase, Kiah Stokes | Atlanta Dream | 2026

00:00 — Building a Roster of 14 Two-Way Players
00:32 — UCLA’s Staff in Valkyries Gear and the Sisterhood
01:07 — Three All-Defensive Honorees and the Team’s Identity
02:05 — Needing Four Quarters of Defense in the Finals
02:34 — Kiah Stokes’ Even Keel Leadership
04:00 — Practice Trash Talk and Having Fun
04:42 — Medical Staff and Staying Sharp
05:21 — Leading the Finals With a Collective Staff
06:09 — Last Year’s Disappointment and Taking Responsibility
07:09 — How the Roster Was Built to Avoid Injuries