"They Did a Great Job of Fighting for Each Other" — Nakase on the Comeback Effort

Head Coach Natalie Nakase spoke after Golden State's loss in Chicago, and her message centered on accountability and perspective. Nakase gave full credit to the bench unit, which outscored the Sky 32-6 while adjusting to different coverages on the fly. She praised the reserves for communicating, responding to Chicago's adjustments, and most importantly, fighting for each other as they mounted a 21-point comeback.

But Nakase was clear on the bigger issue. Golden State shouldn't be down 21 in the first place, and slow starts remain a mental focus problem, not a roster one. She said this is something the team must fix through better preparation off the court, including quality of sleep, and other foundational elements that vary from player to player.

Nakase also highlighted Veronica Burton's leadership, saying she's doing a fantastic job picking up the team when they're low, getting on them when they're not mentally ready, and organizing when things fall apart. On Gabby Williams' limited role, Nakase explained teams are now targeting her because she's held it down all season, and some nights shooters just won't have great nights, which is why defense remains the anchor.

Looking ahead to Minnesota, Nakase made clear the team must come out with mental focus from the opening possession.

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Golden State Valkyries | WNBA | Press Conference | Natalie Nakase | Chicago Sky | 2026

00:00 — Bench Performance and Fresh Legs
00:33 — Slow Start Problem and Accountability
01:30 — Bench Outscoring Sky 32-6
02:32 — Veronica Burton's Leadership Role
03:23 — Gabby Williams' Limited Minutes and Targeting
04:26 — Mental Focus and Off-Court Preparation