"It's Our Defense That Always Wins" — Nakase's Blunt Message After the Comeback

Head Coach Natalie Nakase broke down Golden State's comeback win over the Toronto Tempo, and her message was simple. Defense always wins. Nakase explained how her team responded after trailing by 13 in the second quarter, crediting assistant coach Landon for stepping up during a timeout when she lost her voice, along with a jump in ball pressure that fueled the turnaround.

Nakase spoke at length about Tiffany Hayes, calling her the epitome of emptying the tank and praising her preparation, focus, and ability to disrupt passing lanes and attack the rim. She also highlighted Kayla Thornton's locked in approach coming into the game, pointing to her physicality on defense and her ability to keep finding her rhythm on offense as teammates fed her the hot hand. Gabby Williams also drew praise, with Nakase noting her hustle and rebounding numbers even while still working back from reconditioning.

Nakase credited her coaching staff for adjusting the scouting report to account for Toronto's rotation changes in the second matchup of the series, and said the players deserve credit for picking up a new defensive look on the fly. She closed by explaining what fueled the team's 15 0 run spanning the half, and touched briefly on South Asian Heritage Night and the importance of inclusivity.

🔔 .
Golden State Valkyries | WNBA | Press Conference | Natalie Nakase, Tiffany Hayes, Kayla Thornton | Toronto Tempo | 2026

00:00 — "It's Our Defense That Always Wins"
00:19 — Answering the 13-Point Deficit
01:09 — On Tiffany Hayes' Relentless Energy
02:36 — Adjusting the Scout for the Second Toronto Matchup
03:14 — Kayla Thornton's Focus and Physicality
05:06 — Assessing Gabby Williams' Reconditioning Progress
07:02 — The Halftime Message
08:24 — Explosive Scoring Quarters Explained
09:01 — South Asian Heritage Night and Inclusivity