Natalie Nakase was named WNBA Coach of the Year on Wednesday after leading the Golden State Valkyries to the most successful season by an expansion team in the history of the league.

Nakase, who received 53 of 72 votes from a national panel of sportswriters and broadcasters, helped Golden State go 23-21 to set a record for most victories by an expansion team and become the first expansion club to advance to the play-offs in their debut season.

“This is a collective effort. This is not a coach of the year. This is not a single award,” Nakase said.

“I think, and I truly believe, we are the most connected organisation, and because of that, that’s why you see the success.

“The success doesn’t lie within me. It relies on every single person in this organisation doing their job wholeheartedly with all their effort, and that’s what I’m really proud of.”

The @StateStreetETFs WNBA Coach of the Year is Natalie Nakase

Congratulations to first year Head Coach Natalie Nakase, who took charge and made an immediate impact for the @valkyries

Under Coach Nakase, the franchise accomplished many FIRSTS in their inaugural season pic.twitter.com/ecaT4wBw8N

— WNBA (@WNBA) September 17, 2025

The 45-year-old Nakase became a head coach for the first time when Golden State came calling after she won two WNBA titles while serving as an assistant coach with the Las Vegas Aces from 2022-24.

The eighth-seeded Valkyries opened their play-offs Sunday with a 101-72 loss to the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx and will try to avoid being eliminated in the best-of-three series on Wednesday.

Nakase’s honour comes two days after Valkyries point guard Veronica Burton was named the WNBA’s Most Improved Player.