SEATTLE -- Golden State Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase (Nah-KAH-say) should win Coach of the Year after leading her team to a winning record and the playoffs in their inaugural season. With all that Golden State has accomplished, it is a testament to the job Nakase has done in leading them. Although the Valkyries defied expectations, they also overcame injuries and a tough schedule that will better serve them down the road.

As the "new student" of the WNBA, Golden State entered the league as the outsiders with a slim chance at success. Lucky for them, they quickly defied those expectations and demonstrated that they belong among the other contenders in the league. With Nakase entering her first season as a head coach, her players have thrived under her guidance. After playing under Nakase with the Las Vegas Aces, where she was an assistant coach, second-year guard Kate Martin joined her in the Bay Area. She talked about the job Nakase has done to help her and her teammates see their potential, and helping them get there, even if it means hearing the cold, hard truth.

“I would definitely say [Nakase]’s done, like a great job, with me, but like our whole team of just giving us the truth, you know, the hard truths, but like loving us up and telling us when we do good too,” Martin told World Exposure Report before the Valkyries 74-73 loss against the Seattle Storm. “I think that's something that you can really appreciate and respect from a coach, is when they expect the best out of you, they're gonna tell you what you need to do to fix things, and that's really how you're gonna grow and get better….”

Although Nakase doesn’t sugarcoat the improvements her players have to make, they take her honesty as a sign of respect towards the potential she sees in them. One player who has flourished under Nakase is point guard Veronica Burton. She is averaging career-highs with 12.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game this season. Burton is playing for Nakase for the first time in her four-year career, and she recognizes the differences in her coaching style compared to other coaches she’s had. She talked about her coach’s focus on one side of the ball and the freedom she is given to space the floor.

“I mean, every coach has a different, unique style that fits them, and I think hers is definitely defensively focused, and [she] talks about being defensive minded, and I think she definitely backs it up,” Burton said. “[With] the type of players that we have, [her coaching philosophy] is really about spacing, and so I think there's a major emphasis offensively on keeping the floor space. I would say that's pretty different than what I've had the past few years in the W.”

While Nakase led the Valkyries to a historic season, she has also guided them through adversity. On July 25th, Golden State announced the loss of forward Kayla Thornton to a season-ending knee injury. Before her injury, she averaged 14.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game, earning her first All-Star appearance. With the loss of their star player, the odds of making the playoffs dwindled for the Valkyries. While Golden State suffered other injuries, including Thornton, throughout the season, Nakase encouraged her healthy players to step up with the new opportunities adversity has given them. Burton mentioned how she was told to be herself as she stepped up in Thornton’s absence, while expressing how the team’s depth helped them overcome other injuries throughout the season.

“Whenever anyone goes out, obviously, it's heartbreaking when you lose someone to injury, especially someone as valuable as KT, just from a leadership perspective and everything that she brought to the table, but [but Nakase said to] just be me,” Burton said. “You know, I think [Nakase] didn't really add any extra pressure to anyone. We're such a deep team, and from a basketball standpoint, we just all trust each other. So we just keep going. Whoever's on the floor, you keep riding with each other, and from my standpoint, [I’m] just trying to be as vocal as I possibly can, and be me.”

Losing players to injury is difficult for any team to overcome, but Nakase has led her team towards the postseason despite facing that adversity. When she reflected on the season as a whole, Nakase felt pride in knowing what the Valkyries had accomplished despite the different types of adversity they had faced.

“[I’m] just proud,” Nakase said. “You know, to this point, you know, everyone's been open-minded to, like I said, the way we prepare is really different, the way we hold them accountable to know so much about [the] opposing team’s personnel, the [knowing your personnel], like, everything. And what's kind of been cool even today is, like, a lot of the players individually have been stepping up vocally. Like, [Burton] is kind of really putting her two cents in on now, like, what does this game mean today? What are the insights of, like, how she's had experience against playing certain players? Like, it's really cool that everyone's kind of being empowered to speak their mind on how we could beat them collectively, because at the end of the day, like we want as much information that we can get together, and so when players have a little bit more insight based off of how they played against them or guarded them in the past, I mean, to me, that's priceless. So that's what I'm really proud of.”

Nakase’s players have demonstrated that they are willing to go the extra mile to achieve success this season, and it’s made her proud to see their work pay off. With Golden State having a historic season, Nakase is in the running for Coach of the Year. While she’ll have some competition for the award, her players believe she is worthy of the award. Martin talked about why her coach should win Coach of the Year after what she’s done in the franchise’s inaugural season.

“I obviously think [Nakase] should be the Coach of the Year,” Martin said. “I mean, [it’s amazing] what she's done with our team, with so many different lineups, so many different players, and how many games we've won this year in their inaugural season. You know, nobody expected anything of us, and to, you know, make the playoffs and have a winning record. I just think it's super impressive, ...." 

Her players have advocated for the job she’s doing this season to be rewarded, emphasizing she’s adjusting to every card she’s been dealt. While the Valkyries have a lot to celebrate and be proud of, Nakase knows there is more work to be done. With the playoffs ahead, she is focused on keeping the team in the present and not worrying about what they can’t control.

“I think keeping [the team] present, keeping [them] where their feet are, [and] not looking too far ahead of the game that sits at hand [is important],” Nakase said. “I think that's kind of been, actually, for me, being a first-year coach, that's kind of been very effective. It's just keeping them where their feet are [and] not looking too far ahead, like, who cares what the score is? That's nothing we can control. We can't control what the other teams are doing, currently winning and losing, but we can control our effort, our connectedness, [and] our communication,...so that’s what I have them focus on.”