Natalie Nakase, the first head coach of the Golden State Valkyries, achieved a notable victory against her former team, the Las Vegas Aces, where she assisted coach Becky Hammon. Their collaboration resulted in consecutive championships in 2022 and 2023, establishing them as a powerful force in the WNBA. Nakase attributes much of her coaching growth to her experience with Hammon and continues to aspire to reach her mentor's coaching level, showcasing her dedication to improvement and the WNBA's evolving landscape for women in coaching.
One of the things that makes Natalie great is just her work ethic and her willingness to learn, Hammon said before Saturday's game.
I'm trying to learn from her, but obviously she's one of the best coaches in the world. So, yeah, I'm still working, Nakase said.
In their three-year run together, Nakase and Hammon built the Aces into one of the most dominant teams in the league.
Nakase credited her time with Las Vegas and Hammon as crucial to her coaching career.
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