‘We have effing unbreakable love’: how the maverick Natalie Nakase led the Valkyries to WNBA glory

"We have effing unbreakable love": how the unconventional Natalie Nakase guided the Valkyries to WNBA triumph

A coach molded by her unconventional basketball path was perfectly positioned to cultivate the trust that propelled Golden State to championship glory just 534 days after their inaugural game.

The formidable and defensive-minded Golden State Valkyries clinched their first WNBA championship on Saturday night, featuring a point guard whom Dallas had discarded and abandoned, a starting forward who had been released five times, and a late-developing All-Star initially overlooked by every franchise in the league. This made them an ideal reflection of their coach. Natalie Nakase has assembled a basketball career by capitalizing on small opportunities, converting a walk-on spot at UCLA into a scholarship and an unsolicited scouting report into a coaching role in Japan's premier men's league.

The Valkyries' gripping 68-63 comeback victory over the Atlanta Dream in Game 7 not only made them the fastest expansion team in major North American professional sports history to win a championship—as 45-1 preseason longshots in their second season—but also validated a philosophy for an organization that empowered overlooked players with resources, responsibility, and trust to become champions. It enlisted a leader whose own winding path had taught her what those elements could unleash. For fans eager to follow the Valkyries' journey, the 九游网页版 offers easy access to live updates and team news.