This weekend I had the opportunity to hear Golden State Valkyries Head Coach Natalie Nakase speak at The Golden State Foundation’s Coaches Unplugged. Coach Nakase broke records and shattered glass ceilings in her first year as a head coach, earning the WNBA’s Coach of the Year Award after she led the Valkyries to the first-ever playoff berth for an expansion team. She and the team inspired me all season long, so I was excited to hear directly from her and her staff.

Discovering the “Why” Behind Coaching

The panel opened by asking Coach Nakase about her “why”, why she coaches. Her answer came in two parts. She shared that her late father motivated her throughout her basketball career. He stood by her as her biggest supporter and pushed her to be her best. She also explained that coaching allows her to give back to the community.

She told a story about starting her own club basketball team for youth players and quickly realizing that coaching that age group wasn’t the right fit. That realization led her to transition to coaching professional athletes, where she found the community she felt called to serve. Both parts of her “why” resonated deeply with me, and I imagine they resonated with many others as well. My dad was also my biggest supporter growing up, and I share the same desire to serve my community. Coach Nakase’s story felt relatable and highlighted what makes her such an impactful leader.

Building a Culture Where Players Lead the Way

This season, the Valkyries built a reputation for being hardworking, gritty, and defense-minded. Their team culture developed quickly, and the media talked about it often. Coach Nakase and her staff consistently explained how they built that culture, and reporters always wanted to know the secret behind creating such a strong team identity and inspiring buy-in.

When the panel asked about it, Coach and her staff described team culture in a way I hadn’t considered before.

“The players are the culture,” Coach Nakase said. “We brought in high-character players. You can lead and influence, but you can’t change people.”

Her perspective made complete sense. During both the expansion draft and the regular draft, the Valkyries chose players intentionally, only selecting athletes willing to do the small things that impact winning. The coaches set a high standard, and the players upheld that standard even before joining the team. The habits and behaviors coaches allow become the habits and behaviors the entire team adopts, shaping the culture from within.

Truth-Telling and Tough Love

Another theme that stood out from Coach Nakase and her staff was what they called “truth telling.” They coach their players hard by being honest and direct, and then they support them even harder through personal check-ins and thoughtful preparation. This approach builds a culture of respect and transparency, one that strengthens the relationship between players and coaches.

A Coaching Staff That Loves What They Do

Every moment of the panel highlighted how much Coach Natalie Nakase and her staff genuinely love their work. Their passion was contagious, and I didn’t want the discussion to end. Sitting in the front row and learning from them felt like an honor.

I can’t wait to cheer for Coach Nakase and the Valkyries next season and carry these leadership lessons into my own coaching work.