The Golden State Valkyries are still damp from the champagne they sprayed after winning the 2026 WNBA Finals. Even so, not everyone is walking away from the title feeling good.
Rookie guard Juste Jocyte was the Valkyries' original draft pick, going fifth overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft. She was not a part of the rotation this season, entering games largely during blowouts. This past week, she expressed her frustration with her situation, with the organization, and specifically with head coach Natalie Nakase.
The problem? Her accusations fell flat when compared to all of the other evidence.
Jocyte put Nakase on blast
Jocyte gave an interview in her native Lithuania, so any takeaways we have must be translated; plenty of nuance can be lost in translation. So things should be taken with a grain of salt.
That being said, what Jocyte had to say about Natalie Nakase was direct and harsh. Speaking on her future with the team, Jocyte essentially said it would be difficult to return to the Valkyries, in large part because of Nakase.
"“We just became champions, but from the perspective of my personal growth, it’s hard to imagine going back to the same coach, who doesn’t really communicate well and doesn’t seem to like me very much. My thoughts are that I don’t really want to return to that team.”"Juste Jocyte, translated
Whatever Jocyte expected coming to the WNBA, she didn't receive it in Golden State. It's understandable that she would be frustrated or even question her fit on the team, given that they are clearly a win-now squad and she couldn't crack the rotation.
Jocyte took it a step further, however. Not only was her lack of playing time frustrating, but it was Nakase specifically who was to blame. Jocyte didn't get on the court because Nakase didn't "like her very much" rather than for pure basketball reasons.
Again, all caveats about this being translated from Lithuanian, but those are direct and seemingly bitter words. And unfortunately for Jocyte, they seem like a whole bunch of sour grapes rather than an accurate picture of what's going on behind the scenes in Balhalla.
Nakase appears to be the exact opposite type of coach
Winning a WNBA title with a trio of superstars is hardly easy, but it's a direct line from having the best player in a series and, say, three of the top four, to a title. Many head coaches have accomplished that in recent WNBA history.
Winning a title with an ensemble cast or players that other teams rejected or cast aside? That is a difficult task indeed, and one that specifically requires a coach to connect with her players and communicate well. And the refrain overflowing from the Golden State roster all season long was that Nakase was a player's coach, in the foxhole with them the entire way.
Consider Jocyte's situation. She went from being a star in Europe to joining a meritocracy, a team where playing time was earned, not given. She didn't earn it. The Valkyries were stacked with players giving their all, and Jocyte couldn't break through. That can be frustrating, sure, but it should have challenged Jocyte to be better. Instead, she went home after winning a title bitter and surly.
Perhaps more information will come out pointing to Nakase being an inconsistent communicator, or having grudges against specific players. More likely, given all the data we have about Nakase giving everyone a chance, building rapport with her players and leading them extremely well, it will be obvious that this was a frustrated player pointing fingers everywhere but at herself.
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