The Golden State Valkyries are on the verge of sweeping the defending champions tonight. The Aces didn't fall off a cliff. They're the third seed in the WNBA, and A'ja Wilson just won her fifth MVP award yesterday. Becky Hammon is just as formidable as she's always been. The difference is that she's now going up against a monster she had a significant hand in creating.
Natalie Nakase joined Hammon's staff in 2022, parked right next to the former San Antonio Spurs assistant coach for Las Vegas' first championship in 2022 and 2023. Nakase spent three years at Becky's side before Golden State came calling when it was expansion time.
Becky Hammon gave Natalie Nakase plenty on her way out the door
The 2025 Coach of the Year was hesitant to take the job, but Hammon encouraged her to go after the position. But what was unclear to those of us on the outside looking in was what Coach Nakase would take with her: the knowledge of how to build a culture.
Sustained success comes from a strong foundation. Without it, there's never any solid ground to stand on, as nobody knows what the non-negotiable standard is. Becky Hammon developed a strong culture for the Aces built on hard work, defense, and accountability. Natalie turned around and built the Valkyries with the same pillars. She even used some of the same personnel.
The Valkyries are already the best expansion team in WNBA history
Tiffany Hayes was spectacular in Game 2, but Hayes won Sixth Player of the Year in an Aces uniform just two seasons ago. After retiring in 2023, Hammon talked the skilled lefty into reversing that decision to play in Sin City. Vegas protected Hayes in the expansion draft and lost Kate Martin because of it. Then Hayes walked in free agency anyway, straight to Coach Nakase in Golden State.
Martin may no longer be a member of the Valks, but she certainly helped her coach establish a standard. Natalie took everything she learned throughout her career and everything she learned from Hammon, grabbed a couple of hard workers she knew would buy in, and cultivated the best expansion team in WNBA history.
The Valkyries went 23-21 in their inaugural season, making the playoffs as an eighth seed. They did that by becoming the league's best scoring defense. Coach Nakase won COY, and Veronica Burton won Most Improved Player. A 32-12 record with the No. 2 seed and a trip to the WNBA Finals on the line is just year two.
But should we be surprised considering where she came from? Becky has been a head coach for five years and has won a championship in three of them. She may be on the verge of getting swept now, but it's at the hands of a protege who stood right next to her for several of those seasons.
Do I think Coach Hammon regrets any of it? Of course not. That's what makes her a legend. Competition is good for a growing league, and greatness wants to go up against greatness. If you can't overcome, you go back to the drawing board. Figuring out how to get over the hump is the most exhilarating part of competing at a high level.
I believe they both feel that way. Cut from the same cloth. I hope we get to watch this matchup for the next decade.
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