Natalie Nakase is completely unbothered by any criticism she might face after condemning the officiating following the Valkyries' disappointing 101-72 loss to the Minnesota Lynx this week. As the teams prepare to meet for a second time Wednesday, Nakase has opened up about what her comments cost her — and the fact that she would say it all again.
"I said what I said," Nakase told repoters. "I'm always going to fight for my team when I feel that. The calls were the calls, and I got fined. So, you know, throwing in that donation, or whatever it is. So I paid for it, and I'm going to donate that. I heard it was a tax write-off."
Valkyries’ Natalie Nakase stood firm on her stance after the Game 1 loss:
— Kenzo Fukuda (@kenzofuku) September 17, 2025
“I said what I said. I’m always gonna fight for my team when I feel the calls were the calls… but I’m always owning up to being present. And we’ve moved on.”
Nakase confirmed she did get fined. pic.twitter.com/vVJnriP25h
She also noted that while the situation was frustrating, she's moved on — and most importantly, "I'm always going to fight for my players, but I'm always owning up to being present."
Natalie Nakase was frustrated by officials during Game 1
Nakase didn't hesitate to vent while speaking to reporters after Sunday's game. She explained, "When Iliana Rupert [three fouls] is trying to fight for the rebound and she's getting called for a foul on a rebound, it takes our aggression away, and that's where I'm not OK with it."
She continued: "I want a fair fight. I really do. I want a clean fight, but I love the fact that both teams are playing their hearts out. They're fighting. But I would like it to be fair."
Nakase is a strong candidate for Coach of the Year
Nakase has proven this season that she's an incredible leader and coach for the entire Valkyries organization, and her comments ahead of Wednesday night's game only further cement that fact. Instead of casting even a tiny bit of shade on her team, she's putting it all on herself. This will allow her players to continue to focus on what is a crucial game if they hope to stay in the playoffs, and is exactly what a coach should do.
She may not be concerned about whether or not she snags Coach of the Year this season, but what Nakase has done in the Bay Area is nothing short of unprecedented. In addition to building a team and fan culture that should probably be studied, Nakase has also figured out how to tap into her players and bring forth the style of play she wants to see: physical, fast, and disruptive — a call that the team has been only too happy to heed.
There is little expectation that the Lynx will make Game 2 any easier than Game 1 — but that's something the Valkyries will likely be prepared for. While Golden State can expect a lot of trouble from Napheesa Collier and Kayla McBride, they also need to be paying close attention to Natisha Hiedeman, who took more shots than any other member of the team Sunday night.