Golden State Valkyries clinched the WNBA championship on November 1, 2026, defeating the Atlanta Dream in Game 7 at Chase Center. Head coach Natalie Nakase led the expansion franchise to a title in just two years, besting owner Joe Lacob’s five-year target by three full seasons.
Natalie Nakase Delivers Historic Title in Second Season
The Golden State Valkyries captured the WNBA championship in only their second year of existence, capping a remarkable postseason run with a Game 7 victory over the Atlanta Dream at Chase Center. Head coach Natalie Nakase revealed during her post-championship press conference that franchise owner Joe Lacob had originally set a five-year timeline to win a title when he interviewed and hired her. Nakase told Lacob she would deliver even faster because she was impatient
and obsessive
.
That’s our Head Coach! Welcome, Natalie Nakase 🏀 pic.twitter.com/WlaHiCypyM
That impatience paid off as Nakase guided a roster without a single All-WNBA player to the summit of the league. Following the final buzzer, Nakase grabbed the microphone on the floor to address the crowd with a blunt message about the franchise’s journey.
This is for all the people that have been underrated, misunderstood. This is for all of y’all because this is proof that if you put all your heart and all your soul, you can f**ckin win championships!
Natalie Nakase, head coach of the Golden State Valkyries, via ClutchPoints
Before taking the helm in Golden State, Nakase began her coaching career as an assistant with the LA Clippers’ G League team and gained extensive international experience. She also served as an assistant coach with the Las Vegas Aces under Becky Hammon in 2022, capturing back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023. When Joe Lacob set his lofty expectations for the new Bay Area franchise, Nakase consulted her NBA contacts, including Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla and former Cleveland Cavaliers coach Tyronn Lue, to prepare for the challenge of building a winner from scratch.
Karl Smesko and Atlanta Dream Push Series to the Limit
The championship series demanded everything from both sidelines in what became a chess match between Nakase and Atlanta head coach Karl Smesko. Smesko utilized a tight seven-player postseason rotation anchored by star forward Angel Reese, alongside standout starters Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, Jordin Canada, and Naz Hillmon. After dropping Games 2 and 3, Golden State faced a daunting 2-1 deficit following a 26-point blowout loss. Nakase responded by overhauling her starting lineup for Game 4, inserting Tiffany Hayes and Kaila Charles while moving Kayla Thornton and Cecilia Zandalasini to the bench.
Research from Emily Adams and Zack Collura noted that Golden State became the first team in the five-game WNBA Finals era to change multiple starters in Game 3 or later without an injury forcing the move. Smesko countered in Game 6 with adjustments of his own after a team meeting, leaning on Jordin Canada and Rhyne Howard to force a decisive Game 7 with an 80-69 victory in Atlanta.
Gabby Williams Leads the Valkyries Through Game 7
In the winner-take-all finale, Gabby Williams carried the offensive load after a slow start. After scoring just two points in the first half, Williams listened to a calm directive from her coach. Williams told reporters after the game that she trusted Nakase with her life. Surging out of the break, Williams poured in 28 points and drained four three-pointers to secure the franchise’s first title.
Alongside her, center Kiah Stokes anchored the Valkyries’ defense by recording a WNBA Finals record 19 blocks across the postseason, drawing on her own championship pedigree to solidify the expansion team’s identity.
Nakase credited her father, who passed away in 2021, for helping her maintain composure during high-stress moments through his advice to take a breath
when health and mental health become complicated. That equilibrium, combined with veteran leadership from players like Tiffany Hayes, carried the Valkyries past Atlanta’s physical defense and into the record books.
