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‘We have effing unbreakable love’: how the maverick Natalie Nakase led the Valkyries to WNBA glory

The mighty, miserly Golden State Valkyries won their first WNBA title on Saturday night with a point guard Dallas had given up on and cast aside, a starting forward who had been waived five times and a late-blooming All-Star once…

By Bryan Armen Graham · The Guardian

Published: Sunday, 1 November 2026 at 4:10 PM

Key Things to Know

Natalie Nakase coached the Golden State Valkyries to their first WNBA title in their second season.
The Valkyries defeated the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in Game 7 to win the championship.
Golden State became the fastest expansion team in major North American sports history to win a title.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Head coach Natalie Nakase led the Golden State Valkyries to their first WNBA championship with a 68-63 Game 7 victory over the Atlanta Dream. The win made Golden State the fastest expansion team in major North American professional sports history to claim a title, doing so in their second season just 534 days after their inaugural game.

Finals MVP Gabby Williams sparked the comeback by scoring 28 of her 30 points in the second half. Under the ownership of Joe Lacob and general manager Ohemaa Nyanin, Golden State built a championship culture by offering significant resources, trust, and opportunities to a roster largely composed of overlooked and waived players.

Read the full article on The Guardian

‘We have effing unbreakable love’: how the maverick Natalie Nakase led the Valkyries to WNBA glory

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