From college basketball walk-on to WNBA championship-winning head coach, Natalie Nakase is currently on top of the world.
The UCLA alumna led the Golden State Valkyries to a 68-63 victory over the Atlanta Dream in Game 7 of the WNBA Finals, the first in league history.
"This is for all of the people that have been underrated, misunderstood, this is for all of y'all," Nakase said to Elle Duncan during the postgame title presentation ceremony. "Because if you put all your heart and all your soul, you f**king win championships!"
Nakase's soundbites continued into the postgame news conference, where she delivered another extremely honest response to the media.
"Girl, I just need to get drunk tonight, so let me get there," she said. "I ate this morning.
I slept. Let's just enjoy the moment."
“Girl! I just need to get drunk tonight! I ate this morning I slept. Let’s just enjoy the moment.” 🍾🍺
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) November 1, 2026
- Natalie Nakase on if she’s already thinking about the Valkyries winning the championship next year.
🤣🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/5T5XybL8yH
And then another.
"Y'all think I know what I'm doing?" Nakase said. "I just switch things just to switch it up. You think there's some science behind it? There really isn't. It's just literally just to mix it up."
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This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: UCLA alumna Natalie Nakase leads Golden State Valkyries to WNBA title
