Golden State’s trio of honorees will lead them into the playoffs, where they’ll face the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx in a first-round series that begins Sunday

It's a family affair! Golden State Warriors Natalie Nakase was named AP Coach of the Year and Veronica Burton was awarded Most Improved Player.

The Golden State Valkyries are heading to the WNBA first-round playoffs in their inaugural season and are waving their flag throughout the Bay Area as fan excitement builds for sports history. Over the next several days,

Together, Nakase and Hammon won back-to-back WNBA championships in 2022-23 with some dominant Aces squads. When the opportunity to coach the Valkyries in their debut season arrived, Nakase jumped at the chance and has made the most of it.

The Golden State Valkyries close out their first regular season on the road against the Minnesota Lynx on Thursday, Sept. 11.

The first-time head coach was hired last year by Valkyries general manager Ohemaa Nyanin and has created a culture of collective effort that uplifts that defense. The Valkyries have also embraced the three-point revolution under Nakase, 45, as they lead the league with 29.9 3-pointers attempted and 9.7 made 3s per game.

The 2025 WNBA season has been a year of incredible accomplishments, with multiple teams setting franchise records for wins as the league expanded to 44 regular-