Golden State Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase briefly collapsed near the sideline while talking to a referee late in the fourth quarter of Game 3 against the Dallas Wings, then got back up, returned to the huddle and finished calling the plays that clinched the franchise's first playoff series win. The scary moment unfolded with 1:40 left in a game Golden State would go on to win 77-73, sending the Valkyries to their first WNBA semifinals in just their second season.
Nakase appeared to collapse near the sideline as she spoke to a referee late in the fourth quarter, according to The Athletic. The outlet reported that Nakase became lightheaded after not eating all day, citing a team source. The New York Post reported she felt lightheaded and exhausted, attributing the detail to ESPN.
Despite the fall, Nakase didn't stay down long. She returned to the Valkyries' huddle and drew up the next play, per the Mercury News, which reported she briefly collapsed to the floor during a timeout before resuming her coaching duties for the rest of the game. She did not speak to reporters after the victory, and The Athletic reported, citing a team source, that she was seen by doctors following the game.
A Wild Finish on the Court
The game itself was a rollercoaster well before Nakase's collapse. Dallas built its largest lead of the night, 53-37, in the third quarter, according to the WNBA's official recap, before Golden State clawed back with a 16-point second-half comeback. The Wings still led 72-71 with 1:40 remaining — the same stretch when Nakase went down — before the Valkyries scored the next six points to seize control.
Gabby Williams led Golden State with 19 points, including the go-ahead shot that put the Valkyries up 73-72 with 1:17 left, per the same account from the Mercury News. Tiffany Hayes added 18 points off the bench, and the team closed the game on an 8-0 run to finish off the 77-73 win and take the series 2-1.
Team Says Coach Is Doing Fine
Assistant coach Kasib Powell told reporters after the game that Nakase was fine, laughing and in great spirits, according to The Athletic. Williams said the team was happy Nakase was okay, while Hayes said she was proud and grateful to be with the team, per the seed reporting from the New York Post. The San Jose Mercury News headline captured the strange split-screen of the night: an epic win paired with a frightening scare for the woman running the huddle.
The moment also drew attention from columnists covering the Bay Area's rising WNBA franchise, with the San Francisco Standard framing it as a dramatic coda to a comeback the Valkyries will remember for years. The win marked the first playoff series victory in franchise history for a team that only began play in its second season.
Up Next: Defending Champs
Golden State is now set to host the defending WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals, with Game 1 scheduled for Sunday at Chase Center, according to the Mercury News. The Aces advanced to the round after defeating the Indiana Fever in three games. Nakase is expected to coach that game, per ESPN, as cited by the New York Post, which reported that the franchise told ESPN she felt lightheaded and exhausted; The Athletic reported that a team source said she became lightheaded after not eating all day.
