Valkyries Coach Natalie Nakase Collapses on Sideline During Playoff Win, Finishes Game from the Bench
· Yahoo Sports
Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
NEED TO KNOW
- Natalie Nakase collapsed while having a conversation with an official late into the Golden State Valkyries’ series-winning victory over the Dallas Wings on Friday, Oct. 2
- Videos show the coach suddenly falling to her knees with her head in her hands before medical staff rushed to help her up and onto the bench
- “Natalie is fine ... We play again on Sunday. She wouldn’t miss it for anything,” said assistant coach Kasib Powell
Natalie Nakase collapsed while having a conversation with an official late into the Golden State Valkyries’ 77-73 victory over the Dallas Wings on Friday, Oct. 2.
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Videos shared on social media show Nakase appearing to drop to her knees with her head in her hands. Assistant coaches and medical staff then rushed over to check on her before helping her up and leading her to a nearby bench.
Despite her sudden collapse, Nakase finished the game and led the team’s huddle from the bench.
As the Valkyries later celebrated their victory in Game 2 of the first round to advance to the semifinals, Nakase exited the floor with the help of a member of her staff, per the Associated Press.
Head Coach Natalie Nakase of the Golden State Valkyries high fives playersCredit: Jack Arent/NBAE via Getty
During a postgame press conference, assistant coach Kasib Powell insisted that Nakase, who is the first Asian American head coach in the WNBA, was doing okay after the incident.
“Natalie is fine,” he told the media, per ESPN. “Obviously, it’s a quick turnaround; we play again on Sunday. She wouldn’t miss it for anything.”
“We’re just trying to figure it out,” he continued. “We just know that we [saw] her afterward and she was fine, laughing, in great spirits. We’ll figure out more as we go, but I think she’s totally fine. She’s talking. She’s laughing in the back. We look forward to preparing and getting ready for Sunday.”
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In the moments following what seemed to be a medical episode, Powell emphasized that Nakase “didn’t miss a beat.”
“We were locked in as that happened, when she went to the sidelines she drew the next play up, she was in the huddle getting on them about getting a stop so she didn’t skip a beat at all,” he said, adding that the team continued to keep their composure “and just rally around each other and her.”
Gabby Williams, the team’s All-Star forward, reiterated that her coach was “fine.”
“We just tried to step up ourselves,” she said, per ESPN. “We’re just happy that she’s okay.”
The Valkyries later told ESPN that, while Nakase was “exhausted and got lightheaded during the game,” she is “fine now,” sports reporter Kendra Andrews shared on X.
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