Chris Foss

5’2 guard Natalie Nakase had a dream school coming out HS: UCLA. She decided to bet on herself & walk-on. Nakase tore her ACL & missed her entire freshman year, but kept going. She later became the team’s starting PG & captain. Nakase tried to play pro but another knee injury led her to transition to coaching. She spent 4 years earning her stripes overseas in Japan & Germany. In 2012, she joined the Clippers staff as a video intern, a thankless job. She steadily climbed the ranks over a decade, breaking barriers as an assistant coach at summer league. In 2022, Nakase was a finalist for a head coaching job with the Mercury, but got passed over. So she joined Becky Hammon’s staff in Las Vegas. Nakase won titles and learned while waiting for her chance. The Valkyries saw her leadership, her vision, she was named the first head coach for the expansion franchise. Now she’s the first Asian American head coach to win a WNBA title in just her 2nd season. Trailblazer.

Kaitlyn Chen graduated from UConn in 2025 & didn’t expect to get drafted. She showed up to WNBA draft night to support her close friend & teammate Paige Bueckers. Chen was pulled from the crowd stunned when her name was called 30th overall. Still, 3rd round picks rarely make it to the opening day roster in the W. Sure enough, she was waived by the Valkyries after preseason. Chen went straight to work to make sure she was ready if she got a call. That call came a month later and she rejoined the Valkyries. In the offseason, she worked her butt off playing overseas and for Athletes Unlimited, but the Valks only signed her to a 2026 training camp contract, essentially a try out. She continued to put her head down and work. The team announced she earned a spot, and soon a key bench role. Now she’s a champion. Inspiration. #valkyries