Home / Sports / Exhausted Valkyries Coach Returns to Bench for Game 1 Win
Exhausted Valkyries Coach Returns to Bench for Game 1 Win
5 Oct
Summary
- Coach Natalie Nakase coached her team to a Game 1 WNBA semifinal victory.
- Nakase experienced exhaustion and collapsed on the sideline previously.
- She is prioritizing her health and mental well-being proactively.
Golden State Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase returned to the sideline on Sunday, successfully coaching her team to a 71-60 victory over Las Vegas in Game 1 of the WNBA semifinals. This return came just two days after she experienced a collapse on the court during the first-round clincher, which she attributed to exhaustion.
Nakase, 46, underwent a doctor's examination on Saturday and expressed her commitment to being proactive about her health. Inspired by her father's emphasis on hard work, she acknowledges the need to balance her dedication with self-care. She plans to implement measures such as potentially wearing a heart monitor and utilizing a tracking ring to better manage her intense work ethic and prevent future health complications.
Her collapse occurred late in Friday's game against the Dallas Wings. Despite the incident, Nakase was helped up and finished the game, though she left the court immediately afterward. The semifinal series features Nakase coaching against her former mentor, Becky Hammon, who acknowledged the significant stress involved in coaching during this critical part of the season.
