Natalie Nakase, head coach of the Golden State Valkyries, collapsed briefly on the court during the team's playoff victory over the Dallas Wings on Friday. The incident occurred in the fourth quarter at the Chase Center in San Francisco while Nakase was speaking with a referee during a timeout. After falling to her hands and knees, she was quickly assisted to her feet and appeared to touch her head.
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Despite the scare, Nakase continued to coach, leading the Valkyries to a 77-73 win in Game 3 of the opening round of the WNBA playoffs. She did not hold a press conference afterward, which is customary for head coaches.
Assistant coach Kasib Powell spoke to the media, reassuring everyone that Nakase was "fine" following the incident. He noted, "Natalie’s fine. Obviously, it’s a quick turnaround. We play again on Sunday. She wouldn’t miss it for anything."
Powell confirmed that Nakase would coach during their next game against the Las Vegas Aces, the defending champions, saying, "We do know that she will be ready for Sunday." The series opener will take place in San Francisco, and the winner will move on to the WNBA Finals, facing either the eighth-seeded Liberty or the fourth-seeded Dream.