- 13 minutes ago
Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase joins Willard and Dibs to discuss her team's journey through the playoffs up to this point, their championship goals going forward, and more.
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00:00I wish for everybody that you're on YouTube, you can't hear the song on YouTube, but what you can do
00:05is you can see the head coach of the Golden State Valkyries head bobbing, smiling, dancing it up. Why not?
00:15Yep, 1-0 in round two of the playoffs.
00:17Yep. Look at that. Wow. You guys remember. Yes, of course. Yes, we have a crack staff here and they
00:27miss some things, but not all things. So out to the River Island's guest line. We're excited about this. And
00:35yes, this is her track. Natalie Nakase, the head coach of the Valkyries. Do you want to fill everybody in
00:42on this song or how long this has been your tune?
00:48No, it's just my jam. It's just a song that I love. My mom got me into Whitney Houston, obviously,
00:55when I was a kid. And then, yeah, I just love her. Rest in peace, Whitney. But she was one
00:59of the best.
01:00Rest in peace. I think the second concert I ever went to, Natalie, my parents also took me to Shoreline
01:06Amphitheater. Wow. And we saw Whitney in 19. I have no idea. Right. How was it?
01:12Oh, my God. It was amazing. Just incredible. Absolutely an incredible performer.
01:18Yes. Yes. There's no one like Whitney.
01:20And Mark is about six octaves away from being able to karaoke Whitney Houston. So that actually, I would like
01:27to hear you, Mark, do Whitney Houston because you're deep, deep baritone.
01:31When I do karaoke, I did it one time with a group and we went up and did boys to
01:36men and I was just the baritone guy.
01:38Nice.
01:38I'm like, girl.
01:39There you go.
01:39And that's it. That was my role. So anyway, hey, Natalie, first and foremost, let's get this out of the
01:45way. Like, how are you feeling? You doing all right?
01:48Yeah, I feel good. Thank you. I appreciate. Is that from the concern?
01:52Well, a little bit. Yeah. Yeah. Just want to make sure you're feeling OK. Feeling good for the week ahead.
01:58Yeah. I slept a lot last last night. I slept for like eight and a half hours. So did my
02:03catch up. So I'm really good. Yeah. Thanks for asking.
02:06Eight and a half hours is probably what I just in sort of learning a little bit about you. I
02:10feel like that's about twice as much as what you usually get.
02:14Yeah, I was averaging like four and three. So that was that was really good. So, yeah, I feel good
02:18today. Thanks.
02:19Yes. And I think all of us watching on Friday, I mean, I didn't quite have the stress level that
02:24you had, but just walk us through it and tell the audience about your feelings and your words down 16
02:30where you're at home and you're supposed to close it out, I guess.
02:34And things weren't going your way.
02:37Yeah, we talked about that, right? Like these playoff games are going to be sticky. We're going to have to
02:42get some out of the mud.
02:42And so really, luckily, our last regular season, we were down 16 in L.A.
02:48So it's the same situation. We're down 16. We weren't playing well. We weren't playing our best defense. We weren't
02:53making anything.
02:55And so just for us to just stay composed, nice and calm and organized. And we just came back possession
03:01by possession.
03:02That's one thing we really stress is like, let's not make a home run play. It's just not going to
03:06happen.
03:06But getting down 16, we have to execute on the defensive end, get stops so we can run on the
03:11other end.
03:11So, yeah, really proud of our players. That that was special. That one was definitely special.
03:16It was special for all of us watching. And, you know, we're watching Gabby Williams kind of come to the
03:20forefront.
03:21And then after the game, she talked about how this is why she chose Golden State.
03:25How much was that something that you kind of expected where she came here hoping to be that person?
03:31And then it became a self-fulfilling prophecy.
03:34Yeah, it just kind of developed. But more importantly, it's just developed because of the players.
03:39Like they're so selfless. And Gabby's such a humble star. It's not like she came in and demanded, hey, I'm
03:44the closer.
03:44Like it wasn't anything like that. It was kind of like she came in, was herself and then everyone else.
03:50We were so close last year. So obviously we brought as many players as we could back from last year.
03:55And then it was Gabby kind of just fitting in whenever she felt like talking.
03:59She could talk. If she didn't want to talk, that's fine. But Gabby works her ass off.
04:03And so it's just important for the players to see like, look, yeah, she's our leader, but she took it
04:08one day at a time.
04:09And I think that type of trust and like continuing to build relationships throughout was really important.
04:15And I think that's what our whole team like really thrived on is that she didn't come in and demand.
04:20She kind of did it her way.
04:22I think while we're talking about Gabby, Natalie, it'd be great to get your reaction to Joe Lacob saying that
04:28it's now her time.
04:29She's the best player in the world. What do you think about that?
04:34Oh, I agree. I agree 100 percent.
04:38I mean, because now you're seeing it, right? You're seeing it on the big stage.
04:41I don't know if you guys follow us in worlds like I was on the USA team.
04:45Gabby's on the France team. And that that's another great big stage that you're playing the best in the world.
04:50And so Gabby is continuing to prove to herself when given, you know, the environment, the confidence,
04:55the love and care that she likes within a team that she can flourish anytime, anywhere, any quarter, any possession.
05:03She's thriving and now she's leading.
05:04Natalie Nicasa, the head coach of the Valks, is with us here on Withered and Dibs 95.7.
05:09The game, game two tomorrow night with the Las Vegas Aces.
05:12And obviously, while we're on narratives, Natalie, and there's a long way to go in this series,
05:17but I'm sure you've heard it.
05:19There's sort of been that thought.
05:21The Valkyries, you guys have been so impressive since last year.
05:24But all year, it was like, boy, their record is there, but can they actually handle the two teams
05:31that sort of felt like the kryptonite, as they've been called?
05:36And the Minnesota Lynx got knocked right out.
05:38And then here are the defending champs in the Aces.
05:42And so, like, what is your response to that?
05:45Do you feel like this particular matchup that you're in right now is, I don't know,
05:52is there a history there a little bit more difficult than some of the others?
05:56No, we don't really care about, like, outside noise.
05:59Like, that's kind of irrelevant on how we game plan.
06:02Like, for us, we're already thinking with game plans.
06:05It's like, we just have to be clear.
06:06When we're clear on our game plan, that's when we execute the best.
06:10Also, when we block out the noise, we then bring all the energy in terms of, like,
06:14emptying the tank mode.
06:15Like, I don't know how many times you've seen us play, but we play hard.
06:19And so, we just have to focus on us.
06:21If we start listening to outside noise about who we're playing or, like, what is the history?
06:25Like, who cares?
06:27Like, let's just control what we can control.
06:29That's our energy.
06:30That's our mental.
06:31That's our physical preparation.
06:32So, right now, the players should be resting.
06:34We just finished, you know, a shoot-around.
06:36They should be locked in.
06:37They should be getting the nutrition.
06:38And if they have someone to text, text me.
06:41Like, that's all that really matters.
06:43Text people in the locker room.
06:44Don't worry about the outside noise.
06:46And we just focus on ourselves.
06:48Yeah.
06:48I guess part of the outside noise would be the fact that you used to coach there with
06:52Becky, and now it's you against Becky Hammond.
06:55Putting the outside noise aside, just asking you personally, I guess, off the record, but
07:00not really because we're doing a radio show.
07:02But is there a little piece of you and Becky and, you know, being, you know, colleagues
07:06and friends from the past?
07:08Is there a little bit of that personal thing for you?
07:11I mean, obviously, I love Becky.
07:13I love her staff.
07:14I mean, I won two championships with them, so that doesn't go away.
07:18But what also is it's insight, right?
07:20Like Kia Stokes, Tip Hayes.
07:24Like, we're with them.
07:25So it's really Kia Stokes, Tip Hayes.
07:27They're the ones who know more than I do because I wasn't in the locker rooms as much as they
07:30were.
07:31So it's utilizing Kia, Tip, their knowledge, and then obviously my knowledge through Becky.
07:35But Becky knows me, too.
07:37So, again, we focus on what we can control but also utilize, you know, the history that
07:43we have.
07:43Yeah.
07:44But at the end of the day, it's our game plan.
07:46It's the Golden State Valkyries game plan.
07:48Like, we're not all the same.
07:50I'm not there anymore.
07:51Kia's not there anymore.
07:52So it's just all about controlling what we can control, even though that may sound boring.
07:57But that's who we are.
07:58We're disciplined.
07:58We're boring.
07:59But we play hard.
08:00No, that's why it's going well.
08:02I don't find it boring at all.
08:04Natalie, what about this?
08:05You know, you guys are in your second year.
08:07You've got a shot at this ring already here in the Final Four.
08:12There is a story that I think fans of the team and listeners here in the Bay, they may not
08:18actually know where it came from.
08:19And I'd love to hear what you would share about it.
08:21It's this idea that when Joe Lacob was putting the whole team together, he put it out there
08:26as a goal.
08:27We're going to win the whole thing within the first five years.
08:30What was it that like in ink?
08:33Was it almost was it a goal?
08:35Was it a threat?
08:37Can you share what those conversations were like at the very beginning?
08:42Yeah, that was in my interview process.
08:45So that was probably like, I would say, 20 minutes within my interview process.
08:49He said, whoever I hire has to win in five years.
08:52And so I remember slamming my hand on the on the table.
08:55We're at a restaurant.
08:56I said, sign me up.
08:57I said that that's the challenge.
08:59That's the expectations.
09:00That's the opportunity that I want.
09:02I want to be around winners.
09:04The only reason I would want to coach as a head coach is to win.
09:08I hate losing.
09:09I hate having soft goals.
09:11I hate having let's just make the playoffs.
09:13Like even last year, we were trying to win it.
09:15We were very disappointed that we didn't win it last year.
09:19It took a lot out of us because we were obviously trying to work extremely hard.
09:23But the fact that we weren't healthy, that really pissed us off in so many ways.
09:27So however, we can control it.
09:29And look, now we're healthy.
09:30So that's a step in the right direction.
09:32But no, he told me that 20 minutes within the interview process.
09:37So yeah, I said, sign me up.
09:39And I love it because he pushes me.
09:41He has high standards.
09:42But if you know the history of Joe, he's been successful in anything that he's done.
09:47Anything that he's built, anything that he's gone for, he goes for it.
09:50Full heart, full energy.
09:53Sacrifices so much time to go after what he wants.
09:56And so I'm just like him.
09:57To be honest, I told him, you remind me of my dad.
10:00Like my dad's like him.
10:01He pushes me.
10:02And so, yeah, I'm just, I'm so grateful that he chose me to try to lead this thing.
10:07And I'm learning more about the history of you because we've been around Joe since he's been the owner.
10:11But learning about you and your time with your dad and your whole journey from ACLs and, you know,
10:16walking away from a scholarship at Irvine and going to UCLA and a walk on and all the rest of
10:20it.
10:20Has it always been like that for you since you were a kid where you're going to go 110%
10:25and you'll take nothing less than success?
10:29Yeah, I'm kind of built that way.
10:31My dad built me like that.
10:32But look, I'm 5'1 and 3'4.
10:34So no one obviously thought I was going to play starting even in high school.
10:38Then, you know, starting at UCLA, like everyone's like, you're not going to do it now.
10:42That, like, go somewhere else where you're going to guarantee play.
10:45Oh, you're never going to play pro.
10:47I mean, I've heard it all my whole life.
10:48Oh, you're never going to coach in, you know, the NBA.
10:50Oh, you're never going to be a head coach ever in professional sports.
10:53It's been my friends.
10:54It's been my family at times.
10:56It's been, you know, outside noise.
10:57And so I love it.
10:59You know, it just motivates me even more.
11:01Natalie, you're clearly in your right spot right now.
11:04And, man, we hope this keeps on rolling starting tomorrow night with Game 2,
11:09which will be right here on 95.7 The Game.
11:11Before you go, we would love to do what we do with fancy guests
11:15when we get them on this show.
11:17And that is the big finish.
11:19Let's get to know you a little bit.
11:20You up for it?
11:22I'm up for it.
11:23It's off the grid.
11:24Let's do it.
11:27Yeah, she wants to do off the grid.
11:29So here we go, Natalie.
11:30Natalie, when it's the offseason, what do you do when it's time to unplug?
11:35I'm not sure that you do unplug.
11:37Exactly.
11:37What do you do when you unplug?
11:41I go to training camps.
11:44I go to training camps of my mentors.
11:46So right away, last year I went to Boston Celtics training camp.
11:49So it's already time passed because, obviously,
11:52we had an 18-day break with the Worlds.
11:54But I'll probably go visit Joe Mazzola.
11:56That does not sound like a Mai Tai.
11:58It doesn't sound like I'm plugging, but I get that.
12:01Anyway, go ahead.
12:01I can have a Mai Tai on the way there.
12:03That's true.
12:04It's a long flight, no doubt.
12:06Second question.
12:07Books, movies, reality TV, dramatic, comedic TV, podcast music.
12:12What is the thing that you like to look for entertainment
12:15outside of training camps?
12:22I like comedies.
12:24If I'm going to watch something, make me laugh.
12:26Make me laugh.
12:27Okay.
12:27That's it.
12:28I'm old school, too.
12:29Like, Friends, Martin.
12:31Like, I'm old school.
12:32And I'll watch Friends and Martin, like, over and over again.
12:35Dude, Martin had a sneaky long run, by the way.
12:38Martin, very funny.
12:39Fantastic.
12:40All right.
12:40Last one for you, Natalie.
12:42You've obviously traveled many places,
12:43but what's the one place that's still on the bucket list
12:47that you have not gone to yet?
12:50Ooh.
12:51I think Bora Bora.
12:53There's four seasons in Bora Bora.
12:54Wherever there's four seasons, I'm going.
12:56Unplug.
12:57Unplug.
12:57Four seasons in Bora Bora.
12:59There it is.
13:00I don't know.
13:02It's expensive.
13:03We better win.
13:04We better win.
13:05Okay.
13:06Yeah.
13:06Got to win.
13:07Yeah.
13:07Joe owes you a bonus if you do this in two years.
13:10Yes.
13:10He said five.
13:10Say that again.
13:11Say that.
13:12Joe owes you a three-year bonus.
13:16That's right.
13:16I mean, for sure.
13:17Joe might be in the room, so we should say it loud enough to where Joe can hear it.
13:21Is Joe right off camera right now, Natalie?
13:24I don't know.
13:25No, no, he's not.
13:26He's not.
13:27Joe, send him to Bora Bora for three weeks.
13:29Yes, exactly.
13:30Let's win him for Bora Bora.
13:31That's it.
13:32There you go.
13:32Natalie, go up 2-0 tomorrow night, okay?
13:35Let's go.
13:36Let's go.
13:36Let's go.
13:37LFG.
13:37Let's go.
13:38Natalie, thank you.
13:39That was a ton of fun.
13:41Appreciate it, guys.
13:42All right.