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UCLA women’s basketball congratulates Natalie Nakase on Valkyries’ WNBA championship win

The UCLA women's basketball program recently extended its congratulations to former standout Natalie Nakase after she steered the Golden State Valkyries to a WNBA championship title. Golden State secured the trophy by defeating the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in a decisive Game 7 matchup during the franchise's second year of existence.

Nakase made professional basketball history by becoming the first Asian American head coach to capture a WNBA championship.

Before launching into professional coaching ranks that included assistant roles with the Las Vegas Aces, Nakase built her own playing pedigree in Westwood. She joined the Bruins as a walk-on, ultimately developing into a three-year team captain, earning an honorable mention All-Pac-10 nod in 2002, and finishing her collegiate career ranked tenth in program history with 358 total assists.

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