The newly appointed head coach of the WNBA’s recently introduced team, Golden State Valkyries, Natalie Nakase has been in the headlines for all kinds of reasons. Whether it was the draft selections or the training camp sessions, nothing jolted fans and the Valkyries HC more than the Shyanne Sellers incident.

As the 17th overall pick for the Valkyries team, a promising prospect in Shyanne Sellers was waived off by Nakase. This created an uproar online, with fans largely disappointed with the decision. The news created ripples across the W, and ultimately, the HC had to step in. Nakase took to X (formerly Twitter) and justified her stance with common sense.

As she quipped the roster requirements, which allowed only 12 players per team, she had to release one player. And despite Sellers being one of the finest, was she the best of 12? Probably not for Nakase, since is known for a not-so-smooth career trajectory – this instance being one of them.

And while we reflect on the HC’s rather impressive coaching journey that started in Germany, with the Wolfenbüttel Wildcats, before she progressed to Japan to coach Tokyo Apache, and subsequently returned to the States, let us understand what her private life looks like. Is there a special someone in Nakase’s life? Who makes Nakase blush and makes her feel special?

Is Natalie Nakase married? 

Natalie Nakase is an independent head coach for the newly introduced professional team, Golden State Valkyries. Her social media handles and public appearances suggest that she is single and has not gotten married yet. Besides, Natalie has refuted marriage and dating rumors on numerous occasions.

In a recent online interview, Nakase candidly spoke about a coaching job that suggested her to tie the knot in order to grab the role. Reflecting on why she wasn’t “the right fit,” for the job, Nakase opens up, “They said, You should get married and have a family, and then you’ll know what it’s like to take care of people, and you’ll be a better coach.”

Is Natalie Nakase dating someone? What is her relationship status?

There are no publicly available reports that provide verifiable information regarding Nakase’s relationship status. While we do not know whether she is currently in a relationship or dating someone, what we do know is that Nakase comes from a very close-knit family. Like all Asian-American families, Nakase has strong foundation in her roots and honors her family. These familial values can be seen translated on-court too.

Though she leads an extremely private life, Nakase is often seen honoring her late father on social media. She keeps publishing Instagram stories dedicated to her father, where she can seen either on court or in old photographs with daddy dearest. Nakase’s parent was an instrumental figure in shaping her career in the basketball industry. It was him, who called Nakase back to the United States after her brief stint in the Japanese team. Why? Just so she could pursue her life-long career as an NBA coach.

Natalie Nakase Dating History

There are no verifiable reports available that justify whether Nakase was in a relationship. Though she has a strong social media presence, it is limited to her earlier days as a basketball player and her recent career developments as a former assistant and current head coach. She likes to keep her private life out of the public eye and it is only natural for someone whose lifelong dedication has only been basketball.

Emphasizing on the importance of basketball in her life, Nakase was heard admitting, “I can’t breathe without basketball, so it just happens. But now, as it’s coming to fruition and people are talking about it, I’m taking it more like it’s an honor…and it’s a responsibility. Now that people are listening, people are watching, I want to make sure that whatever I do, I really want to be legendary.” And rightly so!

As the head coach of Valkyries, people are counting on her as well as the team’s first stint in the WNBA. And boy does she have huge shoes to fill! With so many expectations from family, fans, and her own team, can Nakase turn the tables for Golden State Valkyries and give them a taste of the title this year? Only time will tell.