Natalie Nakase, the Valkyries' coach, collapsed on the court during Game 3 against the Dallas Wings, but it didn't deter her team from securing a historic playoff series win. The story was first reported by sports.yahoo.com.
The Valkyries overcame a 16-point third-quarter deficit to win the game, with many of the timely plays coming from star player Gabby Williams, who scored 17 of her team-high 19 points in the second half.
“Obviously it’s a quick turnaround. We play again on Sunday. She wouldn’t miss it for anything,” — Powell, per New York Post
What Happened on the Court?
Nakase was seen collapsing on the court during the fourth quarter of her team's 77-73 victory against the Dallas Wings on Friday night.
She was immediately helped back up to her feet by others on the court and immediately walked back over towards the team's bench while she was grabbing her head.
Nakase remained in the game and was calling plays in the huddle seconds later.
What The Filing Says
The Valkyries told ESPN after the game that Nakase was exhausted and got light-headed during the incident, but was fine later.
Valkyries star Gabby Williams said, 'We're glad she's alright.'
What's Next for the Valkyries?
The Valkyries will take on the No.3 seed and the defending WNBA champions, the Las Vegas Aces, on Sunday.
Elise Lee’s View
My View: I'm not buying the 'exhaustion' explanation for Natalie Nakase's collapse. It's a convenient narrative, but I think there's more to it. Nakase is a seasoned coach, and I've seen her intensity on the sidelines. She's not the type to just 'get light-headed' during a heated discussion with an official. I'm not saying she's faking it, but I do think there's a story here that's not being told. The Valkyries' historic win is a great story, but let's not gloss over what happened to Nakase. It's a reminder that even in the WNBA, there's still a lot we don't know about what goes on behind the scenes.
Opinion — Elise Lee. Reporting above is separate from this view.
Room for disagreement
Yahoo Sports frames the story as a confirmation of the team's claim that Nakase was fine after the collapse, without adding any sensationalism. Read Yahoo Sports’s take →
Background
The Golden State Valkyries are a professional women's basketball team that began their second season of existence in the WNBA. The team is led by coach Natalie Nakase, who has been at the helm since the team's inception.
The Valkyries' historic win in Game 3 marked a significant milestone for the team, as they overcame a 16-point deficit to clinch their first playoff series win. This achievement is notable, given the team's relatively short history in the league.
- Natalie Nakase has been the head coach of the Golden State Valkyries since the team's inception. (Yahoo Sports)
- The Valkyries are in their second season of existence in the WNBA. (Yahoo Sports)
- The team is led by coach Natalie Nakase, who has been at the helm since the team's inception. (New York Post)
What's next
The Valkyries' next game against the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday will be a crucial matchup for the team.
Questions readers ask
What happened to Natalie Nakase during Game 3?
Natalie Nakase collapsed to her knees with her head to the ground during Game 3 against the Dallas Wings, appearing to be in discomfort.
Was Natalie Nakase okay after collapsing?
The Valkyries said Nakase was exhausted and got light-headed, but was fine later and remained in the game.
How did the Valkyries' win affect their playoff chances?
The team clinched their first playoff series win in their second season of existence with the historic win.
Sources
- Yahoo Sports: Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase reportedly 'fine' after sideline collapse during Game 3
- New York Post: Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase expected to be OK after sudden collapse
