Golden State Valkyries made WNBA history in their first season. Natalie Nakase won Coach of the Year and Veronica Burton became Most Improved Player, rewriting the league’s expectations.
They told everyone to wait. That building a brand-new WNBA team from scratch would mean seasons of struggling, roster juggling, and learning the league’s grind. But the Golden State Valkyries had other plans.
In their first season, they didn’t just survive. They soared—the first expansion team in WNBA history to punch a playoff ticket. And in the process, they gave us perhaps the most compelling underdog story of 2025. Behind it all: Natalie Nakase’s coaching brilliance and Veronica Burton’s break-out year. This isn’t just basketball. It’s proof that culture, belief, and grit can do more than star power alone.
A debut season no one saw coming
When the Valkyries were introduced, expectations were modest—long on hope, short on belief. Expansion teams usually take years to find rhythm, let alone relevancy. But Golden State didn’t wait.
They posted a 23-21 record. They made the playoffs. They set new standards.
What helped them do this? A combination of defensive toughness, cohesive teamwork, smart offense, and leadership centered around growth rather than relying only on stars. Because while they didn’t have a roster full of household names, they had something more durable: belief. And leadership that knew how to build something from zero.
Natalie Nakase: Building from day one
Natalie Nakase is the kind of coach who doesn’t settle for what’s comfortable. Named WNBA Coach of the Year for 2025, she led Golden State to do what no expansion team had ever done.
Here’s what stands out:
- She took a roster that many assumed would be green and error-prone, and made them competitive.
- She emphasized defense first: limiting opponent shooting, forcing tough shots, making teams work. Golden State’s defensive stats became talking points.
- She built trust. Players bought into a system rather than individual glory. In a lot of ways, the Valkyries played selflessly, sharing responsibility.
- She handled adversity. Injuries, doubts, the constant pressure of proving that an expansion team can’t just be a novelty—they handled them with poise.
Veronica Burton: From overlooked to indispensable
If the Valkyries’ season is the headline, Veronica Burton is the chapter many will turn to when telling this story in years to come. Named Most Improved Player, her jump is one for the books.
Here’s how she transformed:
- Year over year, she raised her averages drastically: points, assists, rebounds, steals. Her playing time, role, and confidence all increased.
- She started all 44 regular-season games, a rarity especially on a team finding its footing.
- Beyond stats: she became a leader. When key players were sidelined or when moments were tight, she stepped up. She made memorable plays—those clutch buckets, those passes under pressure, those defensive stops.
- Her shooting improved, especially from deep and on efficient looks; her defensive presence added value in ways not always captured by box scores.
Attendance, community & league momentum
The Valkyries’ success was not just on court. Off-court, they broke records. They sold out home games. They built a fan base. They made strong merchandising and community engagement moves.
- Early season ticket deposits surpassed expectations.
- They became a model for how an expansion franchise can embed itself in its market—through marketing, outreach, identity, partnerships.
- Viewership across the WNBA rose. Fans want stories like this—unexpected, full of character, real. The Valkyries gave them one.
What this means for the WNBA
The ripple effects are big:
- Expansion strategy gets redefined. Teams might aim for impact sooner. The blueprint the Valkyries created might be studied by prospective expansion franchises.
- Coaches’ roles get more spotlight—not just in how many wins/stars they recruit, but how they build culture, guide young players, and extract maximum from modest rosters.
- Player development and opportunity: Veronica Burton’s leap shows what can happen when a player gets consistent minutes, trust, and a defined role. That could shift how teams value depth and internal growth.
- League credibility. When new teams succeed, when fan engagement spikes, when stories like this emerge—WNBA’s profile rises. Sponsors, media coverage, viewership—all benefit.
The challenges ahead
Of course, with success come new expectations:
- Can the Valkyries keep this momentum? Other teams will study them. Opponents will try to exploit weaknesses.
- Injuries and roster turnover will test their cohesion.
- Maintaining fan interest depends on continued competitiveness. The league has raised stakes, but Golden State has to respond.
- The financial, operational pressures on a young franchise will be real: maintaining brand, wages, travel, marketing—all need to scale sustainably.
Takeaway
The Golden State Valkyries didn’t just show up; they set a new standard. An expansion team making the playoffs, a Coach of the Year in Natalie Nakase, and a Most Improved Player in Veronica Burton—2025 will be remembered as the Valkyries’ coming-of-age season.
It isn’t just about surprising wins. It’s about rewriting assumptions: about what expansion means, about what leadership looks like, about who gets chances. It’s hope, delivered on the hardwood.
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