Natalie Nakase appeared to faint while talking to the referee during the Golden State Valkyries vs Dallas Wings game on October 2. The incident came with 1:40 minutes remaining in the Valkyries’ elimination Game 3 matchup.
Golden State 77 Dallas 73 Golden State coach Natalie Nakase collapsed while talking with a ref and appeared to faint but she then went back to bench to draw a play. Valkyries ended up beating Dallas and move on to play Aces. “Golden State Valkyries defeat Dallas and move on to play Aces. Hope Natalie, a former Aces assistant coach, is OK,” an update on the game noted.
The 46-year-old led the expansion Valkyries in their first-ever season in 2025. She was named the 2025 WNBA Coach of the Year after Nakase led Golden State to a surprise playoff appearance.
“Did she slip perhaps, going out onto the floor?”, Ruocco added. Nakase was speaking with refs about a no call on their team star Gabby Williams after a made lay-up, when she suddenly collapsed. Videos of the incident went viral on social media. “Natalie Nakase is talking to the ref, appears to faint on the floor, gets back up, and immediately starts drawing up a play on the sideline. WHAT IS THIS GAME!?!?!?,” a page noted. Nakase was seen being helped up by a trio of Golden State assistant coaches. Nakasie appears to be okay now since many posts noted that she ‘got up, and drew her team a play in the huddle. Nakase has not publicly disclosed any health issues before, that might explain the fainting. After the game too, Nakase appeared to be unwell, when she went to shake hands with opponent coach Jose Fernandez. Prior to this, Nakase was at Los Angeles Clippers and the Las Vegas Aces.
She was seen rubbing her temple and side of her head and needed to be helped by staff as she walked away, USA Today reported .
