Why Kerr sees Valkyries becoming the flagship WNBA franchise in the future originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
As coach of the Warriors, Steve Kerr has been a driving force in transforming the franchise into one of the NBA’s elite over the past decade.
So he clearly knows what it takes for an organization to reach the highest standards. And he sees the same thing in store for another Golden State team: the Valkyries, a WNBA expansion team that will begin play in 2025.
When asked Thursday about newly hired Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase, Kerr had high praise for the organization under construction.
“I think the Valkyries will be – soon – a flagship franchise in the WNBA,” Kerr told reporters. “They are building something very powerful. They just need some players now.”
So far, only a few people have been hired to work for the team — the WNBA expansion draft won’t take place until Dec. 6 — but Kerr has high hopes for the Warriors’ Chase Center roommates. He shared his thoughts on Nakase and Valkyrie’s general manager Ohemaa Nyanin.
‘I think I’ve met [Nakase] when she was with the Clippers years ago, so I don’t know her well, but I’ve heard great things. It’s exciting,” Kerr said. “She has a great reputation, and [it is] pretty impressive what the Valkyries put together without even having any players. The branding is really cool, the colors, the name, the people coming in.
“Ohemaa is a star. She’s a great person. I got to know her a little bit behind the scenes. She’s obviously building her group, so there are a lot of impressive people.”
In return, Nakase showed a lot of excitement about the prospect of working with Kerr during her introductory press conference on Thursday.
“I’d be a fool not to pick his brain,” Nakase said. “I would love to pick his brain and maybe just join in on the training and see how different coaches teach because it’s not just about what you know. It’s about how you get your players to participate and what that communication looks like. So, I’m just really excited.
“And again, with the legacy of winning and championships, that’s where I want to be. This is a place I’ve always aspired to because I always wanted to be the best.”
That could make Nakase’s goal of winning a WNBA title within five years even more attainable.
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