In the WNBA, the Golden State Valkyries have emerged as a vivid illustration of how perseverance and chemistry can elevate a franchise beyond its modest origins, with Natalie Nakase and Kaitlyn Chen standing at the forefront of that narrative.
From Walk‑On to Weapon
Kaitlyn Chen, once a third‑round draft pick who transferred from the Tigers to UConn and later helped the Huskies capture the 2025 national championship, has become the Valkyries’ most trusted backup point guard, averaging 6.8 points per game while leading the league’s highest‑scoring bench.
Her reputation rests on a distinctive blend of defensive awareness and offensive ingenuity, a style that earned her the nickname ‘the Princeton offense’ after she integrated her college system’s motion concepts into the Valkyries’ playbook, even creatively using referees as screens to generate open looks for teammates.
Natalie Nakase, a former UCLA walk‑on who climbed the coaching ladder to become the Valkyries’ associate head coach, cultivates an environment where instinct is trusted yet accountability is non‑negotiable; she spends extensive post‑practice time mentoring Chen, fostering a direct and competitive rapport that sharpens both player and coach.
Chen’s rapid ascent was highlighted when she posted a career‑high 20 points against the Washington Mystics, a performance that followed a season in which she scored in double figures during 12 contests, underscoring her confidence and leadership on the court.
The shared underdog mentality that drives both Nakase and Chen—rooted in walk‑on beginnings, early roster turbulence, and a relentless desire to prove themselves—has become the cultural cornerstone of the Valkyries, enabling Chen’s creative playmaking to flourish within Nakase’s framework of trust and innovation.