Dhaka:Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase returned to the bench and led her team to a 71-60 victory over the Las Vegas Aces in Game 1 of their WNBA semifinal series, just days after collapsing on the sideline due to exhaustion.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Nakase, 46, collapsed late in Friday night's 77-73 win over the Dallas Wings but returned to the court for the semifinal opener after consulting a doctor. She attributed the incident to exhaustion and emphasized the importance of balancing her work and health, a lesson she learned from her father.
During Sunday's game against the Aces, Nakase took a different approach by spending more time sitting on the bench, while assistant coaches Kasib Powell and Landon Tatum supported her communication with the team. She acknowledged that she wasn't at her best but credited her staff for their support.
Nakase plans to adopt a more careful approach to her work routine, potentially using a heart monitor and reducing additional video analysis sessions. She already tracks some health indicators and intends to manage her schedule more closely to avoid overworking.
The semifinal series sees Nakase facing off against defending champions Las Vegas, coached by Becky Hammon, who previously worked with Nakase as an assistant coach. Hammon praised Nakase's work ethic and resilience, noting the stress and pressure coaches face during this time of year. Despite the recent scare, Nakase's determination to continue coaching remains strong.