The Golden State Valkyries sealed their first playoff series victory in franchise history with a 77-73 win over the Dallas Wings on Friday night, but the game was overshadowed by a frightening moment involving head coach Natalie Nakase. With just 1:40 left in the fourth quarter, Nakase suddenly collapsed to the court while speaking with an official during a timeout.
Assistant coaches and medical staff rushed to her side as she lay on the hardwood. After a brief pause, Nakase was helped back to her feet, holding her head as she returned to the bench. Despite the incident, she continued to run the timeout and address her team, who appeared unaware of the seriousness of the situation.
Nakase remained on the sidelines for the rest of the game, guiding the Valkyries until the final buzzer confirmed their narrow victory. After the match, she experienced another troubling episode while shaking hands with Dallas coach Jose Fernandez, seen rubbing her temple and the side of her head as she walked away. She required assistance from her staff to leave the court.
The incident has raised concerns about Nakase’s health, though no official statement has been released by the Valkyries or the league regarding her condition. The details around what caused her to collapse remain unclear.
The Golden State Valkyries, playing in their first playoff series, fought hard against the Wings, with a tight scoreline reflecting the intensity of the contest. The team’s breakthrough postseason success has been tempered by the worry over their coach’s wellbeing.
This story is developing, and updates will follow as more information becomes available.
According to Yahoo Sports.