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Toronto Star
· collected 2026-10-03 · by Janie Mccauley The Associated Press
During Golden State Valkyries' playoff-clinching victory over the Dallas Wings, coach Natalie Nakase collapsed near the team’s bench with 1:40 left in the game but quickly recovered to continue coaching. Despite initial concern, assistant coach Kasib Powell confirmed that Nakase was feeling fine afterward and expressed confidence she would participate in Sunday's semifinals against Las Vegas Aces. The Valkyries won 77-73 after rallying from a 16-point deficit, with players emphasizing their focus on supporting their coach throughout the game.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-03,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Summary of Key Events and Details
- Game 3 Outcome: Golden State Valkyries defeated Dallas Wings, 77-73, in Game 3 of their first-round WNBA playoff series. The Valkyries rallied from a 16-point deficit.
- Coaching Collapse: Natalie Nakase, the Valkyries' coach, collapsed on the court during the fourth quarter due to feeling lightheaded and exhausted but continued coaching until the end of the game. She is expected to coach Game 1 against the Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals scheduled for Sunday.
- Game Highlights:
- Gabby Williams scored 19 points, including a go-ahead shot with 1:17 left.
- Valkyries won a critical replay review near the end of the game to secure their victory.
- Dallas Wings Reaction: Dallas Wings star Paige Bueckers broke down in tears after losing despite scoring 17 points. Arike Ogunbowale, who scored 30 points for the Wings, comforted her teammate.
Notable Differences
- Media Reports: The New York Post and NBC News both covered Nakase's collapse but with slightly different details.
- Team Progression: The articles highlight how Dallas Wings improved significantly from a win-loss record of 10-34 to 27-17 this year, largely due to the impact of rookie Paige Bueckers.
Overall, the coverage focuses on the dramatic comeback by the Valkyries and the emotional reactions to the loss from both teams. The health concern for Nakase was a significant subplot during these events.
Written for “WNBA Playoffs Valkyries vs Wings” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 8 other(s) covering the same event.
Golden State Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase went down to her knees with her head and hands on the court near the team’s bench with 1:40 left in a scary moment late in a 77-73 series-winning victory over the Dallas Wings on Friday night.
asserted
Nakase → go → night
Nakase was helped up by athletic trainer Katelin Knox.
asserted
Nakase → help → Knox
She finished the game but exited the floor immediately following the final escorted by a member of her staff after the final buzzer, with her team celebrating at midcourt.
asserted
team → finish → midcourt
The team said she was feeling fine afterward, but assistant coach Kasib Powell addressed the media in a postgame news conference where she typically speaks.
asserted
she → say → conference
“Natalie’s fine, obviously it’s a quick turnaround, we play again on Sunday.
asserted
we → ’ → Sunday
She wouldn’t miss it for anything,” Powell said, adding: “It’s still new to us, we’re just trying to figure it out.
asserted
we → miss → it
We just know that we (saw) her afterward and she was fine, laughing, in great spirits.
asserted
she → know → spirits
We’ll figure out more as we go but I think she’s totally fine, she’s talking, she’s laughing in the back.
asserted
she → figure → back
We look forward to preparing and getting ready for Sunday.”
asserted
We → look → Sunday
The Valkyries will host the defending champion Las Vegas Aces for Game 1 in the best-of-five semifinals.
asserted
Valkyries → host → semifinals
“She’s OK, she’s fine,” guard Gabby Williams said.
asserted
Williams → ’ → ?
“We just tried to step up ourselves.
asserted
We → try → ?
We’re just happy that she’s OK.”
asserted
she → ’re → ?
Golden State rallied from 16 points down to eliminate the Wings in the deciding Game 3 at Chase Center.
asserted
State → rally → Center
The 46-year-old Nakase guided the Valkyries to a history-making 2025 season as the first expansion team to make the playoffs in its inaugural season.
asserted
Nakase → guide → season
Guard Tiffany Hayes said she didn’t see Nakase go down, then the coach was right back at it — even successfully winning a challenge.
asserted
coach → say → challenge
“Didn’t miss a beat,” Powell said.
asserted
Powell → miss → beat
“We were locked in as that happened, when she went to the sidelines she drew the next play up, she was in the huddle getting on them about getting a stop, so she didn’t skip a beat at all.”
asserted
she → lock → beat
Powell added that the Valkyries kept their composure “and just rally around each other and her.”
“We do know that she will be ready for Sunday,” Powell said.
asserted
Powell → add → Sunday
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