"We Stayed Positive Through Adversity" - Coach Nakase | Post Game Press Conference

They didn't have their legs. They still held Washington to the lowest point total by any WNBA team this season. Coach Natalie Nakase breaks down the Golden State Valkyries' 62-49 win over the Washington Mystics on July 7, 2026 — their fifth straight win and the longest active winning streak in the WNBA. Nakase admits the team was physically off from the jump, but credits their ability to stay positive through a rough shooting night and lock into the defensive game plan in the second half. She details how the team allowed 22 paint points in the first half, showed the players film at halftime, and then held Washington to just 8 paint points in the second half — a disciplined adjustment that made all the difference. Nakase also praises Kiah Stokes' shooting development under positional coach Kasib Pal, breaks down what makes the bench unit so dangerous, and explains why she refuses to let the team look at the standings — next up is Toronto, and that's all that matters. 🏀 Golden State Valkyries vs. Washington Mystics | 2026 WNBA Season 🎙️ Head Coach: Natalie Nakase 00:00 – Kiah Stokes' Three-Point Shooting & Work With Kasib Pal 01:30 – Holding Mystics to 49 — The Defensive Game Plan Breakdown 03:00 – What the 5-Game Win Streak Has Been Built On 04:30 – The Bench Unit's Fire & Buying Into Roles 06:00 – Standings, Toronto & One Game at a Time