Fever star Caitlin Clark has history with Valkyries coach

Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark reflected on her relationship with Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase before Thursday’s game. The two worked closely during the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Puerto Rico in March.

Nakase, who was named the WNBA Coach of the Year last season, served on the Team USA coaching staff. She assisted Phoenix Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts after USA Basketball head coach Kara Lawson left to prepare for the NCAA tournament with the Duke Blue Devils.

During the FIBA World Cup qualifiers, Nakase directly managed the team’s guard rotation. Clark excelled under her guidance. Across five games in the tournament, the 6-foot guard averaged 11.6 points and a tournament-high 6.4 assists per game.

Clark earned MVP honors after leading Team USA to an undefeated 5-0 finish. By now, there’s no question that her senior national team debut with USA Basketball was a major success.

Caitlin Clark has high praise for Natalie Nakase 

Speaking ahead of Thursday’s tipoff, Clark expressed admiration for Nakase’s coaching style and leadership. The WNBA star said she valued the technical basketball discussions and strategic insights they shared during the international tournament.

“Yeah, you know, Natalie was great,” Clark told reporters. “She actually was in charge of the guards during my time with USA Basketball in Puerto Rico. So it was fun to get to know her and honestly just talk basketball with her.

“She’s a basketball junkie, and she knows the game as well as anybody. So that was really fun for me. I love asking coaches questions and getting their perspective on things because every coach is different and has different philosophies. 

 “It doesn’t mean you’re right. It doesn’t mean you’re wrong. It’s just a different way of doing things, and you try to find success any way you can.”

Clark also said she admires the determination and competitive spirit Nakase instills in her players during a demanding schedule.

“But I really admire the tenacity she gets her team to play with and the competitive fire they play with. It’s so respectable,” the 24-year-old guard said. “They come off a back-to-back, and they’re out there playing with just as much energy as we were. That’s a really hard thing to get your team to do.”

Clark also likened Nakase’s coaching style to Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, who led Boston to the 2024 NBA championship.

“She knows the game really well. I know she loves the Boston Celtics. At times, I think she’s just like Joe Mazzulla, which is pretty cool,” she added.

However, Nakase’s defensive scheme stifled Clark later that evening. The Iowa native struggled from the floor, hitting only 3-of-12 shots and 2-of-6 from beyond the arc. She finished with 16 points and committed five turnovers as the Valkyries kept her at bay throughout the game. With Golden State’s 90-88 win over the Fever, Indiana fell to 4-3 on the season.

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Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/fever-star-caitlin-clark-history-valkyries-coach/