The first woman on an NBA bench is now a WNBA icon
In short: Natalie Nakase didn't just break the glass ceiling; she dismantled it across two different leagues. From being a walk-on at UCLA to becoming the first Asian American head coach in WNBA history, her journey from video intern to championship winner redefined what is possible for women in professional sports.
Natalie Nakase's path to leadership was forged through persistence and physical sacrifice. Standing 5 feet 2 inches tall, she was not heavily recruited by college programs, leading her to turn down a full scholarship from UC Irvine to walk on at UCLA. Her collegiate career was nearly cut short by a severe knee injury in an August summer league game, requiring reconstructive surgery on her ACL. Despite this setback, she became a three-year starter and earned honorable mention as an all-conference player in the Pac-10 in 2002.
Her transition to coaching was equally unconventional. After playing professionally in Germany—where she suffered another ligament tear—she moved into leadership roles. She broke barriers by becoming the first female head coach in Japan's top professional men's league (the bj league). This milestone occurred after she secured a volunteer position with the Tokyo Apache, where she impressed former NBA coach Bob Hill with her scouting reports. Her father eventually persuaded her to return to the United States to pursue her ultimate goal of coaching in the NBA.
Nakase’s ascent in American basketball is marked by several 'firsts.' In 2014, she became the first woman to sit on an NBA bench as an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Clippers. After years of development work and serving as an assistant for the Las Vegas Aces, she won two WNBA championships in 2022 and 2023, becoming the first Asian American coach to do so.
Her rapid success continued into 2025, when she was named WNBA Coach of the Year. Her success stands out because she was the initial expansion franchise leader to secure this honour during her debut season. Her career serves as a blueprint for navigating high-level sports through diverse roles: player, intern, assistant, and finally, head coach.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Natalie Nakase
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