SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — Natalie Nakase won over Golden State Valkyries owner Joe Lacob with her fire in a matter of two hours when they sat down last year for a formal interview.

Now, the entire WNBA understands why.

Nakase was named WNBA Coach of the Year on Wednesday after leading her team to the playoffs, making league history as the only first-year franchise to reach the postseason.

The announcement came ahead of Golden State's home game against the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx. Nakase was set to be honored at SAP Center, where the team is playing Game 2 of the best-of-three series because 18,064-capacity Chase Center in San Francisco was previously booked by the Laver Cup tennis event.

The 45-year-old Nakase received 53 of 72 votes from sports writers and broadcasters around the coun

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