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Golden State Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase briefly collapsed on the court during Friday’s playoff win over the Dallas Wings.
Nakase, 46, dropped to her hands and knees while talking to a referee during a fourth-quarter timeout at the Chase Center in San Francisco. Moments later she was helped to her feet by others and appeared to be putting her hand on her head.
She coached the rest of the game, Game 3 of the opening round of the WNBA playoffs, and the Valkyries won 77-73. She did not speak to reporters afterward, as head coaches are usually expected to do.
Assistant coach Kasib Powell, who addressed the media in her place, said Nakase “was fine.”
“Natalie is fine,” Powell said. “Of course it’s a quick turnaround. We’ll play again on Sunday. She wouldn’t miss it for anything.”
“We’ll find out more as we go, but I think she’s very good.” he added. “She talks, she laughs in the back. We look forward to the preparation and preparation for Sunday.”
Powell said Nakase will coach Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Aces, the defending champions. The series opens in San Francisco.
“We know she’ll be ready for Sunday,” Powell said.
The winner of the series will advance to the WNBA Finals to face either the eighth-seeded Liberty or the fourth-seeded Dream.
