1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,000 Speaker 1: Welcome to an all new episode of Her Playbook, a 2 00:00:03,040 --> 00:00:07,440 Speaker 1: podcast highlighting inspiring stories of women in business and sports. 3 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:09,920 Speaker 1: Her Playbook is brought to you by Kendra Scott and 4 00:00:10,039 --> 00:00:12,560 Speaker 1: is a part of the Giants podcast platforms. 5 00:00:12,640 --> 00:00:14,760 Speaker 2: My name is Madeline Burke, and this week I'm thrilled 6 00:00:14,800 --> 00:00:18,319 Speaker 2: to be joined by the very first head coach in 7 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:21,840 Speaker 2: the history of the WNBA's expansion team, the Golden State Valkyries, 8 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:22,759 Speaker 2: Natalie Nicasse. 9 00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:24,040 Speaker 3: Now, thank you so much. 10 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:25,959 Speaker 1: I feel like that is still so much fun for 11 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:27,120 Speaker 1: me to say about you. 12 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:28,800 Speaker 3: How how has. 13 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:31,080 Speaker 1: This experience been for you, being the very first head 14 00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:32,040 Speaker 1: coach of a franchise. 15 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:36,519 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's been a roller coaster ride. It's kind of 16 00:00:36,600 --> 00:00:39,720 Speaker 3: like all go, no breaks right now, just because like 17 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:41,640 Speaker 3: as soon as I got hired, it was right into 18 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:44,000 Speaker 3: Expansion Draft and right into you know, now we're in 19 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:47,120 Speaker 3: free agency. Now we're into college draft. So you know, 20 00:00:47,159 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 3: it's a lot, but like that's kind of like my 21 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:52,320 Speaker 3: mentality is just like dive in and just go, go, go. 22 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:55,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, and the expansion Draft, that's such a unique process 23 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:57,760 Speaker 1: to go through, right It's unlike a regular draft. You're 24 00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:01,440 Speaker 1: kind of scouting players that you've seen playing throughout the 25 00:01:01,520 --> 00:01:02,880 Speaker 1: league elsewhere already. 26 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:06,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, it is. Actually I think I took it as 27 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:08,640 Speaker 3: an advantage. People are like, oh, it's expansion team. You 28 00:01:08,640 --> 00:01:11,679 Speaker 3: guys are not gonna you know, your expectations are low, 29 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:13,840 Speaker 3: you don't have to compete, you know all this stuff, 30 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:16,600 Speaker 3: and no, like you actually get to hand pick players 31 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:19,319 Speaker 3: you know that are going to fit your culture. Like 32 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:22,399 Speaker 3: people are like, the culture is your players, and so 33 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:24,880 Speaker 3: I've got to hand pick high character players, players that 34 00:01:24,920 --> 00:01:28,080 Speaker 3: work hard, players who like love, like the chip on 35 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:30,280 Speaker 3: their shoulder. Like the fact that we got to choose 36 00:01:30,319 --> 00:01:33,320 Speaker 3: those players. I think that to me, it's an advantage 37 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 3: rather than a disadvantage. 38 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:38,000 Speaker 1: Absolutely, And building a culture from the ground up, from scratch, 39 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:41,800 Speaker 1: from piece one. I mean I love the adage too. 40 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:45,240 Speaker 1: It takes years to build an overnight success. Right now, 41 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:48,680 Speaker 1: you've been around the game for decades, and I want 42 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:51,240 Speaker 1: to go back to the beginning. Where did you first 43 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:53,360 Speaker 1: fall in love with the game of basketball? How did 44 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:55,720 Speaker 1: you know that this game was going to be a 45 00:01:55,760 --> 00:01:56,640 Speaker 1: big part of your life. 46 00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:00,840 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean I think I knew, but I didn't 47 00:02:00,840 --> 00:02:03,240 Speaker 3: know at a young age. You know, my dad was 48 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:05,240 Speaker 3: probably the reason why I fell in love with basketball. 49 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:08,959 Speaker 3: He taught us. He trained us like you know, a 50 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:12,040 Speaker 3: little basketball players at a young age, and I learned 51 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:14,440 Speaker 3: like that was my love language with my dad. He 52 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:17,120 Speaker 3: was my best friend. That's all we knew, that's all 53 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:19,680 Speaker 3: we did together. And so I think I was in 54 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:21,400 Speaker 3: love with it at a young age. I just didn't 55 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:24,840 Speaker 3: even realize until probably times where it got taken away. So, 56 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:27,960 Speaker 3: you know, tore my a cl my freshman year at UCLA. 57 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:30,920 Speaker 3: So I think by then, when you're you have to 58 00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:33,880 Speaker 3: fully stop, completely removed. Eight months, I mean that's when 59 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:36,639 Speaker 3: I knew, like, oh, I can't breathe without basketball, So 60 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:38,400 Speaker 3: that's I think it was a shock. But I think 61 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:40,320 Speaker 3: I was falling in love with it, you know, since 62 00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:41,640 Speaker 3: the age of six when I started. 63 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:44,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, and you were good at it too. You 64 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:46,440 Speaker 1: are good at but you were an excellent player in 65 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:48,919 Speaker 1: high school nineteen ninety eight Orange County Player of the 66 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:51,400 Speaker 1: Year by both the LA Times and the OC Register, 67 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 1: set school records and assists, steals, three pointers made Natalie 68 00:02:57,200 --> 00:03:03,000 Speaker 1: Decasse fallen. But despite all that, wasn't immediately like okay, 69 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:05,280 Speaker 1: you're all the scholarship offers too. There was a little 70 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:05,919 Speaker 1: bit of a hurdle. 71 00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 3: You were a walk on at UCLAA. 72 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:09,400 Speaker 1: Talk about that process of being at the top of 73 00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 1: your game still had to kind of fight for your 74 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:11,720 Speaker 1: place in it. 75 00:03:12,520 --> 00:03:16,120 Speaker 3: Yeah. So funny story was like at the time when 76 00:03:16,120 --> 00:03:18,600 Speaker 3: I wasn't getting like these really big schools like looking 77 00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:22,679 Speaker 3: after or calling me, I was kind of like, are 78 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 3: these coaches crazy? Like I kind of was like, what 79 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:28,679 Speaker 3: is going on here? You know what I mean? Why 80 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:32,400 Speaker 3: wouldn't they like be like, okay, yeah, one in three fourths. 81 00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 3: I'm not the average college player of like five eight. 82 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:38,520 Speaker 3: But I just kind of was like I thought they 83 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:41,120 Speaker 3: were crazy for not recruiting me, you know. And it 84 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:43,480 Speaker 3: internally like I knew my mindset, I knew my hard work, 85 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:45,840 Speaker 3: so that's kind of why, like why didn't that kind 86 00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 3: of be a big piece of you know, my recruitment. 87 00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:51,040 Speaker 3: But I took it on as a challenge, okay, like 88 00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:53,320 Speaker 3: you Stily wasn't knocking out my door. You want me 89 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:56,160 Speaker 3: to walk on? And when Kathy Olivia was like You're 90 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 3: gonna have to earn your scholarship every year, and I'm like, 91 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:02,360 Speaker 3: where do I So? All right, I'm getting I'm like 92 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:04,600 Speaker 3: that's it. I go, Kathy, once you see me work, 93 00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 3: once you see kind of what I can bring to 94 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 3: the table every single day, like my work ethic, You're 95 00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:10,920 Speaker 3: going to fall in love with me. And sure enough, 96 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:12,720 Speaker 3: you know, I ended up being a captain for three 97 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:15,800 Speaker 3: years and a starting point guard three years. And so yeah, 98 00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:18,720 Speaker 3: I hear when I hear no, I'm like, right, let 99 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:20,560 Speaker 3: me prove it to you, Let me prove you wrong, 100 00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:23,359 Speaker 3: and you know, onto the next And also. 101 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 1: There's gotten be this kind of comfort in knowing that 102 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:28,080 Speaker 1: your own preparation and your own understanding of the game 103 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:30,240 Speaker 1: is something you can fall back on, right And when 104 00:04:30,279 --> 00:04:32,800 Speaker 1: you walk into a situation like that where people, maybe 105 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:35,640 Speaker 1: not everyone else is clamoring at believing in you, but 106 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:37,640 Speaker 1: you can believe in yourself because you know how prepared 107 00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:37,960 Speaker 1: you are. 108 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:41,160 Speaker 3: Yes, that's the key. You just said it right there, 109 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:43,720 Speaker 3: Like believing in yourself. It's a key to anything, whether 110 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:46,280 Speaker 3: it's whatever job that you want or whatever dream that 111 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 3: you want to accomplish. Like, yeah, it's the believing yourself 112 00:04:48,960 --> 00:04:51,360 Speaker 3: because yes, that can get tainted, right, Like failure can 113 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:54,760 Speaker 3: get tainted or like losing or just you know, not 114 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 3: getting the job that you wanted. But for me, I'm 115 00:04:56,920 --> 00:05:00,320 Speaker 3: like every failure is a lesson learned, Like, you can 116 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:02,640 Speaker 3: learn from it, you can grow from it. That's when 117 00:05:02,640 --> 00:05:06,000 Speaker 3: you see change is when Yeah, so to me, fail 118 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:08,280 Speaker 3: as much as you can, because that's really going to 119 00:05:08,360 --> 00:05:10,080 Speaker 3: prepare you and you know you're going to believe in 120 00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:10,920 Speaker 3: yourself even more. 121 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:13,599 Speaker 1: Yeah, and I feel like you learn so much more 122 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:16,520 Speaker 1: from those failures than you do from the successes. And 123 00:05:16,600 --> 00:05:18,360 Speaker 1: also from the moments like you mentioned where the game 124 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:20,680 Speaker 1: was taken away from you. You had knee injury in 125 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:23,919 Speaker 1: college and at the pro level, when you had to 126 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:26,640 Speaker 1: learn how to come back from something like that, What 127 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:29,400 Speaker 1: did that do to your mentality? What kind of a 128 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:32,000 Speaker 1: hurdle was that and how did that impact you not 129 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:34,520 Speaker 1: just as a player then, but also the way you coach. 130 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:39,240 Speaker 3: Now, yeah, that's a great question because in college, like 131 00:05:39,520 --> 00:05:42,320 Speaker 3: you're just trying to survive, you're living on your own, 132 00:05:42,560 --> 00:05:45,680 Speaker 3: right like going back. But no, that again, that was 133 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:48,560 Speaker 3: when I realized, like I can't breathe without basketball. Like 134 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:52,120 Speaker 3: athletes are just programmed to be very you know, habitual, 135 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 3: like they like habits, say, like routines, And so when 136 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:58,839 Speaker 3: that routine got you know, completely like distorted, then I 137 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:02,040 Speaker 3: really got shook. I got depressed. I mean, like when 138 00:06:02,080 --> 00:06:03,719 Speaker 3: you can't get on the court every day. Like I 139 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:06,159 Speaker 3: got really depressed. At one point. I was like, is 140 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:08,520 Speaker 3: this going to be it for me? You know? So 141 00:06:08,560 --> 00:06:10,400 Speaker 3: I got really low. But like in the back of 142 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:12,960 Speaker 3: my mind, my dad is saying there's no quit in 143 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:15,880 Speaker 3: like how I raised you. So that wasn't even like 144 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:17,880 Speaker 3: even having I thought of having a new conversation with 145 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:19,240 Speaker 3: my dad like hey, Dad, I think I'm going to 146 00:06:19,320 --> 00:06:22,560 Speaker 3: step away from basketball. Like no, that wasn't happening. That 147 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:25,279 Speaker 3: I'd rather go the other way. So, yeah, it's just 148 00:06:25,360 --> 00:06:27,560 Speaker 3: kind of like the mentality of the mindset kind of 149 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:29,280 Speaker 3: that my dad instilled in me is it's a thing 150 00:06:29,279 --> 00:06:31,560 Speaker 3: that really kind of kept me pushing and you know, 151 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:34,200 Speaker 3: overcoming like all the adversity that kind of went with 152 00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:36,760 Speaker 3: you know, tearing your acl Yeah. 153 00:06:37,080 --> 00:06:38,760 Speaker 1: Now, the first time you did, of course in college. 154 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:40,440 Speaker 1: The second time you did it was the pros. You 155 00:06:40,480 --> 00:06:43,520 Speaker 1: played professionally in the NWBL for two seasons, and you 156 00:06:43,560 --> 00:06:46,960 Speaker 1: played in Germany overseas first. So what's the difference between 157 00:06:46,960 --> 00:06:51,159 Speaker 1: the domestic and the international level of play or type 158 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:52,200 Speaker 1: of play as a professional. 159 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:56,960 Speaker 3: I think the overseas is way more physical, Like when 160 00:06:57,000 --> 00:06:59,760 Speaker 3: I was played in Germany, I got pushed in the bag, 161 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:02,960 Speaker 3: I got pushed and kicked in the head. Everything like 162 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:05,440 Speaker 3: it was so physical, no foult and I'm sitting there 163 00:07:05,520 --> 00:07:08,839 Speaker 3: like screaming, and you know people the Reskins speak German, 164 00:07:08,920 --> 00:07:11,240 Speaker 3: but I'm just sitting there screaming. But now it's just 165 00:07:11,400 --> 00:07:13,200 Speaker 3: it was just really physical. But you have to learn. 166 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:14,920 Speaker 3: You have to learn to adjust, you know, you have 167 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:17,600 Speaker 3: to learn to maybe be a little bit more skilled 168 00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:19,640 Speaker 3: rather than I'll tell you this, I stopped going to 169 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:22,080 Speaker 3: the paint. I really did. I stopped driving into the paint. 170 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:25,720 Speaker 3: I wanted to live and survive. But no, so I 171 00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:27,640 Speaker 3: would say, yeah, the game is a lot more physical 172 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:31,000 Speaker 3: and a fan base I think there. I mean we 173 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:34,960 Speaker 3: had drums, we had sirens, we had yeah, we had everything, 174 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:37,520 Speaker 3: and so I kind of think that's pretty cool. It's 175 00:07:37,560 --> 00:07:40,240 Speaker 3: like you really can never hear like your self talk 176 00:07:40,360 --> 00:07:44,520 Speaker 3: or communicate in a gym. When I was overseas, yeah. 177 00:07:44,600 --> 00:07:46,800 Speaker 1: At five to one and three quarters, the safe spot 178 00:07:46,840 --> 00:07:47,960 Speaker 1: is on the perimeter. 179 00:07:47,640 --> 00:07:52,400 Speaker 3: Right, yes, yes, yeah, you better stay outside. 180 00:07:52,280 --> 00:07:52,480 Speaker 1: Yeah. 181 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:53,120 Speaker 3: Absolutely. 182 00:07:53,600 --> 00:07:56,119 Speaker 1: Now that second knee injury when you were a pro, 183 00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:58,440 Speaker 1: it was kind of the moment where you realize, Okay, 184 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:01,400 Speaker 1: I'm going to step away the playing aspect and go 185 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:04,680 Speaker 1: into coaching. What was that transition? I mean, I feel 186 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:06,920 Speaker 1: like a lot of players, and now especially we see 187 00:08:06,920 --> 00:08:09,760 Speaker 1: it so often in you know, various sports and the 188 00:08:09,760 --> 00:08:11,840 Speaker 1: men's and women's side of things, that go from playing 189 00:08:11,840 --> 00:08:13,600 Speaker 1: to coaching, and people say, oh, this person's going to 190 00:08:13,640 --> 00:08:15,640 Speaker 1: be a great coach. Someday, this person's going to transition 191 00:08:15,680 --> 00:08:18,640 Speaker 1: to coaching. But it's not always that easy. What was 192 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:21,640 Speaker 1: that transition like, going from being especially a point guard, 193 00:08:21,640 --> 00:08:23,960 Speaker 1: a floor in general on the floor to a coach. 194 00:08:25,040 --> 00:08:29,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, I didn't want to coach. I didn't want to 195 00:08:29,520 --> 00:08:32,360 Speaker 3: I wanted to keep playing. I think playing basketball is 196 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:35,000 Speaker 3: like the best job in the world, Like to show up, 197 00:08:35,040 --> 00:08:37,520 Speaker 3: put your shoes on, you know, get some shots up, 198 00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:39,960 Speaker 3: and play off and play defense, like that's the best thing. 199 00:08:40,720 --> 00:08:43,160 Speaker 3: So then coaching to me was something more like stand 200 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:46,760 Speaker 3: still you you know, now you're having meetings and things 201 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:49,880 Speaker 3: like that. But then I learned like, if this was 202 00:08:49,960 --> 00:08:52,000 Speaker 3: going to be my next step, this was the closest 203 00:08:52,040 --> 00:08:54,400 Speaker 3: thing to basketball that I can do. You know, I 204 00:08:54,440 --> 00:08:56,160 Speaker 3: even tried. I don't know if anyone knew this, but 205 00:08:56,200 --> 00:08:58,680 Speaker 3: when I then moved to Japan, I really tried to 206 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:01,240 Speaker 3: recuperate my knee, and then I tried to play again, 207 00:09:01,320 --> 00:09:04,520 Speaker 3: but they said I would have to be a citizen there. 208 00:09:04,559 --> 00:09:06,480 Speaker 3: So they're like, do you want to marry a Japanese man, 209 00:09:06,520 --> 00:09:09,400 Speaker 3: then you can play in Japan. I was like, you know, 210 00:09:09,559 --> 00:09:11,679 Speaker 3: that's not in the cards right now for anything. But 211 00:09:11,840 --> 00:09:13,320 Speaker 3: I really thought about it because I was like, I 212 00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:17,920 Speaker 3: really want to play again, but yeah, so no. Coaching, Yeah, 213 00:09:18,080 --> 00:09:19,960 Speaker 3: was to me the best, you know, the best and 214 00:09:20,000 --> 00:09:22,760 Speaker 3: closest of playing it, honestly, Like now I love it, 215 00:09:22,920 --> 00:09:26,600 Speaker 3: like I love giving how I was taught, taught the game, 216 00:09:26,679 --> 00:09:28,920 Speaker 3: and you know, and try to impact as many people 217 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:31,280 Speaker 3: to be the best at they can be. That's close 218 00:09:31,320 --> 00:09:31,880 Speaker 3: as you can get. 219 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:35,040 Speaker 1: Well, yeah, and that is a great way to be 220 00:09:35,080 --> 00:09:36,559 Speaker 1: a part of the game, to stay a part of 221 00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:38,880 Speaker 1: the game. You mentioned Japan too, You went over there, 222 00:09:38,960 --> 00:09:41,360 Speaker 1: you end up coaching as an assistant, you end up 223 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:44,040 Speaker 1: elevating to the head coach. He became the first female 224 00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:46,960 Speaker 1: head coach in the Basketball Japan League. It was Japan's 225 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:51,479 Speaker 1: top professional league. Right there. That's a pretty huge accomplishment 226 00:09:51,720 --> 00:09:54,720 Speaker 1: right there. I know, in the moment, it probably felt 227 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:56,280 Speaker 1: like it all happened so fast and you were just 228 00:09:56,360 --> 00:09:57,640 Speaker 1: kind of day to day to day. But when you 229 00:09:57,640 --> 00:09:59,719 Speaker 1: look back on that and the impact of that. 230 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:06,200 Speaker 3: Do you feel that I think, now, yeah, I think 231 00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:08,679 Speaker 3: it's almost too When I listened to people, you know, 232 00:10:08,760 --> 00:10:10,120 Speaker 3: say it back to me, play it back to me. 233 00:10:10,160 --> 00:10:12,640 Speaker 3: When I hear it, I think while like, did I 234 00:10:12,679 --> 00:10:14,920 Speaker 3: actually just do that? You know? So I think that's 235 00:10:15,040 --> 00:10:20,640 Speaker 3: like like a I guess I don't know what I 236 00:10:20,640 --> 00:10:23,560 Speaker 3: want to say, aha, moment, Sorry, I just got someone 237 00:10:23,760 --> 00:10:27,280 Speaker 3: just came in. But no, I look back and honestly 238 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:30,560 Speaker 3: see the women that I was able to affect. I 239 00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:33,000 Speaker 3: think after my year of being a head coach. I 240 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:36,199 Speaker 3: think I mentioned this before, like I had the best 241 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:40,160 Speaker 3: hugs you know from our our female fans, and once 242 00:10:40,200 --> 00:10:42,400 Speaker 3: I figured out from our translator what they're saying, and 243 00:10:42,440 --> 00:10:45,440 Speaker 3: they were basically saying like thank you. You were, you know, 244 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:49,760 Speaker 3: an inspiration to us. And I was just like really really, 245 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:51,480 Speaker 3: because I go, we didn't win that many games, and 246 00:10:51,520 --> 00:10:53,600 Speaker 3: so I'm just like kind of like, how did I 247 00:10:53,600 --> 00:10:55,240 Speaker 3: inspire you? We didn't win? But she's like, you know, 248 00:10:55,280 --> 00:10:58,679 Speaker 3: having a female being that type of position, being in 249 00:10:58,800 --> 00:11:01,800 Speaker 3: a leadership position, which women are usually not seen in Japan. 250 00:11:02,200 --> 00:11:04,440 Speaker 3: That's when I was like wow, Like I was able to, 251 00:11:04,720 --> 00:11:06,640 Speaker 3: you know, inspire women that are older than me, and 252 00:11:06,679 --> 00:11:08,760 Speaker 3: I just kind of thought like that was pretty special. 253 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:12,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, And visibility is so important too, especially not just 254 00:11:12,920 --> 00:11:14,960 Speaker 1: for young girls and boys, but for people of all 255 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:17,160 Speaker 1: ages to say, wow, this is something that's possible for 256 00:11:17,240 --> 00:11:19,600 Speaker 1: me or somebody like me, or somebody looks like me. 257 00:11:20,280 --> 00:11:24,240 Speaker 1: And I think, especially then, it was so new in 258 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:26,720 Speaker 1: this scheme of sport, having a woman, a woman coach 259 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:30,880 Speaker 1: of a men's professional team. You know ball, you know 260 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:33,160 Speaker 1: the game so well, but when you walk into that room, 261 00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:35,240 Speaker 1: was ever a moment of like, Okay, let me make 262 00:11:35,280 --> 00:11:38,240 Speaker 1: sure I can earn the respect of the people. Was 263 00:11:38,240 --> 00:11:40,240 Speaker 1: there ever any hurdle in that regard? 264 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:44,640 Speaker 3: No, I don't. I don't really see it was a hurdle. 265 00:11:44,679 --> 00:11:46,440 Speaker 3: I thought I took it more where I was like, 266 00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:49,760 Speaker 3: this is an opportunity, Like you know, Vannie del Negro, 267 00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:52,520 Speaker 3: I mean Viningdale Manago hired me. He didn't know me. 268 00:11:52,880 --> 00:11:55,160 Speaker 3: He didn't No, oh, I wasn't. 269 00:11:55,280 --> 00:11:55,480 Speaker 2: You know. 270 00:11:55,679 --> 00:11:57,760 Speaker 3: You hear back in these stories about how people get 271 00:11:57,800 --> 00:11:59,560 Speaker 3: into the NBA, A lot of it's connections, a lot 272 00:11:59,559 --> 00:12:02,439 Speaker 3: of it's really relationships, and so you know the fact 273 00:12:02,440 --> 00:12:04,680 Speaker 3: that Vinnie was just like, you want to do video 274 00:12:04,920 --> 00:12:07,000 Speaker 3: as an intern at thirty one and you were just 275 00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:10,200 Speaker 3: a head coach and you know, a men's professional Japan, 276 00:12:10,679 --> 00:12:14,559 Speaker 3: Like uh yeah, why not? Like he's like you're overqualified, 277 00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:16,840 Speaker 3: but like if you want this job, So I just 278 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:19,400 Speaker 3: was like, wow, you know, this is a great opportunity. 279 00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:22,400 Speaker 3: I read that Eric Spolshrow became a head coach, you know, 280 00:12:22,760 --> 00:12:25,280 Speaker 3: by starting in video, and that's the way he got 281 00:12:25,320 --> 00:12:27,600 Speaker 3: his foot in the door. He wasn't a player. So 282 00:12:27,880 --> 00:12:29,800 Speaker 3: I was like, I'm just going to do what Eric 283 00:12:29,840 --> 00:12:32,400 Speaker 3: Spolster did and uh yeah, So that's kind of what 284 00:12:32,440 --> 00:12:34,600 Speaker 3: I did, is like I kind of set my goals. 285 00:12:34,640 --> 00:12:37,000 Speaker 3: I kind of tried to follow the journey that someone 286 00:12:37,000 --> 00:12:41,240 Speaker 3: else did and yeah, now I'm a head coach in WMV. 287 00:12:41,800 --> 00:12:43,840 Speaker 1: Right. I love the idea to the story that I 288 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:46,320 Speaker 1: saw that you know, when you were coaching in Japan, 289 00:12:46,880 --> 00:12:50,280 Speaker 1: you considered staying there and your dad was actually the 290 00:12:50,320 --> 00:12:52,120 Speaker 1: one who convinced you to come back to the US, 291 00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:54,960 Speaker 1: who reminded you of your dream, which is a dream 292 00:12:55,000 --> 00:12:56,800 Speaker 1: you first told me when we met while we were 293 00:12:56,800 --> 00:12:58,560 Speaker 1: both working with the Clippers that you're like, I want 294 00:12:58,559 --> 00:13:02,079 Speaker 1: to be the first female head coach in the NBA. 295 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:05,440 Speaker 1: Obviously you are the first head coach of the Golden 296 00:13:05,440 --> 00:13:09,200 Speaker 1: State Valkyries. That is a pretty dang close manifestation there. 297 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:11,920 Speaker 1: But how was that in transition for you? Of like, Okay, 298 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:14,440 Speaker 1: I'm going to walk away from here and go back 299 00:13:14,440 --> 00:13:16,120 Speaker 1: to chase the dream that I had set my north 300 00:13:16,120 --> 00:13:16,480 Speaker 1: star on. 301 00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:20,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, so now I look back or right, because I 302 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:22,480 Speaker 3: was like pissed. I was like, nah, I love living 303 00:13:22,520 --> 00:13:25,800 Speaker 3: in Japan. I love the culture everything, And at that 304 00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:28,040 Speaker 3: age too, you want to be able to live overseas 305 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:29,959 Speaker 3: and you know, as you get older then you want 306 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:31,920 Speaker 3: to go back, you know, to where you're from and 307 00:13:31,960 --> 00:13:35,280 Speaker 3: your family. But what I started to realize was my 308 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:39,160 Speaker 3: dad just he saw something in me. He saw like, well, 309 00:13:39,559 --> 00:13:41,560 Speaker 3: you know, maybe she could maybe she could do this, 310 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:44,040 Speaker 3: you know. So he saw there was some belief in him. 311 00:13:44,040 --> 00:13:46,199 Speaker 3: And I think when people believe in you, then they 312 00:13:46,200 --> 00:13:48,240 Speaker 3: have to challenge you, they have to push you. And 313 00:13:48,280 --> 00:13:50,880 Speaker 3: I think that's what he did. He knew my ventul 314 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:52,800 Speaker 3: dream was to work in the NBA, and so he's 315 00:13:52,880 --> 00:13:56,040 Speaker 3: just like, well, get your ass back here then, you know. 316 00:13:56,200 --> 00:13:58,560 Speaker 3: So I think having people that believe in you and 317 00:13:58,600 --> 00:14:00,360 Speaker 3: really try to challenge you and push you. I think 318 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:02,360 Speaker 3: those are the ones that and those are the moments 319 00:14:02,400 --> 00:14:04,160 Speaker 3: that really help you, you know, steering you in the 320 00:14:04,240 --> 00:14:04,720 Speaker 3: right direction. 321 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:07,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, and then you mentioned Vinny Del Negro of course 322 00:14:07,400 --> 00:14:09,440 Speaker 1: bringing you on to the coaching staff of the Clippers 323 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:11,840 Speaker 1: in the video room. You worked your way up. You 324 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:15,880 Speaker 1: stayed at that organization through several coaching changes as well, 325 00:14:15,920 --> 00:14:18,720 Speaker 1: which is not easy to do usually, you know, coaching 326 00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:21,040 Speaker 1: changes as you are aware, like there's you know a 327 00:14:21,040 --> 00:14:23,040 Speaker 1: lot of changes that come with it. But as somebody 328 00:14:23,120 --> 00:14:26,800 Speaker 1: who proved to be such an important part to that franchise, 329 00:14:27,440 --> 00:14:30,600 Speaker 1: how do you see that evolution of your role throughout 330 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:33,320 Speaker 1: the years in your time in the NBA with the Clippers. 331 00:14:34,560 --> 00:14:37,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think it was the head coaches that kind 332 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:40,200 Speaker 3: of may be similar to my dad, like they believed 333 00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:43,280 Speaker 3: in me, you know, like obviously that Any did in 334 00:14:43,320 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 3: some way after we first met. And then you know, 335 00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:48,600 Speaker 3: when Doc Rivers took over, I think maybe he saw 336 00:14:48,640 --> 00:14:51,640 Speaker 3: something in me that I didn't know. And uh, I 337 00:14:51,640 --> 00:14:54,200 Speaker 3: think I worked with Don for about seven years and 338 00:14:54,520 --> 00:14:57,760 Speaker 3: a moment with Doc was when I kind of voiced 339 00:14:57,800 --> 00:14:59,520 Speaker 3: out I think in an article that eventually I do 340 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:02,280 Speaker 3: want to be a head coach. And I remember, you know, 341 00:15:02,280 --> 00:15:03,960 Speaker 3: I always like to stand next to Doc when we're 342 00:15:03,960 --> 00:15:06,120 Speaker 3: on the court, just because I always like the lens 343 00:15:06,600 --> 00:15:09,000 Speaker 3: of a head coach and I also want to hear 344 00:15:09,040 --> 00:15:11,880 Speaker 3: anything that he has to say, whether he mumbles it, 345 00:15:11,920 --> 00:15:13,680 Speaker 3: and so it's always still next to him. And then 346 00:15:13,760 --> 00:15:17,760 Speaker 3: I remember him leaning over and he said, Nat, He's like, 347 00:15:17,800 --> 00:15:19,760 Speaker 3: when you become a head coach. He goes, just remember 348 00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:22,600 Speaker 3: to put this like special defense. He's like, this will 349 00:15:22,640 --> 00:15:24,440 Speaker 3: really trick him. He's like you can get a steal 350 00:15:24,440 --> 00:15:26,320 Speaker 3: off of it or whatever. And I'm like, wait, wait, wait, 351 00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:29,800 Speaker 3: like rewind, did you just say like when you're going 352 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:31,760 Speaker 3: to be a head coach. And so you know, when 353 00:15:32,120 --> 00:15:35,000 Speaker 3: your mentors and you know, people that you admire like 354 00:15:35,320 --> 00:15:39,000 Speaker 3: kind of stay your dream out loud. It's pretty effective. 355 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:42,440 Speaker 3: And so yeah, that shot my confidence up like really fast. 356 00:15:42,560 --> 00:15:46,200 Speaker 3: And so I think it's you know, the people who 357 00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:49,440 Speaker 3: I worked under with the Clippers and obviously Tyron Lou. 358 00:15:49,520 --> 00:15:52,080 Speaker 3: I mean I did his video when he first was 359 00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:54,160 Speaker 3: with the Clippers with Dog, right, So that's why you 360 00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:56,920 Speaker 3: do each other. When you went to Cleveland and we 361 00:15:56,960 --> 00:16:00,280 Speaker 3: stayed in contact, and so for me, like having to 362 00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:04,120 Speaker 3: lou just answer a call, answer text like instantly, just 363 00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:07,480 Speaker 3: kind of having that support system. I think again, that's 364 00:16:07,560 --> 00:16:11,080 Speaker 3: just again more confidence building, more inspiring because they see it, 365 00:16:11,480 --> 00:16:13,080 Speaker 3: you know, they see it in me. I don't think 366 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:15,200 Speaker 3: they would talk to me if they didn't see it, 367 00:16:15,680 --> 00:16:18,320 Speaker 3: you know. So I think, you know, just those type 368 00:16:18,320 --> 00:16:20,400 Speaker 3: of relationships I was able to build. I think that's 369 00:16:20,440 --> 00:16:23,360 Speaker 3: really why I stay there as long as I could. Yeah. 370 00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:25,520 Speaker 1: Absolutely, And the fact that they saw it and they 371 00:16:25,600 --> 00:16:28,160 Speaker 1: supported it and nurtured the thing that you were already 372 00:16:28,240 --> 00:16:32,760 Speaker 1: putting in so much time and effort into growing yourself. Now, 373 00:16:32,760 --> 00:16:35,360 Speaker 1: when you left the Clippers organization, you went to the WNBA. 374 00:16:35,440 --> 00:16:39,360 Speaker 1: You worked with the Aces. You guys want a championship there. 375 00:16:39,440 --> 00:16:42,440 Speaker 1: It was one of the you know, peak franchises in 376 00:16:42,480 --> 00:16:45,560 Speaker 1: the WNBA. What was that transition like, going from the 377 00:16:45,640 --> 00:16:49,560 Speaker 1: NBA to the WNBA in terms of coaching, in terms 378 00:16:49,560 --> 00:16:51,720 Speaker 1: of experience, how different was that for you? 379 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:56,160 Speaker 3: Yes, So I didn't know Becky h prior, you know, 380 00:16:56,440 --> 00:16:58,920 Speaker 3: I knew lover. I mean, who didn't know Becky Hammond, right? 381 00:16:59,040 --> 00:17:02,560 Speaker 3: So yeah, megammon. So it was a little bit of 382 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:06,439 Speaker 3: a hard phone call to take because, like I was 383 00:17:06,520 --> 00:17:10,399 Speaker 3: like because we were always like competing, so it was 384 00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:13,360 Speaker 3: Jenny Boose I can was like make the I mean, 385 00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:16,560 Speaker 3: have a conversation with Becky and I was like I 386 00:17:16,600 --> 00:17:19,000 Speaker 3: don't know, you know, and she's like trust me. She's like, 387 00:17:19,040 --> 00:17:22,160 Speaker 3: you're not gonna regret it. And sure enough, like got 388 00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:24,480 Speaker 3: on phone with Becky and we were just talking about 389 00:17:24,600 --> 00:17:27,840 Speaker 3: experiences we went through in the NBA. Oh my god, 390 00:17:27,920 --> 00:17:30,760 Speaker 3: the common you know, themes that we had, the common 391 00:17:30,920 --> 00:17:34,439 Speaker 3: just like everything. It was like time of talking to 392 00:17:34,560 --> 00:17:37,240 Speaker 3: like a sister in the NBA, Like it really was. 393 00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:39,439 Speaker 3: And so her IQ was off the charts and I 394 00:17:39,480 --> 00:17:41,280 Speaker 3: was like, wow, I'm like I could learn so much 395 00:17:41,280 --> 00:17:44,720 Speaker 3: from Becky. I'm attracted to obviously high Q you know, 396 00:17:44,800 --> 00:17:49,480 Speaker 3: head coaches, and then you know Becky. On another note, 397 00:17:49,480 --> 00:17:51,280 Speaker 3: she just asked me how it was doing as a person, 398 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:55,200 Speaker 3: and that's something I did not get a lot from 399 00:17:55,200 --> 00:17:58,480 Speaker 3: my past experiences. Like she knew my dad passed and 400 00:17:58,520 --> 00:18:01,399 Speaker 3: so it was just like it was actually the perfect 401 00:18:01,440 --> 00:18:03,680 Speaker 3: moment where I knew, like I could learn a lot, 402 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:06,359 Speaker 3: but I know I'll be in good hands. So I 403 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:08,760 Speaker 3: think that was kind of the immediate like connection of 404 00:18:08,840 --> 00:18:11,159 Speaker 3: like just take this leap of faith that and just 405 00:18:11,600 --> 00:18:14,280 Speaker 3: you know, after ten years at nbaight' let's go to 406 00:18:14,320 --> 00:18:16,600 Speaker 3: the W. Let's learn from one of the best coaches's 407 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:19,359 Speaker 3: let's help a league that's just ready to take off. 408 00:18:19,920 --> 00:18:23,640 Speaker 3: And I literally that was probably the best coaching experience 409 00:18:23,640 --> 00:18:26,359 Speaker 3: I've had with with the Las Vegas Aces under Becky. 410 00:18:26,680 --> 00:18:29,440 Speaker 3: It was so much fun. And winning two championships isn't 411 00:18:29,520 --> 00:18:31,320 Speaker 3: that bad? Yeah? Not too bad. 412 00:18:31,359 --> 00:18:33,560 Speaker 1: You had some hardware out of it as well. And 413 00:18:33,600 --> 00:18:36,159 Speaker 1: I think, you know, you look back at this point 414 00:18:36,240 --> 00:18:39,000 Speaker 1: and you see all these experiences that you've had in 415 00:18:39,119 --> 00:18:41,399 Speaker 1: the game and coaching that have kind of put you 416 00:18:41,480 --> 00:18:44,400 Speaker 1: built you towards this position that you're in now, does 417 00:18:44,440 --> 00:18:46,400 Speaker 1: it kind of like in the rear view mirror looking 418 00:18:46,440 --> 00:18:48,280 Speaker 1: at it, think like, wow, all these pieces kind of 419 00:18:48,320 --> 00:18:51,280 Speaker 1: came together to make this a perfect storm. As now 420 00:18:51,320 --> 00:18:54,159 Speaker 1: you embark on your first head coaching experience in the 421 00:18:54,280 --> 00:18:57,560 Speaker 1: W as the first head coach of this franchise. 422 00:18:58,480 --> 00:19:01,600 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean I'm only here because of them, you know, 423 00:19:01,880 --> 00:19:05,040 Speaker 3: I'm I'm literally like a piece of I think every 424 00:19:05,080 --> 00:19:07,240 Speaker 3: one of the coaches and mentors that I've had. I 425 00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:09,920 Speaker 3: mean I haven't even talked about you know, armand Hill. 426 00:19:09,960 --> 00:19:13,760 Speaker 3: I think you've email him from the Clippers, like someone 427 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:16,080 Speaker 3: who took me under his wing after a year of 428 00:19:16,119 --> 00:19:18,560 Speaker 3: not really even talking to me because he's so tough 429 00:19:19,640 --> 00:19:22,000 Speaker 3: and I had to gain his respect and gain his 430 00:19:22,240 --> 00:19:24,960 Speaker 3: uh you know, just it able to be in his 431 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:28,000 Speaker 3: space because he doesn't around like he's a straight shooter. 432 00:19:28,080 --> 00:19:32,920 Speaker 3: As you know, he's tough, he's he's no bs. So yeah, 433 00:19:32,960 --> 00:19:35,679 Speaker 3: I'm pretty much the product of like my environment and 434 00:19:35,720 --> 00:19:38,880 Speaker 3: my mentors, and like I owe it to all of them, 435 00:19:38,920 --> 00:19:41,199 Speaker 3: to them, number one, just the belief, but also just 436 00:19:41,280 --> 00:19:44,000 Speaker 3: every little thing that they're willing to kind of teach me, 437 00:19:44,359 --> 00:19:46,600 Speaker 3: you know and mold me. And so now I'm like, 438 00:19:46,960 --> 00:19:49,919 Speaker 3: I gotta do a great job because of the high 439 00:19:50,080 --> 00:19:53,080 Speaker 3: caliber mentors that I have. Like now this is like, 440 00:19:53,320 --> 00:19:55,080 Speaker 3: let me make sure I do a good job because 441 00:19:55,119 --> 00:19:58,440 Speaker 3: of the preparation and the time that they spent with me. Yeah. 442 00:19:58,480 --> 00:20:00,560 Speaker 1: Well, and you mentioned too, some of them to earn 443 00:20:00,600 --> 00:20:03,240 Speaker 1: over than others. Is there a moment that you're like, Okay, 444 00:20:03,720 --> 00:20:05,760 Speaker 1: this is how I will win you over. Is there 445 00:20:05,760 --> 00:20:07,000 Speaker 1: something that you can share that you. 446 00:20:07,080 --> 00:20:10,719 Speaker 3: Are Yeah, so with armand I mean to me, I 447 00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:14,280 Speaker 3: love the silent type coaches as well, because you know 448 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:17,280 Speaker 3: they're observing, and so to me, some of the great 449 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:21,560 Speaker 3: coaches are quiet because then they're seeing everything and they're listening, 450 00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:24,080 Speaker 3: so they're in taking more rather than like they're outputting, 451 00:20:24,119 --> 00:20:26,520 Speaker 3: if that makes sense. Yeah, So I'm like, this guy 452 00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:28,520 Speaker 3: has a lot of knowledge. I was like, I can 453 00:20:28,560 --> 00:20:30,439 Speaker 3: tell like he has a lot of experience. And then 454 00:20:30,480 --> 00:20:32,159 Speaker 3: when I did ask him a question, he was like 455 00:20:32,400 --> 00:20:36,400 Speaker 3: quick and then he's kind of like moveway. Oh my god. 456 00:20:36,560 --> 00:20:38,679 Speaker 3: I was like, why is he so mean? And like, 457 00:20:38,840 --> 00:20:40,800 Speaker 3: after a year right where I just kind of always 458 00:20:40,840 --> 00:20:42,520 Speaker 3: kept it quick, I was like, okay, kid, he doesn't like 459 00:20:42,520 --> 00:20:44,600 Speaker 3: to waste time, so it's like top to him, move on. 460 00:20:44,920 --> 00:20:47,800 Speaker 3: And then he the first time I did a defensive edit, 461 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:52,399 Speaker 3: he pretty much cussed me out without like giving me 462 00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:54,600 Speaker 3: any leeway. He's just like, just don't fuck this up. 463 00:20:54,640 --> 00:20:57,280 Speaker 3: And I was like, I was like, okay, got it, 464 00:20:57,400 --> 00:20:59,960 Speaker 3: Like got it. But what he was teaching me was like, 465 00:21:00,600 --> 00:21:02,720 Speaker 3: when you come and you have to give an edit, 466 00:21:02,800 --> 00:21:05,320 Speaker 3: and you have to it's got to be right, it's 467 00:21:05,359 --> 00:21:08,040 Speaker 3: God right, it's got to be correct, and you have 468 00:21:08,119 --> 00:21:10,640 Speaker 3: to be able to deliver it. And so that's where 469 00:21:10,640 --> 00:21:13,360 Speaker 3: I've learned my preparation was like, you only get one 470 00:21:13,359 --> 00:21:17,199 Speaker 3: opportunity in the NBA, because one opportunity of like speaking 471 00:21:17,200 --> 00:21:19,119 Speaker 3: in front of the players and they don't respect you 472 00:21:19,280 --> 00:21:23,160 Speaker 3: because you're not prepared. You're done. So learned that from 473 00:21:23,240 --> 00:21:26,359 Speaker 3: Armand and then one like once we started to like 474 00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:30,800 Speaker 3: become a little bit of friends. He uh, he was 475 00:21:30,840 --> 00:21:32,320 Speaker 3: showing me a play and I took a picture of it, 476 00:21:32,359 --> 00:21:33,800 Speaker 3: and he goes, what are you doing? And I'm like, 477 00:21:34,040 --> 00:21:36,280 Speaker 3: I'm taking a picture. It's like easier for me to remember. 478 00:21:36,359 --> 00:21:39,639 Speaker 3: He goes, just look at it and he goes study 479 00:21:39,680 --> 00:21:41,640 Speaker 3: it and he's like move on, and I'm like, why 480 00:21:41,680 --> 00:21:43,560 Speaker 3: can't just take a picture. He's like, you guys in 481 00:21:43,600 --> 00:21:46,520 Speaker 3: this generation, like you're just lady, You're lazy. He's like, 482 00:21:46,920 --> 00:21:49,320 Speaker 3: you have to be able to listen or to look 483 00:21:49,359 --> 00:21:52,320 Speaker 3: at a play and then be able to like move 484 00:21:52,359 --> 00:21:54,520 Speaker 3: on and write it down. He goes, you always can't 485 00:21:54,520 --> 00:21:57,840 Speaker 3: rely on ara iPhone net. He's like, you've got to 486 00:21:57,880 --> 00:21:59,720 Speaker 3: be able to learn it in game time or like 487 00:21:59,720 --> 00:22:02,000 Speaker 3: the time you see it. And like that has helped 488 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:04,280 Speaker 3: me a ton, you know what I mean, Like because 489 00:22:04,320 --> 00:22:06,960 Speaker 3: you're waking, like whether I'm watching a game on TV 490 00:22:07,080 --> 00:22:09,840 Speaker 3: or if I'm like at arena like I could now 491 00:22:09,880 --> 00:22:12,160 Speaker 3: see it, remember it, and then go home and write 492 00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:12,520 Speaker 3: it down. 493 00:22:12,640 --> 00:22:15,040 Speaker 1: So yeah, and I think a lot of that, too, 494 00:22:15,160 --> 00:22:18,280 Speaker 1: is trusting your own mind over relying on the crutch 495 00:22:18,280 --> 00:22:19,800 Speaker 1: of like, Okay, I have this to fall back on, 496 00:22:19,840 --> 00:22:21,159 Speaker 1: I can go back and look at it. Cause how 497 00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:22,520 Speaker 1: often do we really go back and look at the 498 00:22:22,520 --> 00:22:24,280 Speaker 1: pictures we take of certain things like that anyway? 499 00:22:24,359 --> 00:22:27,159 Speaker 3: Right, Yeah, and it's actually really hard, like if you 500 00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:31,680 Speaker 3: just you see a play drawn like it's it's just hard. 501 00:22:31,920 --> 00:22:34,760 Speaker 3: It's hard to recover. So yeah, he taught me all 502 00:22:34,760 --> 00:22:38,040 Speaker 3: these little tricks of like you don't you don't you 503 00:22:38,040 --> 00:22:40,200 Speaker 3: have to be efficient, can't waste time, you know what 504 00:22:40,280 --> 00:22:42,720 Speaker 3: I mean, and like you have to be ready and prepared. 505 00:22:43,040 --> 00:22:45,440 Speaker 1: So and if you stay ready, you don't have to 506 00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:49,960 Speaker 1: get ready in the words of sugar Free, exactly exactly. 507 00:22:50,440 --> 00:22:53,480 Speaker 1: I You know, I have loved watching you grow and 508 00:22:53,520 --> 00:22:56,800 Speaker 1: evolve in your journey, and I'm so excited for you 509 00:22:56,840 --> 00:22:59,680 Speaker 1: and for the Valkyries. I want to know what you 510 00:22:59,720 --> 00:23:03,280 Speaker 1: want basketball fans to know about this team and this 511 00:23:03,440 --> 00:23:06,679 Speaker 1: organization as it's about to Barka's debut season. 512 00:23:08,560 --> 00:23:11,760 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, being our first season, I think what 513 00:23:12,720 --> 00:23:16,399 Speaker 3: I could definitely promise is just we're going to be very, 514 00:23:16,480 --> 00:23:20,080 Speaker 3: very competitive and gritty, like our players are going to 515 00:23:20,200 --> 00:23:22,840 Speaker 3: show up every single day, just because again, those are 516 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:26,440 Speaker 3: the players that we have already selected. They are hard 517 00:23:26,480 --> 00:23:29,439 Speaker 3: nos playing, they're gritty, they plays a lot of energy, 518 00:23:29,680 --> 00:23:31,920 Speaker 3: and so I think when you come into a Valkeries game, 519 00:23:31,920 --> 00:23:34,480 Speaker 3: you're going to feel our players, and when you feel 520 00:23:34,480 --> 00:23:37,200 Speaker 3: our players, you're going to leave I think always wanting more. 521 00:23:37,760 --> 00:23:39,600 Speaker 3: That's just how I see it. 522 00:23:40,440 --> 00:23:42,640 Speaker 1: Got to leave them wanting more. Which is a perfect 523 00:23:42,680 --> 00:23:44,879 Speaker 1: way to end this conversation because I could talk to 524 00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:48,600 Speaker 1: you for hours about this stuff. Golden State Valkyries head 525 00:23:48,640 --> 00:23:51,960 Speaker 1: coach Natalie Nakasse, thank you so much for taking the 526 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:54,080 Speaker 1: time today. It's been such a treat chatting with you 527 00:23:54,119 --> 00:23:55,800 Speaker 1: and getting to know more about your journey and your 528 00:23:55,800 --> 00:23:57,040 Speaker 1: playbook to success. 529 00:23:57,520 --> 00:23:59,440 Speaker 3: Well, thanks, Matty, I really appreciate it. 530 00:24:00,000 --> 00:24:02,480 Speaker 1: Thank you so much. It has been the Her Playbook 531 00:24:02,520 --> 00:24:05,960 Speaker 1: Podcast presented by Kendra Scott, the jewelry company that's shining 532 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:09,160 Speaker 1: bright and doing good. Shop jewelry sales designed for every 533 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:12,520 Speaker 1: day and every occasion at your local Kendra Scott store 534 00:24:12,600 --> 00:24:15,840 Speaker 1: or Kendrascott dot com.