Joe Lacob is no stranger to victory. As the owner of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors since 2010, he’s built a dynasty that’s the envy of the league: four championships, including the latest in 2022, and the most dominant regular season ever in 2016. But Lacob’s ambitions don’t stop at the men’s game. Enter the Golden State Valkyries, his bold leap into the exploding world of women’s basketball via the WNBA expansion.
In 2025, the Valkyries have shattered every expectation for a rookie franchise. Not only are they holding their own on the court with a gritty 14-15 record—poised for a playoff spot if the season wrapped up today—but they’ve also skyrocketed in value. According to Sportico, the team has already claimed the title of the WNBA’s most valuable franchise at a staggering $500 million valuation. It’s a testament to the surging popularity of women’s hoops, and Lacob is riding that wave with unyielding determination.
Lacob isn’t one to whisper his goals; he shouts them from the rooftops. He dreams of confetti raining down in Chase Center year-round, for both his Warriors and Valkyries. When it came to hiring a head coach, he laid it all bare in his first sit-down with Natalie Nakase, as detailed in a riveting piece by Logan Murdock of The Ringer published this Wednesday.
“I have high expectations, and we might as well get that right up front,” Lacob told her bluntly. “You have to win a title in five years. If you can’t handle that, you’re probably not the right person.”
Talk about pressure. This isn’t just ambitious—it’s borderline unprecedented in WNBA history. Expansion teams rarely hit the ground running; building from scratch often means early struggles. Only the Seattle Storm managed to snag a championship in their first five seasons, back in 2004. For everyone else, it’s been a grind of rebuilding and patience.
But Nakase? She didn’t flinch. In fact, she embraced the ultimatum with fire in her eyes. “I remember slamming the table,” she recounted to Murdock. “I’m like, ‘Joe, I’m ready to sign.'”
It’s clear Lacob found his match. Nakase brings the pedigree he craved: two WNBA titles as an assistant coach with the Las Vegas Aces under Becky Hammon. She’s proven she can steer a ship through chaos, guiding the Valkyries to surprising success despite a roster that’s been anything but stable. Waivers have turned the lineup into a revolving door, and injuries have hit hard—All-Star forward Kayla Thornton is done for the season after knee surgery, while forward Monique Billings nurses a sprained left ankle and awaits reevaluation in under two weeks.
These setbacks have sparked some turbulence, with the Valkyries splitting their last four games 2-2. Yet, Nakase’s steady hand has kept them in the hunt.
This exchange between Lacob and Nakase first surfaced in October 2024 via NBC Sports, but Murdock’s article brings it back into the spotlight, highlighting the raw intensity behind the Valkyries’ rise.
Now, the real test looms. On Saturday, the Los Angeles Sparks roll into town, matching the Valkyries’ 14-15 record but sitting just outside playoff contention. This clash isn’t just another game—it’s a potential tiebreaker that could decide postseason fates if things get tight down the stretch. For Nakase and her squad, it’s a chance to prove they’re built for Lacob’s brutal timeline. Will they soar, or stumble? The WNBA world is watching.