The journey of Natalie Nakase, the 2026 WNBA Coach of the Year, began in the humble setting of her Huntington Beach backyard. Her father, Gary, transformed their backyard into a training ground, laying the foundation for her illustrious coaching career. This story is not just about Nakase’s rise but also about the growing influence of women’s sports on young fans in the Bay Area.
Gary Nakase was more than just a father; he was a mentor and inspiration. He instilled in Natalie a deep love for the game, taking her to watch the best point guards and studying the Showtime Lakers. His influence predated the mentorship of Doc Rivers, Tyronn Lue, and Joe Mazzulla, shaping Nakase’s basketball instincts, discipline, and toughness. Even in his absence, Gary’s presence continues to guide Nakase as she paces the sideline at Chase Center.
The Impact of Women’s Sports on Young Fans
As Nakase calls out plays inside Chase Center, scenes from her childhood repeat themselves in the stands. Fathers and daughters are watching women at the highest level—coaching, playing, and leading. The Standard spoke to several ‘Girl Dads’ to understand what attending games with their daughters means to them.
The Pangilinan Family: A Tradition of Basketball
Anthony and Maya Pangilinan, from San Luis Obispo, made the 230-mile drive to attend their first Valkyries game. Maya, sporting a Kaitlyn Chen jersey, often watches alongside her dad and older brother. Anthony, who coaches his son’s sports, sees the Valkyries games as a way to prepare Maya for future opportunities in sports. ‘I’m glad to have my son watching it too, he’s probably seeing more Valkyries games than NBA games on TV,’ Anthony said.
The Ramirez Family: Breaking Barriers
John and Joslyn Ramirez, from Pacifica, attended their first Valkyries game together after years of going to Warriors games. Joslyn’s favorite part of going to Chase Center is simply spending time with her dad. John reflects on the lack of professional sports opportunities for women when he was growing up. ‘It’s awesome to see the proliferation of women athletes, both at the amateur and professional level,’ he said.
The Craycroft Family: Passing on a Love for the Game
Andrew and his daughter Lyla, from Walnut Creek, are already regulars at Valkyries games despite her early bedtime. Andrew, a women’s basketball fan since his days at Cal, wants to pass on his love for the game to his daughter. ‘I want her to absorb a love of sports. As she gets older, I really want her to gain an appreciation and love for the game, too,’ Andrew said.
The Wang Family: Reinforcing Values
Ed and Adleigh Wang, from Cupertino, have been to three Valkyries games and frequently attend Bay FC matches together. Adleigh, a soccer midfielder and basketball guard, loves watching the sports she plays. Ed hopes seeing women compete at the pro level will reinforce the values of hard work and determination. ‘I certainly didn’t see all of this when I was growing up. There was no WNBA, there were no Valkyries back then,’ Ed said.
The Fanvu Family: Bonding Over Sports
Joe and Charlotte Fanvu, from San Francisco, have been bonding over Bay Area sports since she was little. For Charlotte, the best part of the outing is feeling the excitement and emotions of the game alongside her dad. ‘Being able to connect through a venue that hosts women’s sports, it doesn’t have to be a men’s team, that’s really fun and enjoyable,’ Charlotte said.
The Banks Family: Inspiring Young Athletes
Connor Banks, from Richmond, takes his daughters Teagan and Logan to Valkyries games, hoping they are inspired by what they see. The girls love sports and play basketball, flag football, and lacrosse. Connor wants them to be good people, care about their community, and enjoy life. ‘It’s awesome being able to take them to a women’s sporting event and just have a WNBA team here in the Bay Area that we can root for,’ Connor said.
The Chadalavada Family: Engaging Young Fans
Varun and Amelia Chadalavada, from Burlingame, are season-ticket holders who enjoy attending games together during the summer. Varun says his daughter is far more engaged watching women play because she can more easily relate to the athletes. ‘She gets into it a lot more. It’s vastly different from when I grew up,’ Varun said.
The Bruner Family: A Family-Friendly Atmosphere
Joshua and Akira Bruner, from San Francisco, enjoy the family-friendly atmosphere of Valkyries games. Akira, a real sports expert, can name every Valkyrie and follows the WNBA closely. Joshua, who appreciates the family-friendly atmosphere, bought season-tickets with a few other families when the Valkyries launched. ‘We never have had a chance to go to a Warriors game, but we have access to these games, and we just fell in love with it,’ Joshua said.
The Kapadia Family: Seeing Themselves in Athletes
Mitul Kapadia, from San Francisco, had been talking with his daughters Nitya and Jiva about attending a Valkyries game since last year. Mitul coaches Nitya’s middle school soccer team and says the time they spend on the field together is easily the best part of his week. ‘It’s surreal to see people that look like them. They see me watching men’s sports all the time, and to be able to see women — people they can reflect on — is really cool,’ Mitul said.
The Tan Family: Exploring Sports Opportunities
Calvin and Charlotte Tan, from Martinez, see sports as a family affair. Calvin coaches his daughter Charlotte’s soccer team, and her mother coaches basketball. Charlotte’s favorite sport is softball, and her favorite athlete is Steph Curry. ‘It’s a lot of work and dedication, but it’s a fun time. It’s good to see the girls playing,’ Calvin said.
The Mullen Family: Curating Meaningful Experiences
Aaron and his daughter Mila, from Richmond, hold ticket packages for the 49ers, Ballers, and Roots, but Valkyries games carry special weight. Mila’s favorite athletes are Tiffany Hayes and Sabrina Ionescu. Aaron loves that Mila’s favorite chant was the ‘G-S-V’ and she’d bring that from the game to home. ‘At home, she’ll be like ‘Dad, make sure you’re watching girls basketball versus boy’s basketball,’ Aaron said.
