“I Need Hostility”: Natalie Nakase Issues Clear Demand to the Valkyries Crowd on How To Treat Atlanta Dream at the WNBA Finals

The Atlanta Dream are heading into hostile territory for Game 1 of the WNBA Finals. The Golden State Valkyries have made an extraordinary start to life in the league, reaching the championship series in just their second season after joining as an expansion team in 2025. Now, with the first two games set for Chase Center, head coach Natalie Nakase wants the home crowd to play its part in pushing Golden State closer to its first title.

Speaking to reporters during practice on October 13, Nakase was asked what kind of reception she wanted Angel Reese and the Dream to get when they arrived on October 17. Her answer was straightforward. She wants Ballhalla, as Valkyries fans call themselves, to make its presence felt from the opening introductions.

“Since we’re prepping for a great game plan, Ballhalla better be prepping for a game plan. So, as soon as they’re announced, I need some hostility,” Nakase said, as quoted by Just Women’s Hoops on Instagram. “If they do a challenge, I need hostility. If they’re shooting free throws, I need that thing to be rocking. So, game plan: Ballhalla, get ready. Get prepped because we definitely got to use Ballhalla as our sixth man.”

The Valkyries have already seen what a difference their home crowd can make. Chase Center, with a capacity of more than 18,000 for Valkyries games, has regularly filled with fans dressed in the team’s signature violet, creating a loud atmosphere for visiting teams to deal with. Golden State’s home record backs up that advantage, too. According to StatMuse, the Valkyries won 17 of their 22 regular-season games at Chase Center.

But the Dream won’t arrive in San Francisco without confidence of their own. Atlanta has been one of the strongest teams in the playoffs, sweeping the New York Liberty 3-0 in the semifinals. The Dream have also led all playoff teams in scoring at 92.6 points per game, while three of their players rank among the top four in steals per game. If Golden State wants to quiet Atlanta’s attack, it will need to handle the pressure the Dream bring on defense.

Atlanta’s road record offers another reason not to count on the crowd doing all the work. The Dream won 15 of their 22 away games during the regular season, according to StatMuse, showing they can handle playing in an opponent’s building. Golden State will need more than a loud arena to keep them from finding their rhythm.

Gabby Williams knows the danger Atlanta’s defense presents. The Dream are aggressive in the passing lanes, and once they force a turnover, they can turn it into points. Williams believes Golden State’s best way to limit that threat is to stay composed with the ball and make better decisions offensively.

“They like to get into passing lanes. That’s what we know,” Williams said during her practice availability. “They lead the league in steals. So, we’re just going to have to – it’s going to maybe be a game where good offense leads to good defense as well. We don’t want them to get going in transition. So, we’re just going to have to take care of the ball and have good shots.”

The Valkyries do have one encouraging piece of history on their side. They went 3-0 against Atlanta during the regular season, giving them reason to believe they can match up well with the Dream. But Williams isn’t putting much stock in those results with a championship now at stake.

“Just because we won those games doesn’t mean anything’s given at all. So we’re just scouting how we scout. Obviously we can still scout, but I think mentally preparing for a different kind of energy,” she added.

Golden State has already made history by reaching the Finals in just its second season. Now, Nakase wants Ballhalla to help the team take the next step. If the Valkyries can bring the same intensity on the court that their coach is demanding from the stands, they’ll have a chance to make their home-court advantage count when the series begins.

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