SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Golden State Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase is well enough to coach Game 1 of the WNBA semifinals Sunday against Las Vegas after she went down on the sideline two days earlier in the first-round clincher with what she described as exhaustion.
“Just exhaustion,” she said. “I ate and drank right after and felt better.”
The 46-year-old Nakase said she was examined by a doctor during Saturday's off day ahead of the series opener Sunday and insists she will be “proactive” with both her health and mental health. The players encouraged her to take time for recovery, something she constantly stresses to them.
“I'm good. I had a little exhaustion obviously,” she said. “I think I talked to you guys about what I have to learn from my father. He was an extremely hard-working man. I followed in his footsteps and I thrive in that. But he told me, ‘Natalie,’ this was about 10 years ago when I never knew what I was going to do with my career and he just said, ‘do not let your career ever get involved if your mental health or your health gets complicated.’ So, when that happened, it definitely was like a wake-up call for me but I got checked through the doctors. Obviously everything looks good.”
She plans to something her dad didn't and “be proactive,” such as considering wearing a heart monitor and taking other steps to deal with her extreme work ethic. She already wears a tracking ring to monitor some health statistics.
“Information for me is really important,” she said. “I just want to be proactive, be smart. I understand this job for me I love it, sometimes I love it too much to a point I overwork. I just want to make sure I'm being smart.”
That might mean “no extra, extra, extra film” and sticking to the timeline on a given day.
“It's taking the time and organizing my mornings,” she said with changing game times and schedules. “... Everything's a little bit different with my routine.”
Nakase didn't address the team after the 77-73 win Friday night against the Dallas Wings at Chase Center, when her team rallied from a 16-point deficit.
With 1:40 remaining in the game, she was on the sideline near the Valkyries' bench and lowered to the floor with her head and hands on the court. Nakase was helped up by athletic trainer Katelin Knox. The coach finished the game but exited the floor immediately following the final buzzer escorted by a member of her staff as her team celebrated at midcourt.
The best-of-five matchup with the defending WNBA champion Aces features Nakase coaching against Becky Hammon, who had Nakase on her staff as an assistant coach from 2022-24 — when the team won consecutive titles in 2022 and '23.
Hammon called Nakase a “little mighty mouse work horse, there's no doubt about that.”
“The stress this time of year is real, the pressure, you don't get a lot of sleep, you're not eating as well as your probably should, there's a lot of factors that go into that,” Hammon said. “It was kind of scary actually to watch. That little sucker popped right back up though, popped right back up onto that marker and kept it pushing. She's tough.”
See AP’s full WNBA coverage here
Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase watches play in the first half of a WNBA basketball first-round playoff game against the Dallas Wings Wednesday Sept. 30, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase instructs her team during the second half of a WNBA basketball first-round playoff game against the Dallas Wings Wednesday Sept. 30, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
LONDON (AP) — Sip some tea, score some touchdowns.
Jonathan Taylor's secret is out.
The Colts running back rushed for two touchdowns, quarterback Daniel Jones also ran one in and Indianapolis beat Washington 30-13 after the Commanders lost yet another quarterback to injury on Sunday.
Taylor said he enjoyed some tea at dinner on the eve of the game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
And then he mimicked the same after one of his 5-yard touchdown runs to help the Colts (2-2) win their second straight game.
“I had to show the world, hey, I had a really good tea,” Taylor said.
Marcus Mariota, who was starting in place of the injured Jayden Daniels, left the game after Washington’s second drive because of a knee injury. The veteran quarterback was sacked and didn’t return for the Commanders (1-3).
Coach Dan Quinn said it looks like an MCL injury and it's unknown how long he'll be out.
Third-string rookie quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis threw his first NFL touchdown pass to cut Indy's lead to 17-13 in the third quarter, but the Colts answered with Spencer Shrader's 52-yard field goal and Jones' 4-yard run early in the fourth quarter.
Taylor rushed for 95 yards on 20 carries as the Colts overcame two turnovers from Jones, who completed 19 of 34 passes for 143 yards with an interception and a fumble.
“Can’t afford to turn the ball over like that,” Jones said. “Got to understand when to take a chance, when not to, when to protect the ball, when you have a chance to make a play.”
Kaliakmanis threw a costly interception early in the third quarter and the Colts quickly capitalized. Linebacker Jaylon Carlies picked off Kaliakmanis' pass at the Washington 27 and returned it to the 20. Taylor’s second 5-yard run of the game made it 17-6.
Kaliakmanis bounced back on the next drive, though, hitting Treylon Burks on a 47-yard touchdown pass that closed the gap to 17-13. Burks got past cornerback Sauce Gardner and found space before hauling in the deep ball.
“It was surreal, man, it was absolutely surreal,” Kaliakmanis said, “but I've got to be honest, right now I'm just thinking about the loss. It's not about me. It's about this team.”
Shrader later added a 44-yard field goal — his third of the game — to extend Indy's lead to 30-13.
Kaliakmanis completed 15 of 33 passes for 186 yards with one touchdown and the interception.
The Colts led 10-6 at halftime after Taylor's first 5-yard touchdown run and then Shrader’s 48-yard field goal.
The Commanders failed to capitalize on two red zone opportunities in the first quarter, settling for field goals.
Odafe Oweh drove Colts left tackle Bernhard Raimann backward into Jones causing the quarterback to fumble on Indy's first drive. Oweh then recovered it at the 21. The Commanders had fourth-and-2 from the 13 but opted for Drew Stevens' 31-yarder.
Washington then stalled at the Colts 5 on their next drive. On third down, Mariota was sacked at the 11 by Adetomiwa Adebawore and Laiatu Latu. Mariota walked off gingerly to the sideline, and another Stevens field goal made it 6-0, but the quarterback didn't return.
Attendance was 60,907 for the 13th NFL game played at Tottenham. The league had recently reduced remaining ticket prices to 79 pounds ($105) including for some high-end seats. Attendance has never been below 60,000 in previous games. The venue opened in 2019 and features an NFL field below the Premier League team’s moveable soccer pitch. It was 70 degrees Fahrenheit at kickoff.
Taylor's big day made him the all-time leading rusher in NFL international games, the Colts said. Taylor had rushed for 244 yards and three touchdowns last season in Indy's 31-25 overtime victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Berlin.
“I hope that I can continue to stack that, now that I’m apparently the leader,” Taylor said.
Colts: LT Bernhard Raimann was hurt early in the third quarter but returned.... WR Ashton Dulin and DE Arden Key both sustained hamstring injuries.
Commanders: In addition to Mariota, WR Jaylin Lane had a “serious ankle injury,” Quinn said. DE Charles Omenihu had a groin problem... S Tyler Owens left late with a hamstring injury.
Colts: at Pittsburgh next Sunday.
Commanders: host New York Giants next Sunday.
See AP’s full NFL coverage here
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) is tackled by Washington Commanders linebacker Joshua Josephs (48) during an NFL football game in London, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Indianapolis Colts defensive end Jaylahn Tuimoloau (91) puts pressure on a pass by Washington Commanders quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (16) during an NFL football game in London, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) gets past Washington Commanders cornerback Amik Robertson (2) to score a touchdown during an NFL football game in London, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) gets past Washington Commanders cornerback Amik Robertson (2) to score a touchdown during an NFL football game in London, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) celebrates after scoring his side's second touchdown during an NFL football game against Washington Commanders in London, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Walton)
