White House Author
![](https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/files/styles/person_large_photo/public/person-photo/natalienakase_copy.jpg?itok=I2oVNDXp)
Natalie Nakase
In 2003, Natalie Nakase became the first Asian American player in the National Women’s Basketball League when she joined the San Jose Spiders. She then went on to play for the San Diego Siege and Germany’s Herne TC and coach a German women’s basketball team. In 2011, became the first female coach in the Japanese professional men’s basketball league when she joined the Saitama Broncos as Head Coach. Today, she is a video coordinator intern with the Los Angeles Clippers, where she hopes to gain more insight in the NBA in order to eventually become an NBA coach.