The Golden State Valkyries made some big hiring moves this week while the world was paying attention to the NCAA Tournament: at long last, the team has named its assistant coaches.
The newest members of the staff (and the coaches who will stand alongside Head Coach Natalie Nakase) have plenty of NBA and WNBA experience between them. Here is a look at who the team has brought onboard:
Kasib Powell
Powell is a former professional basketball player who signed with the Miami Heat in 2008. His history in men's basketball is extensive and vast: in addition to the NBA, he's played in the D-League (now the G League), the Adriatic League, the Greek League, the Continental Basketball Association, the USBL, the Bosnian League, the Russian Superleague, the Israeli Basketball Super League, and the Chinese Basketball Association.
Powell was signed to a 10-day contract with the Heat in March 2008 and played his first NBA game on March 27 of that year. He was ultimately signed to the team for the duration of the season, and signed with Trikala 2000 the following year.
Powell's previous coaching experience includes working as an assistant coach for the Sioux Falls Skyforce in the D-League. He was named head coach of the team in 2021. In July 2024 Powell joined the Heat as a player development coach.
Sugar Rodgers
Ta'Shauna Rodgers, better known as Sugar Rodgers by her fans, was seleceted by the Minnesota Lynx as the 14th overall pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft. Prior to her professional experience Rodgers was recruited by Georgetown, where she was named Big East Freshman of the Year and First Team All-Big East in 2010. She was a major part of the reason why Georgetown was nationally ranked that year, and she helped propel the team to its second NCAA Tournament the following season.
Rodgers earned 2,518 career points at Georgetown, which is still the most points for a male or female basketball player at the school.
Rodgers also has plenty of experience hooping overseas, where she's played for Arras in France. In addition to the Lynx, she played for the New York Liberty, the Las Vegas Aces, and the Atlanta Dream.
Landon Tatum
Tatum played basketball for the University of Idaho, where he also received a degree in Digital Media and Broadcasting. In October 2014 Tatum joined the school's staff as the Director of Basketball Operations, a position he held for 10 months until he was named the Assistant Basketball Coach for the Maret School.
Tatum joined the NBA as a coach for the Washington Wizards at the Summer League in June 2023. From there he moved up the player development ladder, and departed the organization as the Player Development Lead in April 2024.
Tatum joined the Maine Celtics as an assistant coach in September 2024.