Kiah Stokes is shutting down Angel Reese, and it’s changing the entire WNBA Finals. The Golden State Valkyries have clawed their way back to even the series against the Atlanta Dream, and this defensive anchor’s presence has been absolutely critical as they head into Game 5 on Monday night. It is a crazy run for a team in just its second season, moving within two wins of a championship!
Brittney Griner Milestone? Yeah, She Hit That.
Stokes has been nothing short of the Valkyries’ unsung hero throughout this playoff push. We’re talking about a player who consistently shows up, dominates defensively, and then goes home, letting her actions speak loudest. She even passed a Brittney Griner milestone, blocking three shots in each of the first four games of this series. That’s not just good, that’s elite, game-changing defense right there.
Her impact isn’t just about blocks, though. In Game 4, Stokes only dropped four points, but she absolutely owned the boards with a playoff career-high 16 rebounds, including eight on the offensive glass. That kind of effort, those second-chance opportunities she creates, that consistency she brings, played a massive part in deciding Game 4. You know it could be the key to Game 5 too.
Angel Reese’s Nightmare Fuel
Let’s talk about Angel Reese, the Dream superstar. She has been feasting on every other Valkyries defender out there. We’re talking about a scorching 63.3 percent shooting against anyone *not* named Kiah Stokes. But when Reese runs into that brick wall? Forget about it. Her shooting percentage craters to a shocking 23.8 percent when Stokes is the primary defender. That’s right, Reese has only made five of her 19 attempts against Stokes. Five!
And it’s not just shooting. Stokes completely neutralizes Reese’s incredible rebounding advantage. When Stokes is chilling on the bench, Reese’s offensive rebound rate skyrockets to 40 percent. But the second Stokes steps back on the court, that rate gets cut in half, dropping to a mere 20 percent. Stokes makes Reese’s usual game disappear. It’s truly a masterclass in defensive dominance.
The Valkyries are back at Chase Center in San Francisco for Game 5 on Monday. With a win, they take a massive 3-2 series lead back to Atlanta for Game 6 on Thursday. Will Kiah Stokes continue to be the difference-maker, shutting down Reese and powering the Valkyries closer to a championship? You absolutely do not want to miss it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
Leave a Reply