For the first time in WNBA history, the Finals will see a Game 6. Yeah, you heard that right, a Game freaking 6! The league adopted a best-of-seven series last year, and this Valkyries-Dream duel is the second one using it. But what really matters is how the Golden State Valkyries just stormed back, tying this series up thanks to one of their most complete defensive efforts yet in Game 4.
Reese vs. The Valkyries’ Wall
Angel Reese, man, she’s been straight-up electric on this grand stage. She’s been stating her case to become the face of the league, taking over games with serious assertion and that trash-talking spunk we all love. When the Atlanta Dream took that 2-1 series lead, it looked like the Valkyries’ “strength in numbers” mantra, which got them through two tough playoff series against other superstars, had finally met its match in Reese. Plus, their league-best defense looked like it might get outclassed by a Dream unit rated not much lower than Golden State’s own.
But then Game 4 hit, and WOW. The Valkyries played their most complete defensive game of the entire postseason. They frustrated Reese like crazy, forced a turnover advantage back their way, and slammed the door on the Dream, holding them to just 67 points! Remember, that was just days after the Dream dropped 97 points on them. That’s a massive turnaround, an absolute lockdown.
The Fire Inside and Record-Breaking Defense
You know how teams find that extra gear? Well, Gabby Williams delivered an animated speech to her teammates after that Game 3 loss. Center Kiah Stokes, a three-time champion herself, provided the much-needed veteran perspective behind closed doors. She said, “We lost on Wednesday, but that doesn’t mean we lost anything. Our goal can still be accomplished if we win today, now we go home and it’s a best-of-three series. For me, it was to shake it off, work on it and get ready because nothing is won or lost in Game 3.”
And shake it off they did. The Valkyries can win this best-of-three series the exact same way they won twice already: by limiting Reese. Seriously, in their wins in Game 1 and Game 4, Reese shot a combined 7-for-23, including a brutal 2-for-12 in Game 4 alone! They also held the Dream to fewer than 65 points in both victories and delivered their two lowest-scoring halves of the entire postseason: 26 in the first half on Saturday and 25 in the second half of Game 1. Talk about stepping up!
Stokes has been an absolute MVP of this postseason. Not just for her championship guidance, but for how she guarded A’ja Wilson during the Valkyries’ sweep of Las Vegas in the semifinals, and now, for tempering Reese in the paint during these Finals wins. Her 14 blocks in the Finals? That’s a WNBA record, plain and simple. Williams, even if she hasn’t been an efficient scorer all series when the Valkyries lose, stepped up in Game 4 too. She scored a team-high 17 points because she took more care to get to her spots, but her five rebounds and two steals are the real stats that show this defense in full, nasty form. When their defense is disconnected, with slow rotations and missed assignments, and the crowd noise gets to them like in Game 3, they lose. But when they lock in? Forget about it.
Now, it all comes down to Game 5 on Monday at Chase Center. This is a best-of-three, and the Valkyries just showed the league they have the formula. They know how to shut down Reese, they know how to play suffocating defense. If they bring that same intensity, that same focus, they can take control of this series. This is going to be epic, you just know it!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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