The Golden State Valkyries just snagged a massive 67-62 win over the Atlanta Dream in Game 4 of the WNBA Finals, knotting up the series, but it was Kiah Stokes who dropped a historic defensive performance that had everyone talking. This series is tied, folks, and Stokes is absolutely going off at the perfect time.
Valkyries Found Their Fire When It Mattered Most
Look, after dropping two straight, the Valkyries *needed* to change some things up. Head coach Natalie Nakase wasn’t wrong when she called out some “uncharacteristic” slippage in the team’s energy and focus. But in Game 4, they dug deep and found it. Gabby Williams stepped up big time, leading the team with 17 points and playing lights-out defense, snagging three steals. Then you had Veronica Burton, who finally looked like her regular-season self, hitting a series-high 13 points. She was driving hard and flying all over the court, tallying three steals and two blocks herself.
They even shook up the starting lineup, bringing in Tiffany Hayes and Kaila Charles for Cecilia Zandalasini and Kayla Thornton. That seven-player rotation, with minimal minutes from Janelle Salaün and Kaitlyn Chen, clearly worked. This team found their grit, and now this series is a whole new ball game.
Kiah Stokes Is Making WNBA Finals History Right Now
While the team adjusted, one thing stayed constant, and that’s Kiah Stokes. Her role is simple: set those monster screens, connect possessions, own the glass on both ends, and make the paint a no-fly zone. And did she ever come to play in Game 4! She put up 4 points, a playoff career-high 16 rebounds (eight of them offensive, which is a career-high overall), and three absolutely soul-crushing blocks. That third block, a two-handed swat on a DeWanna Bonner drive, wasn’t just big; it was *history*. Stokes became the first player in WNBA Finals history to log at least three blocks in four straight games. And get this: she’s already surpassed legends like Sylvia Fowles and Brittney Griner for the most total blocks in a Finals series. The woman was just named to the All-Defensive Second Team last week, and you can see why. Angel Reese, for example, has only shot 23.8% from the field when Stokes is contesting her in this series. That’s just wild.
No All-Star Big Is Safe From Stokes’ Defensive Grind
This isn’t just a Finals surge for Stokes, either. This is a continuation of a season-long defensive masterclass. She’s been on a postseason run that’s just bananas, taking on the league’s best offenses and their All-Star bigs. First, she faced the fifth-ranked Wings and Jessica Shepard, a playmaking post hub. Stokes shut down post touches and drives, even acting as a roamer while others defended the perimeter. Then it was the second-ranked Aces and the GOAT herself, A’ja Wilson. Stokes handled everything: cross screens, pindowns, pick-and-rolls, and a healthy dose of switching. Now, in the Finals, she’s locking down the fourth-ranked Dream and ascending superstar Angel Reese. Three distinct styles of attack, three All-Star bigs, and none of them have had an easy time against Stokes. The way she adapts her defense is just next level.
The series is tied, and Kiah Stokes is playing out of her mind. What’s next? Game 5 is gonna be absolutely epic, and we’ll all be watching to see if Stokes can keep up this historic, jaw-dropping defensive show. You won’t 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 Yahoo Sports.
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