The WNBA Finals are officially tied 2-2, thanks to a massive 67-62 victory for the Golden State Valkyries over the Atlanta Dream in Game 4. This wasn’t just any win, though. Head coach Natalie Nakase made the kind of bold, game-changing adjustments that Valkyries lore could remember for decades, taking a page straight out of Steve Kerr’s 2015 NBA Finals playbook.
Nakase’s High-Stakes Shake-Up
Coming into Saturday’s Game 4, the Valkyries were in a tough spot. They trailed the Dream two games to one and had just taken a disheartening 97-71 walloping. They had lost home-court advantage and desperately needed answers. Sound familiar? That’s exactly where Steve Kerr’s Warriors were in the 2015 NBA Finals when he benched Andrew Bogut for Andre Iguodala. That move changed everything, sparking a defensive resurgence that led to three straight wins and their first NBA championship in 40 seasons.
Nakase, just 30 minutes before tip-off, unveiled her own version of that legendary maneuver. Tiffany Hayes and Kaila Charles were *in* the starting lineup, with Kayla Thorton and Cecilia Zandalasini heading to the bench. It was a gutsy call, but Nakase’s reasoning was clear: “I was trying to change it up. The nice thing about our team is that no one cares who starts. If you’re on the bench it doesn’t matter. We can do that because we have a really egoless team. So, yeah, you definitely saw some energy, a better fight.”
Energy, Defense, and a Series-Changing Win
And boy, did we ever see it. The Valkyries looked like the team we’re accustomed to, finally. They were locked in on defense, poised, connected, and patient. Hayes and Charles immediately brought more quickness and aggressive defense to the starting five, setting a new tone from the jump.
Kaila Charles herself confirmed the shift, saying, “We had the energy, we punched first and we kind of dictated. They’re obviously a great team and when they were trying to make their run, we didn’t fold. We didn’t put our heads down. We just continued to keep punching and punching and were able to get the win.” Even Zandalasini and Thornton, coming off the bench, were more effective in their new roles, particularly Zandalasini. The Valkyries had not lost three games in a row all season, and they still haven’t. This team doesn’t quit.
Now, with the series tied 2-2, the WNBA Finals are guaranteed a Game 6, a first since the league moved to a seven-game format last season! Game 5 goes down Monday evening at Chase Center. The momentum has completely swung, and the Valkyries are absolutely buzzing. Get ready for an epic finish, because this series just got ridiculously good.
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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