Valkyries Beat the Dream 67-62 in Game 4, Tying the WNBA Finals at 2-2

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Pictured: Golden State Valkyries forward Gabby Williams. Photo via Wikimedia Commons (author and license on file page).

The WNBA Finals are now a best-of-three. The Golden State Valkyries beat the Atlanta Dream 67-62 in Game 4 on Saturday at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, tying the series at 2-2 and sending it back to San Francisco. Either team would be a first-time champion.

Series so far

  • Game 1, Oct. 17, in San Francisco: Valkyries 68, Dream 64
  • Game 2, Oct. 19, in San Francisco: Dream 79, Valkyries 65
  • Game 3, Oct. 21, in Atlanta: Dream 97, Valkyries 71
  • Game 4, Oct. 24, in Atlanta: Valkyries 67, Dream 62 (series tied 2-2)

Game 4: Golden State’s defense returns

Golden State built a 42-26 halftime lead, the biggest deficit Atlanta had faced all postseason, and then held on. The Dream cut it to 61-55 midway through the fourth quarter before Veronica Burton answered with a three-pointer. Rhyne Howard’s three-point play with about 28 seconds left pulled Atlanta within 66-62, but Burton made a free throw moments later to seal it.

Gabby Williams led the Valkyries with 17 points. Tiffany Hayes, starting in place of Kayla Thornton, scored all 13 of her points after halftime, and Kiah Stokes had 16 rebounds, eight of them offensive, plus three blocks, giving her a Finals-record 14 blocks through four games. Howard led Atlanta with 19 points, but Angel Reese, coming off two straight double-doubles, was held to eight points on 2-of-12 shooting. The Dream shot 33.3% from the field and 4-of-23 from three.

Game 3: Atlanta pulls away

The Dream won Game 3 97-71 on Wednesday, outscoring Golden State 51-31 in the second half after Cecilia Zandalasini’s back-to-back threes had tied the game coming out of halftime. Reese finished with 21 points, 12 rebounds and three steals, Howard added 16 points and five steals, and Naz Hillmon scored 15. The Valkyries committed 17 turnovers that led to 22 Atlanta points.

Games 1 and 2

Golden State took the opener 68-64 behind Williams’s game-high 26 points, the first Finals win in franchise history. Atlanta answered with a 79-65 win in Game 2, the first Finals victory in Dream history, as Reese put up 30 points and 16 rebounds. NBC Sports noted only Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones had previously posted at least 30 points and 15 rebounds in a Finals game. For the road to the Finals, see our Finals preview.

What’s next

  • Game 5: Monday, Oct. 26, Dream at Valkyries, 8 p.m. ET (USA Network and Peacock)
  • Game 6: Thursday, Oct. 29, Valkyries at Dream, 8 p.m. ET (USA Network and Peacock)
  • Game 7*: Saturday, Oct. 31, Dream at Valkyries, 8 p.m. ET (USA Network and Peacock)

*If necessary. Game times can change; check the WNBA’s official schedule before tuning in.

Sources

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