Golden State Valkyries, Atlanta Dream knotted at two ahead of Game 5

The GIST: The best-of-seven WNBA Finals are now a best of three after the Golden State Valkyries rebounded from back-to-back losses to earn a 67–62 Game 4 Saturday win over the Atlanta Dream. Let’s relive the spiciest moments before turning our attention to tonight’s 8 p.m. ET Game 5.

💜 The pep talk that turned the tides: Valkyries linchpin Gabby Williams gave her team an impassioned speech after their Game 3 loss, and much like Simba, the Valks remembered who they were on Saturday. Golden State held the Dream to a pedestrian 33% shooting percentage, forced 17 turnovers, and rejected five shots, led by a Kiah Stokes’ block party.

• Most importantly, GSV stifled Dream superstar (and all-WNBA second team selection) Angel Reese, the driving force behind Atlanta’s Game 2 and 3 wins. Reese managed just eight points and committed six turnovers in Game 4.

📋 Head coach Natalie Nakase’s gamble pays off for Golden State: Coaches don’t usually change their starting lineups mid-playoffs, but don’t tell Nakase, who swapped out two starters on Saturday. She benched forward Cecilia Zandalasini to start Tiffany Hayes instead, and both ended up dropping double-digit points over the course of the game. Chess, not checkers.

👀 Back to the Bay Area for Game 5: The Dream failed to take a commanding 3-1 series lead at home. Now, they’ll need to win at least one game in famously intimidating Ballhalla to hoist the championship trophy. And the Valks are stellar at Chase Center — they boast a 22-6 record there this season (although one of those Ls is to ATL).

• And while there will be one more game in Atlanta, the big question is where? The 17K-seater State Farm Arena isn’t available because of a Hawks game, and the Finals can’t be moved this time around since it’s a weeknight. Stay tuned.