Valkyries fight off elimination in Atlanta: WNBA Finals head to Game 5

Golden State silence State Farm Arena

The Golden State Valkyries refused to bow out on Saturday night, delivering a defensive masterclass on the road to stun the Atlanta Dream 67-62 in Game 4 of the WNBA Finals. Facing elimination in front of a raucous sellout crowd at State Farm Arena, the expansion franchise built a 16-point halftime lead and withstood a fierce fourth-quarter push to tie the championship series at 2-2.

Gabby Williams set the tone for Golden State, finishing with a team-high 17 points, five rebounds and three steals. Veteran guard Tiffany Hayes and point guard Veronica Burton chipped in 13 points each, providing steady ball-handling against Atlanta’s full-court press. Golden State’s interior defense, anchored by Kiah Stokes, executed a disciplined scheme that limited Atlanta star Angel Reese to eight points on 2-of-12 shooting, ending her historic run of three straight Finals double-doubles.

Winner-take-all Game 5 in the Bay Area

Atlanta mounted a furious rally in the final quarter, fueled by Rhyne Howard’s 19 points and active perimeter traps that cut the deficit to 61-55. However, critical offensive rebounds from Stokes and clutch free throws by Williams kept the Valkyries in front during the closing two minutes.

The series now shifts back across the country to San Francisco, where the Chase Center will host a winner-take-all Game 5. For the expansion Valkyries, an inaugural title would represent one of the greatest accomplishments in modern sports history. For the Dream, the chance remains to bounce back and hoist their first championship trophy in franchise history.