ATLANTA ― The Golden State Valkyriesand head coach Natalie Nakaseneeded to do something ― anything ― differently to get the team out of the 2-1 hole it was in before Saturday's Game 4, and they did.
Nakase changed their starting lineup, sending Kayla Thornton and Cecilia Zandalasini to the bench for Game 4. Thornton was held scoreless for two games during the series and had just two in another. Zandalasini was able to score against the Atlanta Dream, but had been poor shooting outings (30% and 12.5%) in Games 1 and 2.
The move was likely made to give Golden State more offensive juice and a bit more size defensively, and it paid off early. Golden State was flying around the court at State Farm Arena and mixing in a lot more movement than it had
in the past two games. The Valkyries managed to hold three Dream starters (Angel Reese, Naz Hillmon andJordin Canada) scoreless for much of the first quarter and hold Atlanta to just 11 points after its leading scorer, Allisha Gray, picked up three fouls in the first frame.
Golden State's prowess was impressive because they managed to do it without Hayes, who has been so critical to their production. Hayes started, but had to sit early with two fouls before picking up her third early in the second quarter. The Valkyries dug deep to create some separation by elevating more on their shots, hitting multiple jumpers and several deep threes, plus picking on rookie Izzy Borlase defensively when Gray went out.
Gabby Williams, who challenged herself to be better as a leader before Saturday, spearheaded the charge with a hefty barrage of shots, pummeling Atlanta from the midrange as Golden State's lead ballooned to as high as 16 just before halftime. Golden State also hounded Reese, something that hadn't happened in the past two games. They stuck to her like glue on the bottom of a shoe and didn't let up. The Valkyries seemed to take Reese's huge outings in Games 2 and 3 personally, refusing to let her get going and forcing five turnovers.
To Golden State's credit, the intensity felt very similar to Game 1 where Golden State did everything it could to unravel the Dream at "Ballhalla," But, this time, the Valkyries were more than 2,100 miles from home bringing that Bay Area grit to the South. Golden State held Atlanta to its lowest-scoring half of the season with 26 points, and every Dream starter had a negative plus-minus.
“Finally they decided to fight, so it was really good that they showed up," Nakase said during halftime. "They’re playing their hearts out, and that’s what I love."
Valkyries stifle Dream in Game 4
Golden State continued to put its foot on the gas as the chance to even the series was well within reach.
It played fairly composed in the third quarter even after the fouls mounted and Nakase received a technical foul for the second consecutive game for appearing to argue a call. After Nakase's tech, Atlanta made two surges to cut the lead to under single digits, with a timely 3-point bucket from Borlase and Bonner with just under three minutes remaining in the third. However, Golden State did not flinch after the Dream went on their runs. Williams and Co. went right down the proverbial gut of Atlanta, attacking the paint for 32 points and causing 16 Dream turnovers.
The Valkyries also limited the Dream to zero fast-break points well into the fourth quarter. Yes, zero fast break points, which Atlanta leads the league in with 12.5 points per matchup during the regular season. With roughly seven minutes remaining in regulation, Atlanta couldn't get out into transition, a stunning sight. The Dream ended with two fast-break points. That's not a typo.
Veronica Burton cashed a gnarly 3-ball with under five minutes remaining to push Golden State out in front even more, sinking what was eventually the dagger basket. It was a contested shot right in the face of Borlase and pushed Burton to 10 points, by far her best game of the series, just when Golden State needed it the most. Burton's production put the exclamation on a fantastic day for Golden State, which had four players in double figures.
If Nakase wanted fight, Golden State finally showed it. They walk away with a gutsy 67-62 win in Atlanta. There will be a Game 6.
The Valkyries had the "fire in (their) bellies" that Williams shared she needed to see from her team on Friday. They followed her lead, and it paid off. Now, the question remains: can they sustain it as the series shifts back to the Bay?
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Valkyries find their fight, stifle Dream to even WNBA Finals momentum
