The Golden State Valkyries entered the playoffs with the best defensive rating (99.3), holding their opponents to a league-low 75.1 points per game. However, the identity that brought them to the WNBA Finals felt like a shell in Games 2 and 3 against the Atlanta Dream. After Game 2, Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase even said her team would hang their hats on defense. But unfortunately, a 26-point defeat awaited them the following game, as the Dream set a franchise record for most points in a Finals game. And while Game 4 suddenly became do-or-die for the Valkyries, this is where Nakase reminded the world why she has a Coach of the Year award on her resume.
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The Valkyries returned to their basics by doubling down on their defensive identity. Instead of starting Kayla Thornton and Cecilia Zandalasini, Nakase replaced them with veteran Tiffany Hayes and Kaila Charles. Adding All-Defensive Second Team member Kiah Stokes, the Valkyries neutralized the Dream’s exceptional offense led by Angel Reese and limited them to just 62 points. ESPN broadcaster Ryan Ruocco also highlighted the change in the Valkyries’ defense, believing it served as the catalyst that levelled the series 2-2 heading into Game 5.
“You could feel their defensive intent. They made Angel Reese go left, like they were letting her catch it on move going right over and over and over again in the other games. In this game, they were throwing two bodies at her, trying to make her a passer, which she turned over six times, or they were making her go left. She had a really tough game four, and I thought Golden State made some shrewd adjustments to how they defended her. And because of it, we have a 2-2 series, and now it feels once again like, oh my gosh, anything could happen.” Ruocco said on the Road Trippin’ Show on X.
Apart from earning the Defensive Player of the Year honor, Angel Reese is also the Dream’s primary scoring engine. In the WNBA Finals, the Bayou Barbie is averaging 18.3 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists, according to StatMuse. Unfortunately for her, the Valkyries’ Game 4 adjustments clearly worked, as Reese’s performance dramatically dropped compared to her record-breaking Game 2, when she became the youngest player in WNBA history to score 30 points and 16 rebounds in a Finals game.
In fact, Reese did not get into the score sheet until 6:15 remained in the second quarter, when she converted a six-foot hook shot off an assist from Rhyne Howard. Reese ultimately finished with only eight points on 2-of-12 shooting and 4-of-6 from the charity stripe, while grabbing nine rebounds and three assists.
Ruocco was not the only one who noticed the Valkyries’ increased defensive work and physicality affecting Reese. Joining Sue Bird and Tina Charles on WNBA on NBC after the Valkyries’ 67-62 victory, NCAA and WNBA legend Cheryl Miller shared her perspective on the Valkyries defending Reese.
“Angel Reese at halftime of Game 3, 15 points. Tonight, four points. I mean their defense, it may have been the same defense, but it was more physical and they made, and it’s just my honest opinion, they made Angel (Reese) uncomfortable. And I have yet to see someone make Angel uncomfortable.” Miller said.
Regardless, the Bayou Barbie was quite self-aware of her shortcomings in Game 4, just as she was after going scoreless in the second half of Game 1 when she told reporters she would be more aggressive in the next games, which she was.
“I think it was just me. I rushed my shots,” Reese said after producing her lowest field goal percentage in any game this postseason. I didn’t take my time and finish around the basket like I’ve been doing the last two games… We have to stand together. If we stand together and get back to our identity, we’ll be fine.”
As for the winners, Kiah Stokes became the first player in WNBA Finals history to record more than two blocks in four consecutive games, all while passing legends Sylvia Fowles and Brittney Griner for most blocks in the Finals. She finished with three blocks, grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds, and scored four points. The former UConn player has been one of the centerpieces of the Valkyries’ defensive identity this season, something that legendary UConn head coach Geno Auriemma also pointed out recently.
“Another great story that’s not talked about is the impact Kiah Stokes has had on winning in her whole career,” Auriemma said about Stokes. “Who wouldn’t want to coach a kid that says, ‘Don’t throw me the ball. Just let me play 27 minutes. Let me block four shots, get 10 rebounds, get a couple of steals, and just shut down the other team’s best player.’ That’s like a coach’s dream.”
Meanwhile, veteran Tiffany Hayes utilized her 14 years of WNBA experience in crunch time. She scored seven of her 13 points in the fourth quarter, which ultimately made the difference for the Valkyries winning by five points.
“Just to give all I had, which is what I always do. Of course, you gotta give a little more. Instead of 110%, you gotta give 120%. We’re all fighting, battling. But at the end of the day, we’re here for each other and we do it for each other, so I think we showed that today.” Hayes said after the game.
With the series tied two-all and the teams taking a win each on their opponents’ backyard, the WNBA Finals moves back to Chase Center in San Francisco. With the Dream’s State Farm Arena selling out both games, Hayes told the incoming fans at “Balhalla” what their mission is for Game 5.
“Get loud and get ready,” she said. “Show ’em what the crowd really do.”
As we head toward the business end of this topsy-turvy series, Game 5 will answer which team has the nerves and, most of all, the heart to win their franchise their first WNBA championship.