Golden State’s travel burden is catching up to them in the Finals, as the series is testing both teams in more ways than one. Now, Gabby Williams has explained why travel fatigue is hitting Golden State hard as their lengthy postseason run continues.

“I think obviously it’s physical,” Williams said in an interview when asked about the biggest challenges the Valkyries have faced in the seven-game series. The interview was filmed and posted to X by reporter Arielle Chambers.

“There’s fatigue. I think the fact that we were a bit spoiled in the first two rounds playing Vegas and Dallas with a shorter flight. The longer flights, I think, have taken a toll on both teams a little bit… It becomes mental.”

Her comments come as the Valkyries hold a 3-2 series lead and look to seal the deal in Game 6 on October 29. Her observations about travel distance also make sense.

Golden State faced the Dallas Wings in the first round of the playoffs and didn’t need to travel much, going back and forth to Dallas only once. Direct commercial flights between the two locations usually take about three and a half hours, which leaves plenty of time for the team to get some rest. Travel was even less of a factor in the next round.

The Valkyries headed to Las Vegas to take on the Aces in round two, a much closer location. In fact, that cut travel time down by about two hours compared to Dallas. On top of that, the team only had to travel once during the best-of-five series, sweeping the defending-champion Aces and playing just once at Michelob ULTRA Arena.

Compare that to travel in this series. Through five games, the teams have traveled back and forth from San Francisco to Atlanta and are now set to board planes for the fourth time for Game 6 at State Farm Arena. Flights between the two cities usually last about four and a half hours, leaving less time for players to recover and prepare.

What has made recovery important throughout the series is the highly physical play. In fact, Williams credited the Valkyries with increasing their intensity in the two-game bounce-back after Atlanta took an early 2-1 lead.

“I think we stopped letting the officiating dictate the game,” Williams said after the Valkyries evened the series in Game 4.

“I think last game we were very soft. We were expecting a foul call; we were expecting this, but this is the finals. It’s going to be physical; it’s going to be tough, so we have to woman up, and I think we just decided to play through that contact versus wanting it to be easy.”

On the other hand, the physicality has clearly bothered Atlanta star Angel Reese, who made it clear after Game 5 that she sensed a change in how the referees had called Games 4 and 5.

“I know I have the mismatch, especially we were talking about matchups,” Reese said.

“So when I do switch on the post and I’m a lot stronger than the opponent, I should be able to turn and they’re calling an offensive foul, but I’m getting pushed before that. So that is frustrating for sure… It definitely shifted when we went up 2-1, and things shifted. I don’t know what happened, but it definitely took a big turn.”

With the Valkyries one win away from the franchise’s first championship, any preparation afforded to them could be decisive. They need to find a way to maintain their relentless pressure and put the Dream down once and for all. Only time will tell how Game 6 will unfold at State Farm Arena.