After Game 1 win in this WNBA Finals, the Golden State Valkyries looked like a team with heart and a capable team to overcome any opponents with their resilience. But three games later, they have quickly realized that they are facing a team with matching resilience and perhaps a deeper roster. That’s why they made a roster change as well.
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Down 2-1 in the series, and after two consecutive losses in the series, head coach Natalie Nakase had made a desperate lineup move. Right before Game 4, the Valkyries announced a change in their starting lineup. They added Tiffany Hayes and Kaila Charles to the starting lineup, moving Kayla Thornton and Cecilia Zandalasini to the bench. The new starting lineup will feature Tiffany Hayes, Gabby Williams, Kiah Stokes, Veronica Burton, and Kaila Charles.
Nakase going smaller in her starting lineup might be in response to Atlanta’s starting lineup. The Atlanta Dream starters play a high-paced offense, which has bothered the Valkyries. Nakase can only hope that removing length from the lineup can tackle issues that Atlanta poses in front of them.
Moreover, given how subpar the starting lineup has been for her offense, the change itself was necessary. The Valkyries already had an inferior starting lineup compared to the Dream, and they weren’t getting much help.
In three games so far, Thornton has scored a total of 2 points and failed to score a point in Games 1 & 3. Zandalasini played better in Game 3, but in the first two contests, she scored a total of 13 points. In the Game 2 loss, she scored 5 points while shooting 12.5% from the field.
Hayes gives the Valkyries a much-needed offensive boost, and she comes with playoff experience. However, the bigger question is: can the Valkyries really rely on a 37-year-old veteran to give them that scoring throughout the game against Atlanta’s physical defense? Charles provides them with a defensive boost. She is a strong, athletic wing who can defend and fight for rebounds.
Going small could fuel the Valkyries’ offense and give them the aggressive start they need against the Dream. But the adjustment comes with a clear cost on the defensive glass.
The Dream have an overwhelming length in their starting lineup, giving them an overall height advantage. But more importantly, the Valkyries might be even more vulnerable in the paint than they were before.