Defensive Masterpiece: Valkyries Grind Out 67-62 Win Over Dream in Game 4 to Even WNBA Finals

ATLANTA — With their back against the wall after a blowout loss in Game 3, head coach Natalie Nakase and the Golden State Valkyries stripped away the style points and returned to what made them a powerhouse: suffocating, relentless defense. Behind a shortened rotation, crucial lineup shifts, and a historic interior performance from center Kiah Stokes, Golden State held off a late surge by the Atlanta Dream to secure a 67-62 victory in Game 4 of the 2026 WNBA Finals on Saturday.

With the victory, the expansion-season fairy tale continues as the Valkyries knot the best-of-five championship series at 2-2, sending the action back to the Bay Area for a winner-take-all Game 5 at Chase Center—affectionately dubbed “Ballhalla” by the Golden State faithful.

Nakase’s Tactical Gamble and a First-Half Stranglehold

Facing a 2-1 series deficit, Coach Nakase made bold pregame adjustments. She inserted veterans Kaila Charles and Tiffany Hayes into the starting lineup over Kayla Thornton and Cecilia Zandalasini while tightening her rotation to essentially seven players.

The defensive strategy was clear: limit Atlanta’s star forward Angel Reese and deny entry passes into the paint. The plan worked to perfection in the opening half. Golden State forced seven turnovers in the first quarter alone, building a 16-11 lead, before erupting for 26 points in the second quarter to carry a 42-26 advantage into halftime.

Atlanta shot just 33.3% from the field (18-of-54) for the game and surrendered 18 turnovers, which Golden State flipped into 16 points. Most impressive was the containment of Reese, who dominated Games 2 and 3. The Dream superstar was held to eight points on 2-of-12 shooting while committing six turnovers.

Stars Grind It Out: Williams, Hayes, and Stokes Make History

While the Valkyries shot only 36% as a team, their primary options delivered when the games were grittiest.

• • • • Gabby Williams: Led the scoring for Golden State with 17 points while logging 37:26 of relentless action, anchoring the perimeter defense and pushing the transition game.
      • Tiffany Hayes: Proved her starting nod was well-earned, pouring in 13 points—all coming in a crucial second half to keep Atlanta at bay.
      • Veronica Burton: Played a game-high 38:08, scoring 13 points, including a late jumper and clutch free throw to protect the lead in the final minute.
      • Kiah Stokes: Anchored the defense with a masterpiece. Stokes notched 16 rebounds and 3 blocked shots, becoming the first player in WNBA Finals history to record 3-plus blocks in four consecutive Finals games. Her 14 total blocks set a new all-time WNBA Finals series record.

    Battled hard for all 40 minutes.

    @Veronicaab22, @kstokes41, and Gabby are your players of the game ⚔️ https://t.co/0kFXiOVHqP

    — Golden State Valkyries (@valkyries) October 24, 2026

Game-Breaking Moment: Burton and Hayes Stave Off Late Surge

Atlanta mounted a furious second-half comeback behind baseline drives from Rhyne Howard and Jordin Canada, cutting a once 16-point deficit down to three at 64-61 with under a minute remaining.

With the Gateway Center Arena crowd on its feet, Golden State needed a game-breaking play to halt Atlanta’s momentum. Out of a timeout, Burton executed a high pick-and-roll with Stokes, drove into the lane, and sank a floating mid-range jumper through contact to push the margin to 66-61 with 41 seconds remaining. After a defensive stop on Reese inside the paint, Burton converted a late free throw to put the game out of reach at 67-62.

WNBA Finals Game 4 Box Score & Series Summary

• Final Score: Golden State Valkyries 67, Atlanta Dream 62
• Series Status: Series tied 2-2

Key Team Stats:

Golden State: 36.0% FG, 16 forced turnovers, 41 rebounds

Atlanta: 33.3% FG (18/54), 18 turnovers, 10-of-18 FT

Top Performers:

GSV: Gabby Williams (17 PTS, 37 MIN), Tiffany Hayes (13 PTS), Veronica Burton (13 PTS, 38 MIN), Kiah Stokes (4 PTS, 16 REB, 3 BLK)

ATL: Angel Reese (8 PTS, 2/12 FG, 6 TO), Rhyne Howard (14 PTS)

Destination: Ballhalla for Winner-Take-All Game 5

The WNBA title will now be decided in a dramatic Game 5 in San Francisco.

By rediscovering their defensive identity and leaning on heavy minutes from Williams, Burton, and Stokes, Golden State snatched back home-court advantage. The series shifts back to the Bay Area on Monday night, where a raucous sellout crowd at Chase Center will welcome both teams for the final 40 minutes of the 2026 WNBA season.