Natalie Nakase’s decision to alter the starting lineup for the Golden State Valkyries in Game 4 of the WNBA finals proved pivotal as the team evened their best-of-seven series against the Atlanta Dream with a 67-62 victory on Saturday in Atlanta.
The adjustment featured veteran guard Tiffany Hayes re-entering the starting five, a move that echoed a similar strategic change made by Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr during the 2015 NBA finals. At that time, Kerr inserted Andre Iguodala into the starting lineup to counter the Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James, sparking a momentum shift that ultimately helped the Warriors secure their first NBA championship in 40 years.
Hayes, 37, who came out of retirement two years ago to continue competing at this level, embraced her role fully. “Just to give it all I have which is what I always do but of course you’ve got to give a little more, so instead of 110 you’ve got to give 120,” she said, emphasizing the team’s collective effort and resilience.
Nakase also made other lineup changes, including bringing Kaila Charles into the starting rotation and injecting energy off the bench with Kayla Thornton and Cecilia Zandalasini. The coach highlighted the team’s selflessness and lack of emphasis on individual status as key to their adaptability. “The best thing about our team is no one cares who starts, no one cares. People coming off the bench it doesn’t matter... because we have a really selfless team, egoless team,” Nakase explained. “I just wanted to change it and you definitely saw some energy, better fight.”
Golden State’s tighter rotation on Saturday involved seven players logging significant minutes, a strategic tightening after a heavy 97-71 loss in Game 3. That defeat sparked an emotional response from guard Gabby Williams, whose postgame comments about loosening her leadership stance went viral. Williams used that moment as motivation, delivering 17 points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals in Game 4. Reflecting on her performance, she said, “If I want to lead my team I have to be the one that sets the tone and I have to lead by example as well, so I think that motivated me to set the tempo today.”
The victory sets the stage for Game 5, scheduled for Monday night at Golden State’s Chase Center. The home crowd, known as “Ballhalla,” is expected to bring significant support as the Valkyries seek to build on the momentum gained with their road win. Many of the violet-clad fans also gathered for a watch party at the arena during Game 4.
Game 6 will return to Atlanta’s State Farm Arena on Thursday, with the exact location to be confirmed. Both teams have cooperated to accommodate scheduling changes, allowing recent games to draw approximately 17,000 fans each.
On the Dream’s side, forward Angel Reese acknowledged the challenge ahead, noting that the Valkyries would respond aggressively at home. “We knew they were going to come out aggressive. We knew they were going to come out with a different mentality,” Reese said. “As long as we stay together and get back to our identity, we’ll be fine.”
The series remains tightly contested with momentum swinging as both teams adapt and vie to claim the WNBA championship.