In a tightly contested Game 4 of the WNBA Finals on Saturday, the Golden State Valkyries secured a crucial 67-62 victory over the Atlanta Dream to even the best-of-seven series at two games apiece. The matchup, held in Atlanta, featured a disciplined performance from the second-seeded Valkyries, who capitalized on defensive pressure and ball control to overcome the fourth-seeded Dream.

Golden State forced 18 turnovers while committing only nine themselves, a marked improvement after their previous two losses that were plagued by 33 combined turnovers. Head coach Natalie Nakase emphasized accountability and learning from past mistakes in film sessions leading up to the game. “We took accountability in our film sessions the last two days,” Nakase said. “Just credit to our players. They’re super vulnerable after losses and we get even closer because we learn from them.”

Gabby Williams led the Valkyries with 17 points, supported by Tiffany Hayes and Veronica Burton who contributed 13 points apiece. Despite struggling from beyond the arc—making only four of 25 three-point attempts—Golden State maintained control of the game. Cecilia Zandalasini added 10 points, and Kiah Stokes dominated the boards with 16 rebounds. The Valkyries will return to their home court in San Francisco for Game 5 on Monday.

Atlanta’s offense was paced by Rhyne Howard, who scored 19 points, while Jordin Canada and Isobel Borlase chipped in 10 points each. The Dream, however, were hindered by an off-night from star forward Angel Reese, who had been a dominant force in the series with an average of 25.5 points and 14 rebounds in the Dream’s two wins. On Saturday, Reese was held to eight points on 2-for-12 shooting and nine rebounds, marking the first time this postseason she failed to reach double digits in scoring. “I think I rushed a lot of my shots,” Reese said. “I didn’t take my time and finish around the basket the way I’ve been doing the last three games.”

Golden State established a strong start, overturning a 7-2 deficit with a 12-0 run and leading 16-11 going into the second quarter despite poor shooting from three-point range. At halftime, the Valkyries held a commanding 42-26 lead after a 14-turnover performance from Atlanta in the first half. The Dream showed resilience in the second half, closing the gap to 46-40 early in the third quarter. Nevertheless, Golden State answered with key baskets to maintain a lead through the final minutes.

In the closing moments, Atlanta’s attempts to narrow the deficit fell short as missed three-point tries by Allisha Gray and Borlase allowed the Valkyries to secure the win. Nakase credited her team's willingness to adapt and the unselfish attitudes of her players. “We have ego-less players that understand we’re trying to win and do what’s best for the team,” she said.

Atlanta coach Karl Smesko acknowledged the team’s effort to rally but stressed the need to avoid early deficits against strong defensive opponents. “I was really happy with the fight we showed in the second half, but we can’t put ourselves in that position,” Smesko said. “We’re all going to be motivated to come back and have our best game of the series.”

The series is set to continue with Game 5 in San Francisco, where the Valkyries will look to build on their momentum and take the lead in the Finals.