Kiah Stokes and Angel Reese among WNBA Finals Game 4 winners and losers

Kiah Stokes and Angel Reese among WNBA Finals Game 4 winners and losers.

SportsNews Info Wire8 min read
Kiah Stokes and Angel Reese among WNBA Finals Game 4 winners and losers

Kiah Stokes and Angel Reese among WNBA Finals Game 4 winners and losers.

Article outline

  1. What happened
  2. What comes next
  3. The key numbers
  4. Background
  5. The details
  6. The bottom line

Key points

  • The Golden State Valkyries evened the Finals with a 67-62 victory over the Atlanta Dream in Game 4 at State Farm Arena on Saturday, Oct.
  • Golden State Valkyries center Kiah Stokes came out of Game 4 with four points, 16 rebounds and three blocks.
  • Gabby Williams, who led the Valkyries in scoring with 17 points, emphasized defense was the driver behind the Valkyries' turnaround performance in Game 4.
  • The Valkyries created the most of their trips to the free throw line, shooting 11-of-13 in Game 4.

Kiah Stokes and Angel Reese among WNBA Finals Game 4 winners and losers. Heather Burns, Callie Fin, Cydney Henderson, Marcus D. Smith USA TODAY. Tina Charles' WNBA Finals prediction.

WNBA MVP Tina Charles gives her two cents on what she thinks will happen in the WNBA Finals between the Dream and Valkyries.

ATLANTA – Just like that, the WNBA Finals is a best-of-three series.

Notably, the Golden State Valkyries evened the Finals with a 67-62 victory over the Atlanta Dream in Game 4 at State Farm Arena on Saturday, Oct. 24. The series is tied 2-2 as it heads back to San Francisco for Game 5 on Monday, Oct. 26.

"The one thing that I had told the team after the last game is the goal, when we play on the road, especially when it's 2-2, just steal one on the road, " Golden State center Kiah Stokes. This person set a record for blocks in the Finals, remarked. "So yeah, we lost on what was that Wednesday? But to me, that doesn't mean we're out of anything since our goal could still be accomplished if we won today."

"It was just shake it off and learn from it and then just get ready because nothing was won or lost in Game 3."

Gabby Williams led the Valkyries with 17 points. Tiffany Hayes and Veronica Burton continued 13 points each. Cecilia Zandalasini continued 10 points off the bench after being moved out of the starting lineup.

Angel Reese, who became the youngest player to record three straight double-doubles in the finals in Game 3, was limited to eight points on 2-of-12 shooting from the field. She continued nine rebounds and had six turnovers.

Here are the winners and losers from Game 4 of the WNBA Finals. Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase making adjustments.

Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase reminded everyone why there's a Coach of the Year on her resume. Simple and plain, the Valkyries were bullied in Games 2 and 3 and Golden State had enough of it.

As Kayla Thornton and Cecilia Zandalasini were reserves, nakase created a lineup adjustment that doubled-down on their defensive identity bringing Tiffany Hayes and Kaila Charles into the fold.

With Kiah Stokes as the backline support, the front court changed the tone with their physicality, tenacity and grit. It was an area Golden State lacked in last game. It was evident in Gabby Williams' spirited postgame huddle on the court after their Game 3 loss. That frustration, that fire indicated on the court and it resonated.

Hayes really obtained it going in the second half where she scored all 13 points, including seven in the fourth quarter. She let the Dream know she was cooking every chance she could breathing life into the Valkyries.

Charles and Stokes created things challenging for Dream forward Angel Reese holding her to eight points, nine rebounds and six turnovers. Reese shot 2-for-12 from the field.

Stokes was Stokes, grabbing 16 rebounds, including eight offensive rebounds and three blocks. Charles was a +14 in her 29 minutes. She didn't allow her team to be pushed around. All game she was in Atlanta's head, even drawing a technical foul on Naz Hillmon. Valkyries forward Tiffany Hayes.

Tiffany Hayes, who was drafted by the Atlanta Dream in 2012, took over in the fourth quarter as the Valkyries stole one on her former team's home court.

She scored seven of her 13 points in the final quarter but additionally provided an energy shift that clearly produced a difference as Golden State bounced back from a blowout loss in Game 2.

"Just to give all I had, which is what I always do, " Hayes remarked of her mindset in the must-win game. "Of course, you gotta offer a little more. Instead of 110%, you gotta offer 120%. We're all fighting, battling. But at the end of the day, we're here for each other and we do it for each other, so I think we indicated that today."

In a mic drop moment, Hayes threw some shade on the Dream's sellout audience at State Farm Arena when asked regarding returning to Balhalla in front of Valkyries fans.

"Get loud and get ready, " she remarked. "Show 'em what the crowd really do." Gabby Williams on Valkyries Game 4 win.

Valkyries' Gabby Williams shares how the team played with more contact to win Game 4 of the WNBA Finals vs. Atlanta Dream. Valkyries center Kiah Stokes.

Golden State Valkyries center Kiah Stokes came out of Game 4 with four points, 16 rebounds and three blocks. She additionally had three blocks in Game 3, making her the first player in WNBA Finals history to record more than two blocks in four consecutive games. Stokes additionally passes Sylvia Fowles and Brittney Griner for the most blocks in a WNBA Finals.

"Honestly, that's kinda cool to hear, but I just hang my head on defense. I like to block shots, " Stokes remarked concerning her new place in the league's record books. "I'm trying to be the last line of defense for our team that allows my guards to bring the pressure a little more. I know they have confidence that I have their backs. So just trying to do what I can do." Valkyries guard Veronica Burton.

When Veronica Burton stepped up and knocked down a massive 3-pointer to extend the Valkyries' lead back to nine points, atlanta cut its deficit to six points with 4: 49 remaining in the fourth quarter. Burton scored Golden State's last six points as it held on to defeat the Dream and even the series, 2-2. Valkyries head coach called Burton the team's "heart and soul."

She's literally our leader in terms of never quit, fall down, get back up, Nakase remarked. Things are not going our way. It's all right. And I think what was really key tonight is I think she finished with that shot. She remarked, 'I secured it. I obtained the isolation.' And she just attacked her match up and closed it and really calmed us down. Credit to her resilience and her fight.

Burton finished with 13 points, five assists and three rebounds in the win.

When the Atlanta Dream have been able to play physical, they've been at their best. Whether its bully ball offensively or point-of-attack defense on ballhandlers, the Dream dominate when they impose their will on their opponent. There were moments when they tried, but had players in foul trouble which changed the level of aggressiveness.

As did Isobel Borlase, allisha Gray had five fouls. Gray was hit with her fifth foul early in the final period. The Valkyries were able to go right at her knowing one more and she'd be out. Angel Reese had a rough first half, helping Golden State set the tone. She had three fouls by halftime, but finished with four. Jordin Canada additionally had four.

Notably, the Atlanta Dream offered up 18 turnovers. It is the same amount of field goals they finished with for the game. Angel Reese had a game-high six of those turnovers.

"I'm sorry if I sound redundant, but we just picked up our ball pressure, " Williams remarked. "I think we're a bit more connected today and that gives us our energy." Dream forward Angel Reese's historic tear.

Angel Reese racked up plenty of history through the first three games of the Finals. Game 3 marked her third straight double-double of the series. She's the youngest player to accomplish such a feat.

That streak concluded Saturday as she shot 2-of-12 from the field for eight points and nine rebounds.

"I think it was me, I think I rushed a lot of my shots, " Reese remarked. "I didn't take my time and finish around the basket like I've been doing the last three games. It happens and I'm just looking forward to the next game and I'll just be better."

As much as Reese took accountability, Stokes' defense probable played a role.

"She's been the head of their snake all series. So for me, it was just trying to create every look that she had at the basket challenging, " Stokes noted. "It's a tough job, but I think being our best defensive big, I gotta own up to that challenge."

Notably, the Dream created it to the free-throw line early and often on Saturday, but weren't able to capitalize. Atlanta shot 22-of-31 (71%) from the free-throw line in Game 4, well below their 83.8% average in the 2026 postseason. It marked the difference in the game.

"(If) we make all our free throws, we win the game, " remarked Angel Reese. This person finished 4-of-6 from the free throw line. "So just small things like that. Obviously turnovers as well, but just getting back to who we are defensively and then offensively, it'll come."

Meanwhile, the Valkyries created the most of their trips to the free throw line, shooting 11-of-13 in Game 4. SMS Facebook Twitter Email. Share your feedback to support improve our site! Share your feedback to support improve our site!

Taken together, the developments around kiah Stokes and Angel Reese among WNBA Finals Game 4 winners and point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.

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