Valkyries tie WNBA Finals series with 67-62 road win over Dream

Gabby Williams scored a team-high 17 points and anchored a more cohesive defense as the Golden State Valkyries beat the Atlanta Dream 67-62 on Saturday, tying the WNBA Finals series at two games each. The victory came after the Valkyries adjusted their lineup, inserting Kaila Charles and Tiffany Hayes into the starting roster.

"I didn’t like my last game. I didn’t like who I was in that last game," Williams said, adding that the need to set the tone motivated her performance.

Golden State out-shot Atlanta 26-for-72 (36%) to 18-for-54 (33.3%) and forced a 17-9 turnover advantage. The Valkyries also capitalized on 16 points generated from opponent turnovers. Atlanta relied on free throws, attempting 31 compared with Golden State’s 13, but missed nine of them.

Head coach Natalie Nakase noted the team’s composure in the noisy State Farm Arena, saying the players “took a breath” and focused on details despite the crowd’s volume.

Physical play intensified in the second quarter, with Charles confronting Dream forward Angel Reese after a heated exchange. Reese, who had posted three straight double-doubles in the series, finished with eight points on 2-for-12 shooting, six turnovers and nine rebounds, while Valkyries forward Veronica Burton added 13 points and five assists.

The series shifts back to the Chase Center for Game 5 on Monday, with a potential Game 6 slated for Atlanta later in the week.