A 16-point halftime cushion decides it
The Golden State Valkyries went into the fourth game of the WNBA Finals one defeat from a hole they might not climb out of, and they played like it. They beat the Atlanta Dream 67-62 in Atlanta on Saturday afternoon, squaring the series at 2-2 and taking home-court advantage back for Monday’s Game 5.
The game turned in the second quarter. Golden State went on a 9-0 run and led 42-26 at the break, helped by a first half in which the Valkyries put up 40 field goal attempts to Atlanta’s 19. The Dream turned the ball over 14 times before halftime, and no amount of shot-making could cover that.
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Williams leads a balanced night
Gabby Williams led Golden State with 17 points. Tiffany Hayes and Veronica Burton each added 13, Cecilia Zandalasini finished with 10 and Kiah Stokes pulled down 16 rebounds. The Valkyries did all of that while hitting only 4 of 25 from three, a number that would sink most teams.
Atlanta did claw back. Isobel Borlase’s three cut it to 46-40 in the third, though the Valkyries still led 54-45 going into the fourth. Burton answered with a three that made it 64-55, the Dream got within five with 1:36 left, and Burton’s late jumper made it 66-59 before free throws closed it out.
Reese and Gray go cold
Rhyne Howard scored 19 to lead all players, with Jordin Canada and Borlase adding 10 apiece. The problem was elsewhere. Angel Reese managed 8 points, and she and Allisha Gray combined to shoot 3 for 19 from the field. Gray finished with just 5.
Atlanta had won Games 2 and 3 before this. Now the best-of-seven is a three-game sprint, and the Valkyries get Game 5 at home.
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