Golden State Valkyries Even WNBA Finals with Gritty Road Win Over Atlanta Dream

The 2026 WNBA Finals have been levelled at two games apiece after the Golden State Valkyries secured a hard-fought 67-62 victory over the Atlanta Dream on Saturday at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. The win not only tied the best-of-seven series but also shifted momentum back to Golden State as the championship battle moves to the Chase Center for Game 5 on Monday, October 26.

From the outset, the Valkyries asserted themselves with a strong defensive showing and efficient offence. They closed the first quarter with a 16-11 lead and continued to build on that advantage, stretching it to a commanding 16 points by halftime with the score at 42-26. This was the largest deficit Atlanta had faced in the series so far, highlighting Golden State’s ability to disrupt the Dream’s rhythm early on.

Gabby Williams led the Valkyries’ offensive charge, topping all scorers with 17 points, complemented by Tiffany Hayes and Veronica Burton who each contributed 13 points. Cecilia Zandalasini added a valuable 10 points, providing depth scoring that helped sustain the lead. On the defensive end, Kiah Stokes was a dominant presence, pulling down 16 rebounds and setting a new WNBA Finals record for blocks in a series with 14. While there is some discrepancy about her block count in Game 4, with sources reporting three or four blocks, her impact was undeniable throughout the game and series.

Atlanta’s star forward Angel Reese, who had been the driving force behind the Dream’s two previous victories—averaging 25.5 points and 14 rebounds in Games 2 and 3—was held to just eight points on 2-of-12 shooting. The Valkyries’ defensive strategy effectively limited Reese’s opportunities and prevented her from replicating her earlier dominant performances.

The Dream staged a late comeback in the final minutes, trimming the deficit to four points with under 30 seconds left, energising the sellout crowd. Rhyne Howard, who led Atlanta with 19 points, hit a driving layup and a crucial free throw to bring the Dream within striking distance. However, Golden State’s Veronica Burton responded promptly with a key free throw, and Gabby Williams forced a turnover from Reese in the dying seconds to secure the victory.

Offensively, Atlanta struggled with a shooting percentage of 33.3 percent from the field and an abysmal 4-for-23 from beyond the arc. Turnovers also plagued the Dream, who committed 18 compared to Golden State’s nine. The Valkyries capitalised on these mistakes, converting them into 16 points off turnovers, underscoring their disciplined approach.

Golden State’s coach Natalie Nakase made strategic lineup changes that paid dividends. Tiffany Hayes and Kaila Charles started in place of Kayla Thornton and Cecilia Zandalasini, both of whom came off the bench to provide an immediate spark. This adjustment contributed to a key 14-2 run in the second quarter that helped the Valkyries establish their halftime cushion.

The third quarter, where Atlanta had previously dominated the series, saw the Valkyries hold firm, outscoring the Dream to prevent any significant comeback. Despite Atlanta’s efforts in the final period, the early deficit proved too large to overcome.

Prior to this game, Atlanta held a 2-1 series lead following a commanding 97-71 win in Game 3 on October 21. Now, with the series tied, both teams return to Golden State’s Chase Center for Game 5, where the Valkyries will aim to leverage home-court advantage to take control of the championship series. The tightly contested series promises an intense battle as both franchises vie for the 2026 WNBA title.