Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – Gabby Williams scored 17 points as the Golden State Valkyries battled to a series-leveling 67-62 victory over the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA Finals on Saturday. Williams led a balanced Golden State offensive display that helped the Valkyries steal a precious win on the road to leave the best-of-seven series level at 2-2.
Williams was backed by 13 points apiece from Tiffany Hayes and Veronica Burton, while Cecilia Zandalasini chipped in with 10 points from the bench. At the defensive end, Golden State managed to successfully subdue Angel Reese, restricting the in-form Atlanta star to just eight points. Reese, who had opened the series with three straight double-doubles, struggled to find her range all game, shooting just 2-of-12 from the field.
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Golden State forward Hayes said the Valkyries’ improved physicality had been the difference following back-to-back double-digit defeats in games two and three. “We just had to have more fight, more grit,” Hayes said. “We still made a few mistakes, but at the end of the day we played hard and we came out with the win.”
Valkyries defensive star Kiah Stokes, meanwhile, shutting down Reese had been the key. “She’s been the head of their snake all series,” Stokes said of Reese. “So for me, it was just trying to make every look that she had at the basket difficult. It’s a tough job, but I think being our best defensive big, I got to own up to that challenge. Just trying to make her take difficult shots.”
The series now heads back to San Francisco for game five on Monday.
© 2024 AFP
