The Golden State Valkyries leveled the 2026 WNBA Finals series at 2-2 with a 67-62 victory over the Atlanta Dream on the road. Gabby Williams led Golden State with 17 points, complemented by 13 points each from Veronica Burton and Tiffany Hayes, and a notable 10 points off the bench from Cecilia Zandalsini. Kiah Stokes dominated the boards with a career-high 16 rebounds and played a pivotal defensive role, especially in restricting Atlanta’s star Angel Reese to just eight points after her strong performances in earlier games.

The Valkyries’ defense was the key to their success, as they held the Atlanta Dream to 33% shooting from the field and forced 17 turnovers, including eight steals. This defensive pressure disrupted the Dream’s normally potent offense, which averages 91.3 points per game. Golden State also outperformed Atlanta in points in the paint and fast break points, crucially slowing down Atlanta’s preferred transition game. Kiah Stokes’ defensive effort stood out, as she surpassed the WNBA Finals blocks record with 14 total.

Despite falling behind by 16 points in the first half, the Dream mounted a strong comeback, outscoring Golden State in the third and fourth quarters led by Rhyne Howard’s 19 points, including 11 in the fourth quarter. However, their effort fell short. Dream head coach Karl Smesko praised Golden State’s aggressive defense and rebounding, acknowledging that his team needed to reduce turnovers and capitalize on early offensive opportunities to avoid playing from behind.

With the series tied, the Finals now shift to Balhalla for Game 5 on October 26, with home-court advantage moving to the Valkyries. Both teams will look to capitalize on momentum, but Golden State’s defensive adjustments and balanced scoring in Game 4 could prove critical as the tightly contested championship series continues. Fans can catch the next game on USA Network, CNBC, and Peacock streaming.