The Golden State Valkyries face elimination in the Valkyries Dream Finals Game 4 matchup Saturday at State Farm Arena, with the Atlanta Dream holding a 2-1 series lead heading into the 1 p.m. ET tipoff. Atlanta has won two straight games in this series, both at home, and can clinch its first WNBA championship with another win.
Golden State took Game 1 on the road but has dropped the last two games by a combined margin of 41 points, including a 97-71 loss in Game 3 on Oct. 22. The Valkyries finished the regular season 32-12, while the Dream went 30-14 and enter Saturday on a five-game winning streak dating back to the regular season.
Dream Vs Valkyries Game 4 Information
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 24
- Time: 1 p.m. ET
- Venue: State Farm Arena, Atlanta, GA
- TV: NBC
- Series: WNBA Finals, Atlanta leads 2-1
By The Numbers
- Points per game: Atlanta 87.9, Golden State 80.7
- Field goal percentage: Atlanta 41.1%, Golden State 39.0%
- Three-point percentage: Atlanta 33.3%, Golden State 34.8%
- Free throw percentage: Atlanta 85.7%, Golden State 82.2%
- Assists per game: Atlanta 19.6, Golden State 16.1
- Turnovers per game: Atlanta 9.5, Golden State 10.7
- Offensive rebounds per game: Golden State 10.0, Atlanta 7.8
- Defensive rebounds per game: Golden State 27.1, Atlanta 25.8
- Steals per game: Atlanta 10.0, Golden State 7.0
Golden State Valkyries Outlook
Golden State enters Game 4 having lost two consecutive games in this series by an average of more than 20 points. The Valkyries average 80.7 points per game but managed just 71 in Game 3 and 65 in Game 2, well below their season pace. Golden State’s 10.7 turnovers per game have been a factor in the series, and the Valkyries shot only 39.0% from the field as a team this season.
Veronica Burton leads Golden State in assists at 5.7 per game and is projected to run the offense again as the starting point guard. Gabby Williams, the team’s leading scorer at 14.4 points per game, and Kiah Stokes, who averages 5.8 rebounds, are expected to anchor the starting lineup. Center Iliana Rupert is out for a reason listed as not injury related, which could affect Golden State’s frontcourt rotation.
Atlanta Dream Outlook
Atlanta has won five straight games and has outscored Golden State by a combined 33 points over the last two games of this series. The Dream lead the matchup in scoring at 87.9 points per game and shoot better from the field at 41.1%, built on a 45.4% mark on two-point attempts. Atlanta also averages 19.6 assists per game, nearly four more than Golden State’s 16.1.
Allisha Gray, the team’s leading scorer at 19.0 points per game, and Angel Reese, who leads the series statistically with 12.1 rebounds and 16.4 points per game, are expected to start. Jordin Canada, who averages 7.3 assists, is projected to run Atlanta’s offense. The Dream will be without Brionna Jones, out with a left leg injury, and Matilde Villa, listed out for a coach’s decision.
Key Matchup
Angel Reese against Golden State’s frontcourt depth looms as the deciding factor. Reese has posted three straight double-doubles in these Finals, according to Total Apex Sports’ coverage of her double-double streak, and her 12.1 rebounds per game outpace Golden State’s team average of 10.0 offensive boards. With Rupert unavailable for Golden State, the Valkyries will need Stokes and the rest of their frontcourt to limit Reese’s second-chance opportunities. Atlanta’s 25.8 defensive rebounds per game against Golden State’s 10.0 offensive boards per game sets up a rebounding battle that could determine possession counts in a game Golden State cannot afford to lose.
Players To Watch
Angel Reese, F, Atlanta Dream
Reese has been Atlanta’s most consistent force in the series, averaging a double-double on the season at 16.4 points and 12.1 rebounds per game. Her performance inside has been central to Atlanta taking a 2-1 series lead, as detailed in Total Apex Sports’ report on the Dream’s Finals push.
Veronica Burton, G, Golden State Valkyries
Burton leads Golden State with 5.7 assists per game and will need to generate offense against an Atlanta defense that forces 10.0 steals per game. Her ability to limit turnovers while creating shots will be critical for a Valkyries offense that has struggled the last two games.
What To Watch
Atlanta can close out its first WNBA championship with a win Saturday, a stakes-raising scenario covered in Total Apex Sports’ report on a guaranteed first-time champion. Golden State must win to force a Game 5 and keep its title hopes alive. The Valkyries took Game 1 of this series 68-64, as covered in Total Apex Sports’ recap of that game, but have not found that form since. Atlanta’s crowd at State Farm Arena, which hosted the series after a venue shift detailed in Total Apex Sports’ report on the Finals venue move, will factor into the atmosphere for a potential clinching game.
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