Dream bullied Valkyries in Game 3. How does Golden State reply?
Before Game 3 of the WNBA Finals, Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase promised it might her crew’s finest struggle.
Instead, the Atlanta Dream blew out the Valkyries, 97-71, behind a 21-point, 12-rebound double-double from Angel Reese at State Farm Arena in Atlanta on Wednesday, Oct. 21. The Dream lead the collection 2-1 with Game 4 set for Saturday, Oct. 24.
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“Sometimes guarantees aren’t saved,” Nakase stated postgame. “(It’s not that) they do not need it they usually do not wish to struggle. It’s simply typically, it is like how will we ensure that we are able to do all of it collectively? There’s typically particular person punches and a few individuals with nice spurts and a few individuals with nice vitality.
“But it is like how can we do all of it collectively, growth, punch collectively?”
Game 3 wasn’t a promising outing for Golden State, led by Gabby Williams’ 15 factors on 5-for-18 capturing. Tiffany Hayes added 14 factors and Janelle Salaün 13 factors. Cecilia Zandalasini added 13 factors, tying her profession playoff excessive for 3s made with 4. It wasn’t sufficient.
More: Angel Reese made Atlanta Dream turn up the heat, and Golden State burned | Opinion
“We have been a bit undisciplined,” Williams stated.
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Hayes echoed the sentiment: “This sport they wished it greater than us. That’s not who we’re, that is not who we have been and that is not how we received right here. I feel we received to get a little bit bit extra that (self-discipline) in our tank.”
Nakase’s message to the crew after the sport: It’s nonetheless a protracted collection. The Valkyries will look inward following back-to-back losses, trailing in a collection for the primary time this postseason.
The most obvious situation was the shortage of vitality, not simply offensive manufacturing. The Valkyries as a crew have been flat out punked. They have been bullied within the paint as Atlanta outscored Golden State, 44-20. The Dream are additionally dominating in transition, up 43-11 in quick break eventualities within the collection.
More: Angel Reese (again), Valkyries’ turnovers among WNBA Finals winners and losers
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“They did play as exhausting as they might,” Nakase stated of her crew. “I feel there was lots of emptying the tank mentality. I believed the third quarter was one other stage. They got here out the gates actually, actually exhausting. Unfortunately, for those who flip the ball over, Atlanta’s going to make you pay.”
Golden State has turned the ball over usually all collection lengthy. In Game 3 they dedicated 17 turnovers, conceding 22 factors.
Their identity is defense. Three gamers have been named to the 2026 WNBA all-defensive team: Kiah Stokes, Veronica Burton and Williams. Now, the Valkyries have to search out some spark on offense.
In three consecutive video games now, Golden State has been held to 72 factors or much less whereas capturing 35% or much less on discipline objectives. By comparability, they’ve averaged almost 82 factors per sport throughout the postseason.
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“Sometimes photographs do not fall. We do not prefer to make it about offense. They scored 97 factors. We haven’t any probability (in the event that they proceed that),” Williams stated. “We simply need to again to our protection and that may get our offense going.”
If something goes to vary for Golden State as they prep for Game 4, it is going to have to return on the offensive finish. The Valkyries have gotten to search out methods to create straightforward, high-percentage scoring alternatives. Most importantly, they’ve to guard the ball.
“We received actually unfastened with the ball. Very uncharacteristic of us. We received to get again to who we’re,” Hayes stated. “If they carry strain, we’ve to remain collectively (and) not get flustered and simply giving the ball up.”
The actual job is figuring out who else could be a constant scorer for Golden State. If Williams has a chilly capturing night time, the Valkyries are compelled to discover a constant secondary scorer to tempo the crew. They consider in energy in numbers, so anybody is might step up at any level.
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Game 4 of the 2026 WNBA Finals ideas off on Saturday, Oct. 24 at State Farm Arena (1 p.m. ET, NBC/Peacock). The Dream lead the collection 2-1. Teams up 2-1 in all-time Finals (in a best-of-five-or-more collection) are 9-4 within the collection all time.
This article initially appeared on USA TODAY: Dream bullied Valkyries in Game 3. How does Golden State respond?
