Lineup Switch by Coach Natalie Nakase Works Out as Valkyries Even WNBA Finals Series with Dream at 2
Natalie Nakase’s changes lifted Golden State’s energy, and the Valkyries got 17,000 fans in Atlanta before evening the series.
- On Saturday, the Golden State Valkyries evened the WNBA Finals series 2-2, defeating the Atlanta Dream 67-62 in Atlanta. Head coach Natalie Nakase's strategic lineup adjustment mirrored a successful move by Steve Kerr years ago.
- Seeking to end a two-game slide, Nakase inserted veteran Tiffany Hayes and Kaila Charles into the starting lineup. This followed Gabby Williams' viral post-Game 3 call for accountability, where she admitted she had been "too loose as a leader."
- Defensively, Kiah Stokes limited Angel Reese to eight points while the Valkyries held the Dream to just 19 shots in the first two frames. The team forced 16 turnovers to secure the gritty 67-62 victory.
- Now tied 2-2, the WNBA Finals return to San Francisco for Game 5 on Monday night. The raucous crowd at Chase Center, known as "Ballhalla," will back the Valkyries against Angel Reese and the Dream.
- Game 6 is scheduled for Thursday in Georgia as the best-of-seven series continues. Both teams prepare for the critical next phase to decide the championship.
19 Articles
19 Articles
Lineup switch by coach Natalie Nakase works out as Valkyries even WNBA
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Natalie Nakase’s shakeup of the Golden State starting lineup for Game 4 of the WNBA Finals brought back memories of a similar move made by Warriors coach Steve Kerr in the NBA Finals
The Toronto Star
Lineup switch by coach Natalie Nakase works out as Valkyries even WNBA Finals series with Dream at 2
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Natalie Nakase's shakeup of the Golden State starting lineup for Game 4 of the WNBA Finals brought back memories of a similar move made by Warriors coach Steve Kerr in the NBA Finals more than a…
“No One Cares Who Starts”: Natalie Nakase Reveals Thoughts After Valkyries Become the First Team In WNBA History to Change Multiple Players in Starting Lineup
When Joe Lacob set the ambitious goal of bringing a title to the Bay within five years, Natalie Nakase built the Valkyries around a simple principle: the team comes before the individual. But a 26-point blowout in Game 3 left Golden State looking nothing like the team she had worked to build, prompting Nakase to […]
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 45% of the sources lean Left, 44% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
