Kiah Stokes kept swatting shots on the interior, while Veronica Burton disrupted the Dream with her own quick hands to alter shots. And that crazed, violet-clad “Ballhalla” home crowd roared at every chance – watching the Golden State Valkyries move one win away from a championship in their second season with a 64-55 victory against Atlanta in Game 5 of the WNBA finals on Monday night. Stokes had 13 points, eight rebounds and three blocks, and Burton contributed a nearly identical stat line with 13 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots as Golden State got defensive once more to shut down Angel Reese and the Dream.
The Valkyries have leaned on Stokes’ steady presence and postseason experience during this remarkable run. Just her veteran experience as well. It’s more than just defense.” Angel Reese finished with seven points, 15 rebounds and five assists – a big difference from her two standout performances in the first two games of the series at Chase Center.
Reese shook her head when whistled for the second of her three offensive fouls with 7:43 to play. Fans screamed and clapped thunder sticks following the final buzzer as Stokes spoke from the floor to chants of “MVP!” “We appreciate you,” a smiling Stokes said. Veronica Burton had 13 points, eight rebounds and her postseason-best four blocks – tying Diana Taurasi in 2009 for most by a guard in a finals game.
On Saturday, Nakase had changed up her lineup for a 67-62 Game 4 win by inserting Tiffany Hayes and Kaila Charles into the starting five. She stayed with those two Monday night, and it worked again. Hayes, who played 10 seasons for Atlanta and came out of retirement two years ago, had 12 points – and Nakase has said she wants to win it all for the veteran guard.
Williams began two for 11 and missed all four of her three-point tries, but she converted a three-point play with 9:08 remaining to put the Valkyries ahead 49-42 and finished with nine points on three-for-14 shooting and six rebounds. Atlanta will now try to stave off elimination at home Thursday in Game 6 and force a deciding Game 7 back here at Chase Center on Saturday. The Dream hurt themselves with 17 turnovers that led to 21 points for Golden State.
Stokes hit a key three-pointer with 2:46 to go in the third quarter and another with 7:21 left in the game, which ignited chants of “Ki-ah! Ki-ah!” from the rocking, rally-towel-waving sellout crowd at Chase Center. The Valkyries used a dominant second half after they led 25-22 at the break, the lowest-scoring first-half combined score in WNBA finals history.
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