Valkyries even WNBA Finals with road win over Dream

The Golden State Valkyries beat the Atlanta Dream 67-62 in Game 4 of the WNBA Finals on Saturday night at State Farm Arena. The win evened the series at two games apiece. Golden State built the win early and then weathered a frantic Atlanta finish. That sends the series back west. Read more: Valkyries even WNBA Finals with road win over Dream

The series has swung twice already. Golden State won Game 1, 68-64, at Chase Center on Oct. 17. Atlanta answered with back-to-back blowouts, 79-65 in Game 2 and 97-71 in Game 3, before Saturday's result evened it again.

Both franchises are chasing a first championship. Golden State is in its first Finals. It is also just its second season since joining the league as a 2025 expansion team. Atlanta is in its fourth Finals appearance and was swept in each of the previous three, in 2010, 2011 and 2013.

Golden State took control early in Game 4, jumping to a 16-11 lead after one quarter. The Valkyries didn't let Atlanta back into the game until the final minute.

The Valkyries led 42-26 at halftime after outscoring the Dream 26-15 in the second quarter. Atlanta turned the ball over 14 times in the first half alone.

Still, Rhyne Howard carried Atlanta's offense, finishing with 19 points on 6-of-14 shooting and eight rebounds. Angel Reese grabbed nine boards but scored just eight points on 2-of-12 shooting.

Related: Dream can push Valkyries to the brink in Game 4

Burton seals it late

Atlanta cut Golden State's lead to 61-55 midway through the fourth quarter. After that, the Dream kept coming, scoring seven of the next nine points. A three-point play from Rhyne Howard pulled the Dream within four, 66-62, with 28 seconds left.

Finally, Veronica Burton made the first of two free throws a second later to make it 67-62, and Atlanta didn't score again. Burton finished with 13 points and five assists in 38 minutes.

Jordin Canada scored 10 points with four assists for Atlanta, and Gabby Williams led Golden State with 17 points on 7-of-21 shooting. Meanwhile, Allisha Gray, who has averaged 19 points a game this season, managed just five points on 1-of-7 shooting. Golden State's defense cut off Atlanta's scoring beyond Howard. Both teams shot under 18 percent from three-point range.

Atlanta leaned on the free-throw line down the stretch, making 22 of 31 attempts. The Dream attacked the rim, and Howard made five free throws while Canada made four. However, it wasn't enough to offset the shot volume Golden State had built over the first three quarters.

Related: Dream take 2-1 Finals lead with Game 3 rout

Stokes anchors the defense

Kiah Stokes scored only four points, but she controlled the other end of the floor. She pulled down 16 rebounds and blocked three shots, contesting shots near the rim as Atlanta tried to complete its comeback.

Golden State also out-shot the Dream from the field, 72 attempts to 54. That volume edge covered for a rough shooting night and 17 Atlanta turnovers.

Game 5 is Monday at Chase Center in San Francisco, with the series tied at two games each. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. Eastern.