ATLANTA -- The Golden State Valkyries spent the last 48 hours challenging themselves to reclaim their identity and be the version of themselves that propelled them to the Finals. Just before Game 4 tipped off Saturday afternoon, Gabby Williams offered one last reminder.
"Don't have any regrets," she told them.
They didn't, as the Valkyries beat the Atlanta Dream 67-62 to tie the series at 2-2.
Just two days ago, Golden State looked like it was out of answers for the Dream, losing by 20 in Game 3. The Valkyries' biggest complaint was one of self-reflection: They didn't have any fight.
After that game, before even exiting the court, Williams huddled her team up and gave an impassioned pep talk. She said she needed to give her team a different kind of leadership -- one that was rooted in a fiery disposition, rather than Williams' usual laid-back demeanor.
But that speech didn't just motivate her team for Game 4; it motivated her, too.
"I didn't like my last game, so stepping up in that [leadership] role made me step up individually," Williams said. "If I want to lead this team, I have to be the one that sets the tone. I have to lead by example, as well. That motivated me to set the tempo today and start off the game with a lot of aggressiveness."
Williams finished Game 4 with a team-high 17 points, along with three assists and three steals. It's the second-highest-scoring game of her career without a made 3-pointer, with her finishing 0-for-6 on 3-point attempts.
"We watch [Williams], we follow her and whenever she has to give her emotions, that's OK too," Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said. "It's good to be fiery and also lead by example."
The Valkyries entered Game 4 desperately wanting to throw the first punch -- something they struggled to do in the previous two games. They put together a 9-0 run in the first quarter, and then a 12-4 run in the second to take control of the game. Nakase made a starting lineup change, inserting Kaila Charles and Tiffany Hayes into the first group and moving Cecilia Zandalasini and Kayla Thornton to the bench.
The third quarter saw the Dream show signs of life, opening the period with a run of their own -- outscoring the Valkyries 14-4 to cut what was once a 16-point deficit to single digits, but the Valkyries stood their ground.
"I think the No. 1 key and thing we've been preaching all year is keeping our composure," Charles said. "[The Dream are] not going to give up ... so we have to understand that it's not going to be easy. We just have to continue to take their punches, but punch back."
While the Valkyries had to reignite their fire, the Dream failed to build off the momentum they had gathered -- and had spent the last two days touting.
"Lack of focus on our part," Rhyne Howard said. "We kept talking about it, but we didn't show anything to be about it."
The Dream's efforts were led by Howard, who had her best game of the series with a game-high 19 points and eight rebounds. Angel Reese, though, was held to a quiet night after a big performance in Game 3.
Reese finished with just eight points on 16.7% shooting -- her lowest field goal percentage in any game this postseason, and her third lowest in any game this season overall. It was Reese's first career game held to single-digit points and rebounds when playing at least 30 minutes.
"I think it was just me. I rushed my shots," Reese said. "I didn't take my time and finish around the basket like I've been doing the last two games."
She continued: "We have to stand together. If we stand together and get back to our identity, we'll be fine."
Reese particularly struggled against Kiah Stokes, who held Reese to just 2-of-10 shooting as the primary defender. Stokes finished with 16 rebounds -- just one shy of tying her career high. She also blocked three shots, marking her fourth consecutive Finals game with at least three blocks, breaking a WNBA record.
Like Williams, Stokes took it upon herself to be a vocal leader for the Valkyries leading up to Game 4.
"The one thing I told the team after the last game was the goal when we play on the road is to steal one on the road," Stokes said. "Our goal could still be accomplished today if we won. Now it's a best-of-three series."
The series shifts back to San Francisco for Game 5, which will be played Monday. Game 6 is set for Thursday in Atlanta, but it is unclear where the game will be played. The Dream have played all of their 2026 home playoff games at State Farm Arena, which seats close to 18,000. However, the Atlanta Hawks are scheduled to host the Cleveland Cavaliers that night.
The Hawks shifted the start time of their home opener Saturday to accommodate Game 4. The Dream's home court at The Gateway at College Park seats just 3,500.