ATLANTA -- The Golden State Valkyries don't want to panic, but they understand what's at stake as they face a 2-1 deficit in the WNBA Finals after being steamrolled by the Atlanta Dream in Game 3.
"We continue to point out the things where we lack discipline and where we lack maybe paying attention to their personnel," guard Veronica Burton said over Zoom on Thursday. "We address that and not overreact but also understand that there is a major sense of urgency, and we can't necessarily wait for anything to change."
Game 4 of the best-of-seven series is Saturday.
Golden State started the series on a high note, using a late run to eke out a Game 1 home victory despite trailing for nearly 30 minutes. Atlanta, however, took Game 2 at Ballhalla, leading by as many as 21, and then protected home court with a 26-point blowout in Game 3.
The nature of the losses has been rather uncharacteristic for Golden State. In those games, the Valkyries have turned over the ball 36 times, resulting in 46 points for the Dream. That's after Golden State averaged just 11.5 turnovers per game in the regular season (fewest in the league) and 10.3 per game in the playoffs before the series.
Atlanta got much of what it was looking for offensively on Wednesday, using a 23-9 run to take control of the game after it was tied at 48 early in the third quarter. The Dream's 97 points were the second most allowed by the Valkyries this postseason; Golden State is 0-8 this year, including playoffs, when allowing 90 or more points.
"An element of it obviously is a little bit surprising in the sense of that is kind of what we hang our hats on, is our discipline, is our composure," Burton said.
Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said that when the team often thrives when its back is against the wall, especially when players can work as a connected unit.
In these playoffs alone, the Valkyries have stormed back from 16- and 17-point deficits to win games. This 2-1 series deficit, Nakase said Wednesday, is an extended opportunity to do that again through a more aggressive game plan.
"Our players, our staff, we love to come together in these moments," Nakase said. "We get even more connected, get more clarity out of it. Didn't go our way last game, but now we're just focused on the next game. ... This is what brings the best out of us in these moments."
Golden State hasn't lost three games in a row at any point this season.
"It is a long series, so I think we're still very positive," said Kiah Stokes, who won three WNBA titles with the Las Vegas Aces. "We know what we can fix. A lot of it is dealing with ourselves, so we just got to look in the mirror first and then move forward. I think positivity and energy is still high, and we got another chance to steal one on Saturday."