ATLANTA – Gabby Williams stood in the huddle and pointed to the Atlanta bench, stomped her foot and was visibly animated. The Valkyries had just lost Game 3 of the WNBA Finals 97-71 to the Dream and their emotional leader was not happy.
Williams, who has carried the Valkyries at points this postseason, shot 5-for-18 but got little offensive help from the other starters. When she came to the postgame press conference with ice wrapped around her right knee — which she insisted was fine — Williams’ frustration hadn’t cooled down a bit.
Golden State’s All-Star forward lamented that “we were a bit undisciplined on defense”, and when a reporter asked what went wrong with the Valkyries’ offense, Williams said, “We don’t like to make it about offense. They scored 95 points … 97? We have no chance. We just have to go back to our defense, and that will get our offense going.”
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – OCTOBER 21: Head coach Natalie Nakase of the Golden State Valkyries speaks to Veronica Burton #22 during the first quarter in game three of the WNBA Finals against the Atlanta Dream at State Farm Arena on October 21, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
But it wasn’t a concession speech. Williams noted multiple times that the team needed to review video of the loss to fully understand what has happened since their gritty Game 1 victory, but they also need to “remind ourselves of what motivates us and just stay together” before Game 4 on Saturday morning in Atlanta. The Dream split the first two games of the series at Chase Center, and could clinch the title at Ballhalla in Game 5 on Monday if the Valkyries can’t rediscover the magic that led them to the second-best regular-season record in the league.
“I think she’s bringing energy,” center Kiah Stokes said of Williams. “I mean, at the end of the day, it’s the Finals, so she’s being a competitor. She’s being a leader. She’s holding people accountable, holding herself accountable, and that’s just the reality of being in the WNBA Finals right now. Emotions are high, and we want to be here. We want to win.”
For so long this season, composure has been one of the Valkyries’ best assets. Maybe that’s why it’s been so shocking to see it fall apart while the Dream have had their way as the Valkyries succumb to frustration without much on-court energy to offset that.
“I think this game, they wanted it more than us, and that’s not who we are,” guard Tiffany Hayes said. “That’s not who we’ve been, and that’s not how we got here. So I think we got to get a little bit more of that.”
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – OCTOBER 21: Janelle Salaun #13, Kayla Thornton #5, Gabby Williams #1, and Kiah Stokes #41 of the Golden State Valkyries react from the bench during the fourth quarter in game three of the WNBA Finals against the Atlanta Dream at State Farm Arena on October 21, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Williams’ postgame huddle moment was one of the only instances where Golden State has shown frustration in that manner all postseason. In Game 3, though, Natalie Nakase got a technical foul in the fourth quarter for what she said was defending her players. Aminata Gueye has gone at it with Angel Reese at times, and that has manifested as energy on the other end for Atlanta.
So maybe there is something in Williams’ frustration that can inspire the Valkyries without riling them up to the point of mistakes on the court.
“I think Gabby’s just showing the amount of want to, the will, the fight,” Nakase said. “I mean, I think if everyone could have said something in those moments, we would have all showed that type of fight. We love emotions. That’s part of it, and the will and want to at this moment has to be ultra high, which I think she showed.”
Golden State has come from behind several times in the postseason. In Game 3 against Dallas in the first round, they stormed back from down 17 in the second half to win and advance. In Game 3 of the semifinals against the Aces they trailed by 16 before eventually winning.
“It would be silly to overreact right now,” said Valkyries point guard Veronica Burton. “We’re on to the next game.”
Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton (22) shoots agains Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5)during the first half of Game 3 of the WNBA basketball finals on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Even in Game 1 of the Finals they were down for most of the second half before turning it on. But over the past two games, while the Valkyries have stayed alive, they’ve never been able to get over the hump, and the frustration has started to show.
“Our fight has never not been there,” Nakase said. “I feel like this is just a long series. We’ve been down before. We’ve come back from games where we’ve been down, and so now we just put it as a longer series. We fought back from 17. We fought back from 16.
“We’re resilient. We’ve done it before. They know that, and again, it’s on my shoulders. I got to figure out maybe a couple of different schemes that could be a little bit more aggressive. I could be a little bit more clear on how I could make sure we’re fighting with the right units. So, yeah, this is on me.”
The word players used after Wednesday’s game to describe what happened was “undisciplined,” whether it be turning the ball over or allowing the Dream to get to the rim with ease.
“We just have to go back and watch it and see where we can adjust,” Williams said. “First and foremost, rest (and) recover, and then back to the film so we can adjust and have a good day of practice, reconnect, regroup, and just get ready for Saturday.”
Williams has shown passion on the court before, whether it be as Team France’s emotional leader or as the Valkyries closer.
Golden State Valkyries forward Gabby Williams (1) talks with a referee during the second half of Game 3 of the WNBA basketball finals against the Atlanta Dream on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Hayes and Burton noted it was “surprising” to come out as undisciplined as they did in the last two games. It surely had to be frustrating for Williams, too.
“I think what’s really good about our team is we embrace it,” Nakase said. “We love it. We love the fight. We love the screaming. We love the yelling. Like I said, it brings out a different level into us, and I think we’re going to utilize that in the next game for sure.”
“This is the Finals,” Burton added. “Is it not emotional? We’ve worked all season to get to this point. I think it’s okay to show some emotions.”
Golden State has won games by hitting timely shots and getting important stops, none of which have occurred in the past two games.
Do they have enough left in the tank to find that key part of their identity again in Game 4? They’ll need to in front of a raucous Atlanta crowd that sees the chance to go up 3-1 in the series.
“I think we play very composed,” Nakase said. “I think that’s what is brilliant about our team is that we lost the game… But we know how to come back. What’s good is that we usually come back even tighter. This is where we lean on each other more rather than split.”