How Valkyries made Angel Reese ‘uncomfortable’ during Game 4, explains Maria Taylor

Golden State Valkyries’ defensive performance against Angel Reese has drawn praise after Cheryl Miller explained how the Atlanta Dream star was made uncomfortable during Game 4 of the WNBA Finals.

The Valkyries claimed a 67-62 victory to level the series and force a decisive Game 5. After dominating the previous two games, Reese struggled to make an impact as Golden State’s defence limited her to just eight points.

Reese had been a key figure in Atlanta’s playoff run, but the Valkyries found a way to disrupt her rhythm when it mattered most. Speaking alongside Maria Taylor, Sue Bird and Tina Charles, Miller highlighted the difference in Golden State’s defensive approach.

Cheryl Miller explains how Golden State Valkyries stopped Angel Reese

Miller pointed to the physicality of the Valkyries’ defence as a major reason for Reese’s struggles, noting the dramatic drop in her scoring output compared with Game 3.

“Angel Reese at the halftime of Game 3, 15 points. Tonight, four points. I mean their defense, it may have been the same defense, but it was more physical and they made, and it’s just my honest opinion, they made Angel (Reese) uncomfortable. And I have yet to see someone make Angel uncomfortable,” Miller said.

Golden State head coach Natalie Nakase entrusted Kiah Stokes with the task of containing Reese, and the defensive assignment proved effective.

Stokes restricted the Dream forward to two successful shots from 12 attempts and finished with 16 rebounds, compared with Reese’s nine. She also recorded a game-high defensive impact, taking her total to 14 blocks across the first four games of the Finals and setting a new record for blocks in a WNBA Finals series.

Reese had scored 30 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in Game 2 before adding 21 points and 12 rebounds in Game 3. Her eight-point performance in Game 4 was her first game in the series without a double-double.

The forward admitted afterwards that her own shot selection had contributed to the difficult outing.

“I think it was me, I think I rushed a lot on my shots and I didn’t take my time and finish around the basket like I’ve been doing the last three games,” Reese said.

Stokes also recognised the importance of the assignment, explaining that Reese had been the driving force behind Atlanta’s offence throughout the series.

With the Finals now level, Reese will need to rediscover her scoring touch as the Dream prepare for another meeting with a Valkyries defence that has shown it can make life difficult for her.

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