WNBA FINALS: DREAM VS. VALKYRIES

October 24, 2026

Karl Smesko

Angel Reese

Rhyne Howard

Atlanta Dream

Game 4: Postgame

Golden State Valkyries 67, Atlanta Dream 62.

Q. For Rhyne and Angel, curious, in that first half, what were the Valkyries doing that generated some of those turnovers that you guys had?

RHYNE HOWARD: They just came out aggressive, and we didn't come out ready to match that. You know, I think they forced us into some untimely decisions, and they capitalized off of it.

Q. Talk about the physicality of the game. I know you don't say they did anything to you but what do you feel like tonight about the physicality and your play against it tonight?

ANGEL REESE: Yeah, for sure, I think it was me. I didn't -- I think I rushed a lot of my shots and I didn't take my time and finish around the basket, like I've been doing in the last three games, and it happens.

I'm just looking forward to the next game and I'll just be better.

Q. The Valkyries switched up their starting lineup a little bit. I'm just curious what you thought that adjustment did from your side of things?

KARL SMESKO: I think they were just mixing it up, wanting to get a better start to the game. Give them credit, they came out super aggressive. They were crashing the boards really hard. They were being very physical on defense. We just needed to take care of the ball better. Get some better shots early, and then when we did get good shots early, you know, they didn't fall, and you know, we kind of dug ourselves a little bit of a hole.

You know, really happy with the fight we showed in the second half but you know, we can't put ourselves in that position where you're playing a great defensive team and you're having to come back from double figures.

Q. Angel, you mentioned feeling like you rushed your shots a bit, and curious, Kiah in particular, what makes her a difficult player to go up against?

ANGEL REESE: I mean, she's been guarding me the whole playoffs, or the whole Finals. So it wasn't anything different. I just felt like I was rushing my shots.

Q. For either players or Coach. 18 turnovers, last time you had that many turnovers was like late August. I'm wondering was it more so simply what Golden State was doing or did you feel rushed in some of the sequences you guys were trying to put together?

ANGEL REESE: For me, from my turnovers, I think, well, two of them were offensive fouls. And then just not passing the ball right on time to where I usually do. I just have to be better there on those six turnovers, we had 17, subtract that, that will be 11. Just being better there for me individually and being better taking care of the ball.

Q. Now that you know you will need a Game 6, what's your hope or expectation of what that will look like coming back to Atlanta?

ANGEL REESE: Just them showing up again. The fan support here has been amazing. We appreciate the love and support and everybody coming out, and being able to force a Game 6, at least, being able to come home and play in front of the home crowd again would be amazing.

Q. Here or --

ANGEL REESE: Here.

Q. You guys keep mentioning that they came out more aggressive. Why do you feel like you guys weren't able to match that and didn't come out with a more aggressive mindset in this game?

RHYNE HOWARD: I mean, we knew they were going to come out aggressive. We knew they were going to come out with a different mentality.

You keep asking us what they did. I just think it was a lack of focus on our part. We kept talking about it but we didn't show up and be about it.

Q. You guys have been known to bounce back after going through seasons like this. What's the message you guys are talking about in the locker room to make sure your mental is ready for the next game?

ANGEL REESE: Yeah, staying together. As long as we stay together and get back to our identity, we'll be fine.

I mean, also, just for our free throws, like 22 for 31, we make all our free throws, we win the game. Just small things like that. Obviously turnovers, as well, but just getting back to who we are defensively, and then offensively, it will come.

Q. What do you make of the shot creation for Naz today? I think she made five attempts, or three last game, and then she made three of them. And then for this one, was it part of the game plan that you reduce her shot attempts for threes this time? Or what do you make of the shot creation?

KARL SMESKO: I'll be honest, I didn't hear the beginning of the question. Who are we talking...

RHYNE HOWARD: She's asking why Naz didn't have any shots.

KARL SMESKO: Yeah, obviously Naz played a really good game for us. She was really aggressive on the offensive boards. Did a great job defensively. They didn't leave her as often on her lifts and things like that, so they didn't give her as many looks at three as she had last game.

So that was good defense on their part to try and limit her shots.

Q. You guys took Game 2 in Golden State. How much does that help you to know that you've done it and won there once, does that give you confidence to do it in Game 5 or 7, if necessary?

ANGEL REESE: Yeah, like I said, just getting back to who we are, our identity, being the enforcers and just knowing who we are.

I think our second quarter is what honestly killed us, 26-15. Being able to get back to our second half is great. We applied a lot of pressure but we can't wait to the second half to do it, especially in Ballhalla. Just making sure we come out a lot better and finish the game how we did.

Q. 2:26 to go in the first half, you called time-out. What were you seeing and what did you want the team to respond? And Angel, after the game, looks like Naz was talking to you in the huddle in the middle of the court. What message was she giving you guys?

KARL SMESKO: Well, the time-out was just, we thought it was important to try and finish the half on a good note. You know, ideally, we would have liked to get it under 10; didn't happen.

So we were just trying to finish the half and have some momentum going into the second half.

ANGEL REESE: Yeah, just being who we are.

Q. Allisha obviously got into early foul trouble. How much did that impact the game plan? Her hand is still hurting, how much was the limited minutes her foul trouble versus her health?

KARL SMESKO: Yeah, the foul trouble was definitely a factor. She only got to play about half the game.

But Allisha is a competitor. She'll be back out there. We know what she's capable of doing. And you know, we're just all going to be motivated to come back and have the best game of the series.