Final series in women's basketball: test of strength under the basket

G abby Willams looked slightly rattled Saturday night after she and her Golden State Valkyries wrestled a victory from the Atlanta Dream in their own arena to tie the WNBA Finals series at 2-2. “It was a dog fight,” she said, summing up the game, which was tough in every respect. She called it “Dawg Fight” in street slang, with a long drawn-out aaaa. Her prediction for the rest of the games: “It’s going to be a Dawg Fight.”

The two finalists in this year's final, both of whom have never won a title, are giving each other nothing. After Atlanta won games two and three, the half-French Williams lost her temper in the locker room and raged loudly: "That wasn't us. That wasn't me." They then showed up to the fourth game in Atlanta with resolute determination. With 26 fouls, the game wasn't exactly pretty to look at, but it was a win.

The fact that the final series has become a dog fight is not least due to the character of both teams. Dream star Angel Reese was named Defensive Player of the Year. Sports commentator Stephen Smith called her a “defensive demon and rebounding wizard.” Gabby Williams took second place in the rankings. The elbows are extended under the basket, no one is squeamish here. The scores reflect the defensive mentality of both teams: twice neither team reached 70 points. This has only happened once in the 30-year history of the WNBA Finals.

This street fighting attitude is constitutive for the Valkyries from California. It was the principle that coach Natalie Nakase used to put the team together last year. Nakase, who was previously one of only a few women to be an assistant coach in the NBA, received the trust of the owners of the Golden State Warriors to put together a competitive team after the league expanded in 2025. Her selection criterion: "It's not so important whether you're tall or athletic. The main thing is that you have the right mentality."

She achieved the miracle of turning a team of outsiders into title contenders within a year. The core of the team consists of players who were rejected by their old teams. Under the leadership of the star Williams, they found themselves and a fighting spirit that allowed them to surpass themselves.

The story immediately created a buzz in the Bay Area. The Chase Center, where the Warriors, who are chasing their former glory, usually play, was sold out in every game this season. The Valkyries broke the WNBA attendance record (800,000 visitors).

The dog fight against her rivals from Atlanta with their young superstar Angel Reese is met with similarly great euphoria. Despite the unusual toughness of the game and the low scores, more than a million viewers have sat in front of the screens for every final game so far. At the opening game there were more than two million. Women's basketball has never had such high viewership in its history.

The closer the decision comes, the more fans will probably watch the now completely open duel. Although, for some incomprehensible reason, the league has scheduled the potentially decisive Game 6 for lunchtime. This can no longer affect the WNBA's unstoppable surge in popularity. Neither is the toughness and intransigence of the women on both sides. On the contrary. Fighting women's basketball at the highest level is fun.