STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
The WNBA finals are tied. The Atlanta Dream and the Golden State Valkyries have two wins each, and Game 5 is in San Francisco tonight. WNBA writer and podcaster Jordan Robinson is here. Welcome.
JORDAN ROBINSON: Hi. Good morning.
INSKEEP: OK. So it's a test of strength. What are you learning about the strengths of these two teams as they push back and forth?
ROBINSON: One word - defense. These games are in the 60s. They are low-scoring. They are gritty. Both of these teams finished top three in defenses at the end of the WNBA season, and that's what it's been all about - whoever wins and forces the most turnovers wins the game.
INSKEEP: You know, I was watching highlights of Game 4, and that was immediate impression. The Valkyries again and again and again getting a steal, going down the court to the other side, and sometimes then Atlanta blocks their shot. I mean, defense on both ends.
ROBINSON: Absolutely. And the biggest defense was against Angel Reese. This is somebody for Atlanta who has been dominating throughout the whole series. The past two games, it was Atlanta, and Golden State was able to come back and win in Game 4, holding her to just 8 points, 2-for-12 from the field, and that's the head of the snake. So they were able to stop her.
INSKEEP: When you say 8 points, like, what would be more normal for Angel Reese?
ROBINSON: Oh, she just had a 30-12 game - 30 points, 12 rebounds. She was averaging 20 points per game in this series, already looking like a Finals MVP. But even outside of the scoring, she was bringing the energy, hyping up the crowd, getting her team energized. And the Valkyries were able to just distinguish that whole thing.
INSKEEP: Wow. And when you say 2 out of 12 from the field for the star player, there's the margin of victory right there. It wasn't that big a margin at all. That's more than the margin, as a matter of fact. So let's talk a little bit about the Golden State Valkyries. Brand new team, almost, right?
ROBINSON: Yes. This is their second season ever. They are a new expansion team, and it still just blows my mind that they're even in the finals to begin with. But it's because of that defensive mentality. They have a first-time head coach. They don't even have really a superstar on their team. It's been a bunch of role players that's been strength in numbers. They've been able to collectively win games, and for them to get it this far over another franchise who's never won a WNBA championship, it's been outstanding.
INSKEEP: So if I asked you who is the Angel Reese of the Valkyries, you would say nobody?
ROBINSON: Right. Gabby Williams has been the offensive go-to for the Golden State Valkyries. She had 17 points in Game 4. They're going back to Chase Center in San Francisco for Game 5. They call it Ballhalla. It is the loudest, most disruptive home-court advantage in the WNBA. They're going to be looking for her to have 20-plus and lead them to victory, but their offense has been a struggle. Their defense gets their offense going, and that's what they have to stay true to their identity to get another one.
INSKEEP: What does Atlanta have to do to get through this?
ROBINSON: First, they got to have Angel Reese score more than 8 points. That is for sure.
INSKEEP: All right.
ROBINSON: But I love that Atlanta - they also want to get fired up on the defensive end. They have players like Rhyne Howard who can get going. They just have to stay true to that.
INSKEEP: Jordan Robinson, thanks very much. Pleasure talking with you.
ROBINSON: Thanks so much.
INSKEEP: Jordan is a WNBA writer and podcaster and co-author of the book "Court Queens."
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