Kiah Stokes Explains Mindset Behind Historic WNBA Finals Defense

Kiah Stokes blocked 3 shots Saturday in the Golden State Valkyries’ 67-62 win over the Atlanta Dream at State Farm Arena, giving her 14 blocks in the WNBA Finals.

No player has blocked more in a single Finals series.

The win tied the series 2-2. Stokes also pulled down 16 rebounds, a playoff career high.

Atlanta got Stokes off her feet on a few pump fakes, and she finished with 5 fouls in 30:53.

“Honestly, that’s kind of cool to hear, but I just hang my [hat] on defense,” Stokes said. “I like to block shots. Obviously, they got me in a few pump fakes and I got some fouls. But I’m trying to be the last line of defense for our team that allows my guards to bring pressure a little more. So I know they have confidence that I have their back. So just trying to do what I can do.”

She blocked 4 shots in Game 1 and 4 more in Game 2, then 3 in each of the two games in Atlanta.

She is the first player with at least 3 blocks in four consecutive Finals games, according to the league’s postgame notes.

Seven times this postseason, Stokes has reached 3 blocks. No player has done it more often in a single postseason.

Her 26 blocks this postseason rank fourth for a single WNBA postseason. Lisa Leslie had 31 in 2001 and 28 in 2003. A’ja Wilson had 30 last year.

As Golden State’s best defensive big, Stokes drew Angel Reese. Reese went 2-of-12 from the field.

“For me, it was just trying to make every look that she had at the basket difficult,” Stokes explained. “So it’s a tough job, but I think being our best defensive big, I got to own up to that challenge. But like I said, it was just trying to make [her] take difficult shots.”

Reese finished with 8 points and 9 rebounds. Her 30-point, 16-rebound line came in Game 2, which Atlanta won 79-65 in San Francisco.

Stokes blocked 12 shots in three regular-season games against Atlanta, including a career-high 7 in one of them. Six of those blocks came on point-blank attempts by Reese, according to Field Level Media.

Reese scored 11 points in the first quarter of Game 1 before Golden State changed the matchup. She went 0-for-5 over the final three quarters.

Atlanta attempted 31 free throws Saturday. Golden State attempted 13.

Stokes was not counting on whistles going either way.

“The physicality is the Finals,” Stokes said. “We don’t know what the refs are going to call. Like it could be against us or [for] us. But we got to make sure we just bring physicality and make it one through five. We got to make it hard for them to get easy looks. And I think we did a better job of that today versus Game 3.”

Her 16 rebounds and 8 offensive rebounds both set Golden State franchise records for a playoff game. The 8 offensive boards tied for the second-most by any player in a Finals game.

On the career playoff lists, Stokes moved up to No. 16 in rebounds with 324. She is tied for No. 17 in blocks with 49.

Stokes went 2-of-5 from the field for 4 points and missed both of her 3-point attempts.

Shooting open looks is part of how she sees the offensive glass.

“Honestly, no, not really. It was just shoot open shots,” Stokes said. “So I was open on a few of them. Not gonna lie, my three felt pretty good in warmups, but it didn’t drop. But that’s all right. I just know my teammates got my back.”

“This just gives us a chance to get more offensive rebounds,” Stokes continued. “But in the past when I wouldn’t shoot those shots, I think it’s a detriment to our team. So for me, it’s just if you shoot it, you got a chance to get a rebound in another possession.”

Stokes won three championships with the Las Vegas Aces, the most recent in 2025, and signed with Golden State on April 13.

Gabby Williams said Stokes spoke in the locker room after the Game 3 loss.

“Kiah spoke, she’s a three-time champion, so we follow her, especially she knows what it takes in these moments,” Williams said. “She talked about it not being easy last year, them having a tough game, almost losing to Seattle, almost losing to Indiana. But it’s about how you respond that matters.”

Williams first answered the question in French before repeating it in English.

Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase holds up Stokes as the model for a best-of-seven series: consistent rest and recovery, and no attention to the noise.

“I think it’s always been in her,” Nakase said. “I think what she chatted to me before coming here was just like, and I know Kiah obviously from Vegas, but she just needs an environment where she feels good, she feels loved, and I think she feels really connected, even though this is her first year with our team. The fact that I always see her with a smile on her face. But more importantly, man, she’s a pro. She does everything to make sure her body’s right, whether it’s like ice tubs, just being super mindful to keep her, she does an amazing job of not letting the outside noise get to her.”

“And so Kiah leads by example for our team,” Nakase continued. “And I think that’s really important because she’s been through obviously the Finals many times. And I love that the biggest thing is Kiah stays consistent. She doesn’t look for an outside noise. She actually doesn’t like attention. And so with that type of star mentality, I think that’s really special. And that’s what keeps us really focused.”

Stokes was named to the All-Defensive Team this season.

Golden State is home for Game 5 on Monday night. Tip-off is 8 p.m. ET.