The Golden State Valkyries’ defensive big Kiah Stokes’ elite rim protection has made headlines in Game 4 of the 2026 WNBA Finals series against the Atlanta Dream. It wasn’t just the sheer volume of rejections; it was the relentlessness with which Stokes refused to let Angel Reese score another double-double. And it wasn’t just headlines, as fans also took notice of Stokes’ performance.

Gabby Williams and Stokes were sitting side-by-side during the post-game press conference after the 67-62 win helped the Valkyries equalize the series score to 2-2, with at least two more games to be played. A reporter informed Stokes that her Game 4 performance set a new WNBA record for the most total blocks in a Finals series. Williams broke into a smile immediately, turned to Stokes, and shook her hand to congratulate her, per an X post by Underdog WNBA.

Stokes has been the defensive anchor for the Golden State, ensuring head coach Natalie Nakase’s aggressive defensive schemes bear fruit. This Finals series against the Dream has taken her defense to levels never seen before in the WNBA. With her three blocks in Game 4, Stokes made history by recording the most total blocks in a WNBA Finals series, with 14 blocks to her name already, across just four games. 

The three-time WNBA champion is looking for her fourth, as she has averaged 3.5 blocks against the Dream in this series. Game 4 also saw Stokes record a game-high 16 rebounds, and she is currently leading the Valkyries in both rebounds (9.6 RPG) and blocks (2.6) for this postseason.

Stokes refused to let Dream’s top postseason scorer, Angel Reese, find her rhythm, holding her to just eight points last night. She guarded Reese all night, forcing the Dream forward to make difficult shots, with Reese ending the night shooting 2-of-12 from the field. When asked about her mentality while guarding the 24-year-old, Stokes offered a blunt reply.

“She’s been the head of the snake all series, so for me it was just trying to make every look that she had in the basket difficult. It’s a tough job, but I think being our best defensive big, I got to own up to that challenge. Like I said, it was just trying to make her take the difficult shots.”

Stokes’ efforts were substantiated by Gabby Williams, who shot a team-high of 17 points. The two share a dynamic that stretched beyond the WNBA, as both Williams and Stokes have previously played together for the UConn Huskies under Geno Auriemma. Stokes’ final college season, 2014-15, was Williams’ very first. The two anchored the Huskies’ backline defense during UConn’s run to the 2015 NCAA National Championship, before Stokes was drafted by the New York Liberty in 2015. 

This year, Stokes averaged 1.7 blocks per game in the regular season, her highest since her very first year back in the league in 2o15. This is already higher than her career average of 1.1 blocks per game. With the series score now standing at 2-2, the fans wasted no time in flooding the comments of the X post with praise for the Valkyries’ defensive anchor, as Stokes basks in the glory of writing her name in the WNBA history books.

Fans shower love on Kiah Stokes after historic Game 4 outing

Kiah Stokes’ defense gave Angel Reese enough trouble throughout the night that the Dream forward even commented on her own play after the game. 

“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,” said Reese. 

But the fans were more focused on the incredible effort that Stokes put in for the Valkyries, rushing to the comments under the X post by Underdog WNBA.

“14 blocks in a Finals series is absolutely wild,” wrote one fan.

Stokes’ 14 blocks happened in only four games, meaning she will look to build on this record in the next two games as well. Stokes’ rim defense in this finals series has crossed the likes of Sylvia Fowles and Brittney Griner as well!

Another fan wrote, “Hands down Best Defender in WNBA 🛡️.” 

Stokes is averaging her career-high playoff blocks this season, and she is showing no signs of slowing down. She is one of the reasons that the Valkyries held the highest defensive rating in the regular season, and currently hold the second spot in the postseason.

One fan commented, “Warden commander Stokes in Valcatraz 🔥,” comparing Stokes to a prison warden in charge of shutting down the opposing offense, which is exactly what the 33-year-old has done all season.

Another fan, however, called out the WNBA media, writing, “And yet nasty wnba media didn’t even vote her for all defensive first team…”

The 2026 WNBA All-Defensive First Team was revealed on October 15 and included Shakira Austin, Rhyne Howard, Angel Reese, Gabby Williams, and A’ja Wilson. But after her Finals series performance, this fan believes that Stokes’ name should have been on the list too.

Finally, one fan summarized what the people were thinking after Kiah Stokes’ defensive clinic through this playoff series.

“Kiah Stokes is dominating defensively 🔥”

The action will now shift back to San Francisco, as the Dream visit the Valkyries for Game 5 at the Chase Center, where a hostile crowd of Ballhalla fans awaits them. Both teams are hunting for their first-ever WNBA championship. If the Valkyries can win the next two matchups, they will become the youngest franchise in league history to win a championship, as 2026 marks just their second season in the WNBA.