ATLANTA -- After losing their last two games by a combined 40 points, the Golden State Valkyries vowed to "show more fight" heading into Game 4 of the WNBA Finals against the Atlanta Dream.
Golden State faces a 2-1 deficit in the best-of-seven series heading into Saturday's game.
"Our message in the locker room after the game was [that] we have to show more fight; we have to get that fire back in our bellies," leading scorer Gabby Williams said. "I want to see the Golden State I've seen all year."
A clip showing Williams giving an impassioned speech in the team huddle shortly after the Game 3 loss Wednesday went viral. Asked about it Friday, the Valkyries star said she has been "too loose as a leader," an area that Golden State coach Natalie Nakase has been pushing her to fix.
"I have been too much of, 'It's all right, we'll figure it out, we're good, we're good,'" Williams said. "So, I just wanted to show my team something different because we need something different. These are two games that haven't been us. I had to get out of my comfort zone and remotivate the troops, I guess. That's what that speech was about. ... I wanted to show my teammates a different kind of fire."
The second-seeded Valkyries are known for being even-keeled and composed, which is what made the moment stand out.
Atlanta, meanwhile, is very "energy-driven" and "a rah-rah team in terms of a celebrating and how they get their energy," Valkyries guard Veronica Burton said. "I don't think that's necessarily us.
"[We are] not trying to compare ourselves to them because that's not what got us here. We've got to be composed. ... We still need to bring our own energy and continue to pour life into each other."
The Valkyries said they had "vulnerable" conversations with each other since Wednesday in which they assessed how to be better versions of themselves.
Though they've lost two straight games, they have plenty of experience when it comes to having their backs are against a wall, including earlier this postseason where they overcame 16- and 17-point deficits to win games.
"I think there's been moments in games this season where it feels like there's no way we're going to win this," Burton said. "And you could say, 'There's no way the Valkyries are going to be here,' wherever it may be.
"And you find a way, and you will it out, and you do it together, and you grind it out. ... Logistically, it doesn't make much sense, but until you come together and you find a way to do it, that's what it comes down to."
Atlanta star Angel Reese, meanwhile, said the Dream will be paying close attention to any signs of weakness or doubt from the Valkyries.
"I think you can see it in their emotions and facial expressions," Reese said. "A lot of us are looking at that, making sure we can find any little thing to give us that edge and have our leverage over them. ... I'll come into a timeout and say, 'They're tired right now.' It's just looking at those small things that can give us more of an edge."