Wake up, babe.

The GIST: The best-of-seven WNBA Finals are now a best of three after the Golden State Valkyries rebounded from back-to-back losses to earn a 67–62 Game 4 Saturday win over the Atlanta Dream. Let’s relive the spiciest moments before turning our attention to tonight’s 8 p.m. ET Game 5.

💜 The pep talk that turned the tides: Valkyries linchpin Gabby Williams gave her team an impassioned speech after their Game 3 loss, and much like Simba, the Valks remembered who they were on Saturday. Golden State held the Dream to a pedestrian 33% shooting percentage, forced 17 turnovers, and rejected five shots, led by a Kiah Stokes’ block party.

• Most importantly, GSV stifled Dream superstar (and all-WNBA second team selection) Angel Reese, the driving force behind Atlanta’s Game 2 and 3 wins. Reese managed just eight points and committed six turnovers in Game 4.

📋 Head coach Natalie Nakase’s gamble pays off for Golden State: Coaches don’t usually change their starting lineups mid-playoffs, but don’t tell Nakase, who swapped out two starters on Saturday. She benched forward Cecilia Zandalasini to start Tiffany Hayes instead, and both ended up dropping double-digit points over the course of the game. Chess, not checkers.

👀 Back to the Bay Area for Game 5: The Dream failed to take a commanding 3-1 series lead at home. Now, they’ll need to win at least one game in famously intimidating Ballhalla to hoist the championship trophy. And the Valks are stellar at Chase Center — they boast a 22-6 record there this season (although one of those Ls is to ATL).

• And while there will be one more game in Atlanta, the big question is where? The 17K-seater State Farm Arena isn’t available because of a Hawks game, and the Finals can’t be moved this time around since it’s a weeknight. Stay tuned.

🍂 Looking to give your fall wardrobe a little zhush? Look no further than The GIST’s merch shop, with pieces designed to take you from workdays to gameday to lazy Sundays.

Our pick for GISTers on the go?

• Jumbo Tote: Haul your laptop, emotional support water bottle, and the book you swear you’ll read at some point during your commute in our Leveling The Playing Field Tote. Fashion and function delivered right to your door.

The GIST: The Brew Crew won Saturday’s Game 2 in dramatic fashion, meaning they could be World Series champs before our next newsletter. Buckle up.

• Teams with a 2-0 lead in the World Series have an 81% championship win rate, and no team has ever come back from a three-game deficit, so it’s officially do-or-die time for the Rays as the series switches to a fully restored Tropicana Field for Game 3 tonight at 8 p.m. ET.

⚠️ Rays were their own worst enemy in 5–4 Game 2 loss: Saturday had a picture-perfect start for Tampa Bay, who went up 4–0 in the first inning. But the Brewers steadily chipped away at the lead until a rare home run from right fielder Sal Frelick and go-ahead single from shortstop Cooper Pratt helped Milwaukee pull off their seventh come-from-behind dub of the postseason.

• With Games 1 and 2 each decided by one run, Brewers reliever Aaron Ashby’s ice-cold outing feels even more impressive, as do his 15 ⅔ scoreless innings pitched through these playoffs.

❌ Pitchers duel headlines Game 3 matchup: Rays pitcher Freddy Peralta takes the mound tonight having only allowed one run during Tampa Bay’s previous series, while Brewers lefty Robert Gasser (aka Bobby Diesel) has been similarly excellent, also giving up just one run in his two postseason starts. Something’s gotta give.