UConn influence is helping fuel the Valkyries in WNBA Finals - ESPN

With her teammates huddled around her, Gabby Williams leaned in, seemingly looking at every one of them as she gestured and pointed emphatically. Williams' Golden State Valkyries had just lost for the second straight game, falling behind the Atlanta Dream 2-1 in the WNBA Finals.

Williams sent a message to her teammates. Now it's time for the Valkyries to try to send one to the Dream as they attempt to rally in the best-of-seven series, which continues Saturday (1 p.m. ET) in Game 4 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

If they can, the Valkyries will be channeling a large amount of UConn Huskies influence.

Williams is one of four Valkyries — along with Tiffany Hayes, Kiah Stokes and Kaitlyn Chen — who won national championships at UConn. Their paths to get here and the roles they have played varied, but they all were influenced by the women's college program that has won the most NCAA titles (12) and sent the most players (54) to the WNBA.

«Every kid that spent that time here has certain qualities that make you win championships,» UConn coach Geno Auriemma told reporters in Connecticut earlier this month. «And I don't think I'd be overstating it that if those four were not on that team, they wouldn't be where they are today.»

The Golden State franchise and UConn don't have much in common in terms of history. The expansion Valkyries launched last year. Auriemma is entering his 42nd season at UConn. But under coach Natalie Nakase, the Valkyries already have developed an elite defensive commitment that Auriemma's teams always have. Golden State's style worked in beating the Dallas Wings 2-1 in the first round and sweeping the Las Vegas Aces 3-0 in the semifinals.

It also helped them prevail 68-64 in Game 1 of the Finals this past