Transcript: Golden State Valkyries 71, Las Vegas Aces 60. Williams leads Valkyries past Aces in playoff opener. Gabby Williams led everyone with 25 points.
The story
Golden State trailed by 3 and still won. Williams carried the Valkyries with 25 points and 11 rebounds, controlling the glass and the game. Las Vegas stayed close through halftime, down just 3 at 34-31. The Aces mounted an 8-0 run in the 2nd quarter but couldn't sustain the momentum. Golden State pulled away in the 3rd quarter, outscoring Las Vegas 22-17 to build a 56-48 lead heading into the final frame. Wilson answered with 24 points for the Aces, but it wasn't enough. The Valkyries held firm down the stretch, winning 71-60.
2Williams dominated on both ends, finishing with 25 points and 11 rebounds while dishing 5 assists. She was the clear difference maker, controlling the boards and setting the tone for Golden State's playoff run.
The stat line
The stat line
| Golden State Valkyries | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gabby Williams | 25 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Kaitlyn Chen | 11 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Aminata Gueye | 9 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Kayla Thornton | 8 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cecilia Zandalasini | 7 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Veronica Burton | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Tiffany Hayes | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Janelle Salaun | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kaila Charles | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Kiah Stokes | 0 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| Las Vegas Aces | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A'ja Wilson | 24 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Chelsea Gray | 16 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Jackie Young | 11 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Kierstan Bell | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Brianna Turner | 2 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Kalani Brown | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mai Yamamoto | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Cheyenne Parker-Tyus | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Jewell Loyd | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Justine Pissott | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
