Transcript: Golden State Valkyries 83, Las Vegas Aces 81. Valkyries hold off Aces in tight postseason battle. A'ja Wilson led everyone with 24 points.
The story
Golden State's defense in the first half set the tone. The Valkyries won the opening quarter 19-11, then pushed their lead to 42-31 by halftime behind balanced scoring. Las Vegas tied the third quarter 24-24, staying close as the game tightened. The Aces mounted a fourth-quarter push, running off 8 straight points and winning the final frame 26-17, but Golden State's early cushion held. Tiffany Hayes led the Valkyries with 21 points, Gabby Williams added 20, and Chelsea Gray chipped in 19 for Las Vegas. A'ja Wilson had the game high with 24 points for the Aces. Golden State trailed by as many as 2 and still won, staying 2nd in the West at 32-12.
2Hayes carried the load early and often, leading the Valkyries with 21 points on 6 made field goals and 8 free throws. Her scoring punch in the first half proved decisive as Golden State built the cushion it would ride to victory.
The stat line
The stat line
| Golden State Valkyries | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tiffany Hayes | 21 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Gabby Williams | 20 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Kayla Thornton | 16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Veronica Burton | 8 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Kaitlyn Chen | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Cecilia Zandalasini | 5 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Aminata Gueye | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Janelle Salaun | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Kaila Charles | 2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Kiah Stokes | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Las Vegas Aces | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A'ja Wilson | 24 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Chelsea Gray | 19 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Jackie Young | 14 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Stephanie Talbot | 10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Kalani Brown | 9 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dana Evans | 5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Brianna Turner | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cheyenne Parker-Tyus | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Justine Pissott | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mai Yamamoto | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
