Valkyries’ Sweep Aces: The Golden State Valkyries closed out the Las Vegas Aces 87-77 on Friday night at Michelob ULTRA Arena, completing a three-game sweep of the WNBA semifinal series. Kayla Thornton scored 18 points to lead the Valkyries, who overcame a slow start to outscore Las Vegas 51-32 over the final two quarters.
Golden State trailed by as many as nine points in the second quarter before a defensive stand in the third broke the game open. The Valkyries held the Aces to just seven points in that period, a stretch that flipped a five-point deficit into a lead they never relinquished. A’ja Wilson finished with a game-high 21 points and 10 rebounds for Las Vegas, but the reigning MVP got little help as the Aces shot just 38% from the field for the game.
Takeaways From Valkyries’ Sweep Aces
The third quarter defense decided it
Las Vegas led 45-36 at halftime after Chelsea Gray buried a 27-foot three at the buzzer. The Aces managed only seven points in the third quarter, going cold from the field while Golden State scored 17 to seize control. The Valkyries outscored Las Vegas 35-13 across the third and fourth quarters combined.
Kiah Stokes controlled the interior
Stokes posted 11 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks in 38 minutes, finishing a team-best plus-18 for the game. Golden State out-rebounded Las Vegas 43-35 and out-scored the Aces 40-32 in the paint, numbers that reflect the physical edge the Valkyries held in the series-clinching win.
Turnovers tilted the margin
The Aces committed 15 turnovers that Golden State converted into 17 points, while the Valkyries turned the ball over just 10 times and surrendered only seven points off those miscues. Golden State also forced 12 steals compared to three for Las Vegas, a gap that fueled an 11-5 advantage in fast-break points.
Player Of The Game: Kayla Thornton
Thornton went 5-of-12 from the field and a perfect 6-of-7 from the free-throw line to finish with 18 points in 33 minutes, adding nine rebounds and a plus-16 rating. Gabby Williams added 16 points on 6-of-16 shooting, and Stokes went 5-of-5 from the field.
Valkyries Vs. Aces By The Numbers
Golden State shot 41% from the field compared to 38% for Las Vegas, and the Valkyries were far more efficient at the line, converting 20 of 22 free throws (91%) against the Aces’ 18-of-22 mark. Las Vegas actually out-shot Golden State from three-point range, hitting 35% to the Valkyries’ 29%, but the Aces’ 15 turnovers and inability to control the defensive glass, allowing 10 Golden State offensive rebounds, proved too costly. Chelsea Gray finished with 17 points and five assists, and Jackie Young added 18 points, but both finished with double-digit negative plus-minus marks as Las Vegas’ bench produced just 10 points compared to Golden State’s reserves.
What’s Next
The win pushes Golden State’s record to 32-12 and sends the Valkyries to the WNBA Finals. Las Vegas closes its season at 31-13 after dropping the semifinal series 3-0. Golden State’s Finals opponent and schedule had not been determined following Friday’s result.
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