A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young combined for 64 points as the Las Vegas Aces edged the visiting Golden State Valkyries 104-102 at home Saturday.
Young (30 points, six assists) drained a pair of free throws with 6.1 seconds remaining to give the Aces (10-11) a four-point lead. Overall, Young scored the final 10 points in the last 1:34 for the Aces, with two field goals and six free throws.
Wilson recorded a double-double of 34 points and 16 rebounds in her return after sitting out Thursday’s loss at the Washington Mystics with a wrist injury. This is Wilson’s third 30/10 game of the season and she also surpassed Swin Cash for 25th on the WNBA’s all-time scoring list.
Janelle Salaun and Tiffany Hayes each finished with 16 points in the loss for the Valkyries (10-10). On the play prior to Young’s final free throws, Hayes made a one-legged 3-pointer off an assist from Salaun to trim the deficit to 102-100 with 7.1 to go.
The Aces and Valkyries each tallied season-highs in points during the shootout. The Aces won despite the Valkyries finishing with 12 threes, double the number of 3-pointers Las Vegas made.
A Chelsea Gray steal and coast-to-coast layup gave the Aces an 83-77 lead in the fourth quarter. After the Valkyries amassed nine 3-pointers in the first half, the Aces didn’t allow any in the third quarter.
The third quarter ended with Jewell Loyd hitting a 3-pointer followed by Kaitlyn Chen responding with a driving buzzer-beating layup and free throw to trim Golden State’s deficit to 76-72.
The Aces trailed by only one at halftime despite being cold from beyond the arc, going 2-of-11. However, Wilson kept the Aces afloat with 25 points (10-of-12 overall) along with a 3-pointer, eight rebounds, a steal and a block in the first half.
Hayes went 3-for-3 on three-pointers in the first half to pace the Valkyries.
The Valkyries are tied for the WNBA lead in rebounds but the Aces were +2 in large part because of Wilson’s dominance on the glass. Another key to the victory was the Aces holding the Valkyries to two fastbreak points.
–Field Level Media
