Gabby Williams scored a game-high 25 points, the Golden State bench outscored its Las Vegas counterparts 27-7 and the second-seeded Valkyries opened the best-of-five WNBA semifinals with a 71-60 victory over the third-seeded Aces in San Francisco on Sunday afternoon.
Game 2 in the series will be played Wednesday night, also in San Francisco.
Despite playing nearly the entire second half without floor leader Veronica Burton, the Valkyries, up just 34-31 at the break, never relinquished the lead en route to their first victory over the Aces in four tries this season.
Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said Burton was doing “amazing” and could have returned to the game, but she elected to stay with the group that was working.
“It’s strength in numbers for us. We use our fresh legs,” Nakase said. “Most of the people come off the bench with that type of energy.”
Kaitlyn Chen, who spelled Burton for most of the second half, led the Golden State bench crew with 11 points. Aminata Gueye (nine), Tiffany Hayes (three), Janelle Salaun (two) and Kaila Charles (two) also scored off the home team bench, contributing to the one-sidedness of the reserves’ totals.
Las Vegas, which lost Jewell Loyd early in the third quarter to a leg injury, got within 36-34 in the third minute of the third period on a 3-pointer by Chelsea Gray. But Cecilia Zandalasini countered with a 27-footer of her own and Golden State, riding an inspired defensive effort, was able to keep the visitors at arm’s length the rest of the way.
A’ja Wilson paced Las Vegas with 24 points, but missed 13 of her 21 shots and totaled only four rebounds. The Aces, held six points below their season low, shot just 33.9% in the game.
Golden State didn’t shoot much better — just 37.7% — and only managed a 7-7 draw in 3-point baskets. But led by double-figure rebounding performances from Kiah Stokes (14), Williams (11) and Kayla Thornton (11), the Valkyries dominated the boards to the tune of 52-25.
Stokes, matched up with Wilson most of the game, also found time for four blocks.
“MVP of the game tonight,” Nakase said of Stokes, who did not score. “Her discipline, her matching up with A’ja. She kept her off balance. She was vicious on the boards. She made the difference tonight.”
Gray finished with 16 points and Jackie Young 11 for the Aces. Brianna Turner was the team’s leading rebounder with seven.
“You take even half the second-chance points away and it’s a different game,” Gray said of the rebounding differential. “It was very evident … it’s hard to win when teams get 17 offensive rebounds and 20 second-chance points. They beat us to the boards. That was the difference in the game right there. At this point in the season, it’s who wants it more.”
In the first half, Williams had 18 points and made three 3-pointers as Golden State went up by as many as 11.
Down 34-23 with 4:22 remaining in the second quarter, Las Vegas closed the half on an 8-0 run to get within 34-31 at the break. Wilson had five of the Aces’ points in the spurt, finishing the half with 15.
–Field Level Media
