Golden State Valkyries Make Statement on National TV, Rout Las Vegas Aces 95-68
San Francisco, CA – In a much-anticipated matchup marking their first national television appearance and drawing their fourth consecutive sellout crowd of 18,064 fans, the Golden State Valkyries (3-5) delivered a commanding performance, defeating the Las Vegas Aces 95-68 at Chase Center on Saturday. The Valkyries controlled the game from the outset, showcasing a balanced offensive attack and a strong defensive effort.
Head coach Natalie Nakase commented on the incredible fan support, stating, “Oh my gosh. I almost feel like this is gonna go on all season, so we’ll see.”
Heartfelt Reunion for Aces and Valkyries Coaches
The game also marked a notable reunion, as Nakase faced a mentor, Aces’ head coach Becky Hammon. Nakase, who coached under Hammon from 2022-2024 and contributed to the Aces’ back-to-back championships, shared an embrace with the Aces coach after the game. Nakase recounted, “She said, ‘great job.’ And I literally said, ‘I learned everything from you.’ She’s the reason why I’m here… I would not be sitting here and being as confident as I am as their coach if it wasn’t for Becky.”
First Quarter: Valkyries Set the Tone
Golden State started strong, taking an early 15-13 lead over the Aces (4-3) in the first quarter. Veteran forward Kayla Thornton led the Valkyries’ initial surge, contributing 7 points and 4 rebounds in the period. The Aces struggled with turnovers early, committing 7 in the quarter, which the Valkyries capitalized on to build their advantage.
Second Quarter: Golden State Extends Lead with Explosive Offense
The second quarter saw the Valkyries pull away significantly, outscoring the Aces 34-15 to take a dominant 49-28 lead into halftime. Golden State’s offense was highly efficient, shooting 62.5% from the field and converting all 9 of their free throw attempts. Their fast-break points were a major factor, accumulating 12 in the quarter compared to the Aces’ zero. Thornton continued her stellar play, reaching 14 points and 7 rebounds by the half. Cecilia Zandalasini also emerged as a key scorer, adding 10 points.
Third Quarter: Valkyries Maintain Control
Golden State continued to control the narrative in the third quarter, extending their lead further and heading into the final period with a 71-49 advantage. While the Aces showed some offensive spark, putting up 21 points in the quarter, the Valkyries matched their pace, scoring 22. A’ja Wilson began to find her rhythm for the Aces with 7 points in the quarter, but Golden State’s depth and consistent scoring prevented any significant comeback attempt.
Fourth Quarter: Sealing the Victory
The Valkyries closed out the game strong in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Aces 24-19 to secure the 95-68 victory. Golden State’s collective effort ensured they maintained a comfortable lead throughout the final period, reaching their biggest lead of 29 points. Dana Evans and Aaliyah Nye showed some fight for the Aces in the closing minutes, but it was not enough to overcome the Valkyries’ commanding performance.
Key Performances and Team Statistics
For Golden State, Thornton led all scorers with 22 points on an impressive 8-for-16 shooting from the field, adding 11 rebounds. Zandalasini contributed 18 points, including 4 three-pointers. Monique Billings had a strong all-around game with 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Veronica Burton dished out a game-high 12 assists along with 14 points and seven rebounds. Kate Martin also reached double figures with 12 points, along with seven rebounds.
The Valkyries finished the game shooting 47.9% from the field (34-71) and were nearly perfect from the free-throw line at 94.4% (17/18). They also dominated in points in the paint (38-26) and fast break points (22-6). Burtons +/- at +40 set a WNBA record.
For Las Vegas, Wilson led the team with 17 points and 6 rebounds. Chelsea Gray contributed 16 points, and Nye added 13 points. The Aces struggled with their shooting consistency, finishing at 35.5% from the field (22-62) and committing 13 turnovers throughout the game.
Player Reactions
Thornton, who scored the first five points of the game, reflected on the team’s performance compared to their loss against Phoenix on Thursday.
“I think we’re just hungry,” Thornton said. “I’m not used to losing that bad coming from where I came from… We just came out, and we kind of changed the things that we hadn’t been doing the last game. And this is a testament to just sticking together, just going through the growing pains. And we’ve got to take this as a momentum and keep going.”
Thornton also highlighted her own renewed energy and key factors in Saturday’s dominant win.
“I think the biggest one was our energy from that Phoenix game started with me. I didn’t start how I did in this game in Phoenix, and that kind of shows.” She emphasized the competitive nature of the league, adding, “This league is too good, so you have to play it to the last buzzer. But, you know, we went back and we watched film together as a team, and we kind of talked about the things that we need to do and fix… I’m just proud of [my] teammates.”
Next Up
The Aces will have a four-day break before their next matchup against Los Angeles on Wednesday, June 11, at home. The game, which tips at 7 p.m. PT, will air locally on Vegas 34.
Golden State has a game on the road against the Los Angeles Sparks on Monday, June 9. They will next play at home on Saturday, June 14, against Seattle, with the game tipping off at 5:30 p.m. PT on KMAX/KPIX. They will then face the Aces again on July 12 and August 3 at home for the Aces, and August 6 in the Bay Area.
Inactive Players
For the Aces, Megan Gustafson was inactive due to a lower left leg injury. For the Valkyries, Tiffany “Tip” Hayes was out with a nose injury.
