The Golden State Valkyries hosted the Las Vegas Aces again on Wednesday, looking to double their lead in the series and to get to one win away from advancing to the finals. It ended up being a good start for the team and there were times when it looked like they would be able to enjoy a comfortable lead for the rest of the game. Las Vegas was healthier for this game and began to find ways to push the Valkyries, making a second half run and taking the lead briefly in the fourth quarter. Golden State held their nerve and got the two key baskets, making good plays down the stretch to seal the 83-81 win.
The Lineup
There was no surprise player news for the Valkyries, so they were able to start with the group that they wanted. Their first move was to go to the smallball lineup when bench players started entering, but they abandoned that pretty quickly and went with the same ten players in the first half as the last game. To match up with Las Vegas better in the post, Golden State even tried out the two-center lineup. The rotation went back down to nine players in the second half and there were offense/defense substitutions down the stretch to see out the win.
The Aces got some good player news before the game with both Stephanie Talbot and Dana Evans returning, but Jewell Loyd was ruled out after getting injured in the last game. Talbot took her place in the starting lineup as the Aces tried ten players in the first half even with four players playing heavy minutes. As they continued to look for answers, they went to their last bench player briefly in the second half to give all available players minutes. They tried a number of combinations, including some smallball minutes.
First Quarter
The Valkyries had a great start as Kayla Thornton made a three-pointer on the first possession, Cecilia Zandalasini added a pair of free throws, and Gabby Williams made a layup. Las Vegas got on the board with baskets on consecutive possessions before Thornton connected again from long-range. Williams was next beyond the arc in response to an Aces basket before the media timeout and then made two free throws as action resumed. Kaila Charles was the first bench player to score, making it a double-digit lead briefly. Las Vegas found some success getting the ball into the post, but Tiffany Hayes scored the last two points of the quarter at the free throw line for the 19-11 lead.
Second Quarter
Las Vegas scored the first basket of the half, but Tiffany Hayes made her first three-pointer and added another basket. Her steal led to a transition layup for Janelle Salaun and an Aces timeout as Golden State had doubled them up with the run. There was some success in the post for Las Vegas after that, but Hayes’s scoring spurt continued with a three-point play and a putback of her own missed layup.
The Aces scored on three straight possessions to keep the Valkyries from pulling away too far as Kaitlyn Chen and Gabby Williams made three-pointers. The teams trade free throws with Veronica Burton getting her first two points and then Las Vegas made it a single digit deficit before Kayla Thornton connected on a three-pointer again. One Aces free throw left them trailing 42-31 at the break.
Third Quarter
The game came to a stop again right as the half started with the Valkyries unsuccessfully challenging a foul call on Kiah Stokes. Las Vegas scored on the resulting possession and started putting the Golden State centers in foul trouble with consecutive three-point plays. Gabby Williams kept the lead going strong with two baskets and a three-pointer after Cecilia Zandalasini made one from the corner in the runup to another timeout.
Las Vegas made it a single digit game again as action resumed, but Kayla Thornton got to the free throw line followed by Williams, who split her pair. The Aces scored, but Tiffany Hayes returned and scored on the first possession back, adding free throws after another good defensive play. She also completed a three-point play after Las Vegas free throws and then Thornton’s free throws made it look like the Valkyries were on the verge of putting the game away early. The Aces scored on three straight trips down the floor to close the quarter, with Golden State’s only points coming from a good move by Aminata Gueye to get a layup, leaving their lead at 66-55 heading to the final frame.
Fourth Quarter
The Aces made a pair of three-pointers early as Kaitlyn Chen was able to answer each time with drives to the basket for layup. A three-point play forced the Valkyries to take a timeout early to try to stop the momentum. It worked when it came to slowing down Las Vegas as Tiffany Hayes returned and earned a pair of free throws. A good defensive play allowed the Valkyries to race out in transition and then the officials had to head to a replay review to determine that Veronica Burton was fouled, but not more than a common foul, giving her two free throws that she split. Las Vegas got their own free throws and added another basket, but missed a chance to make it a one-possession game ahead of another timeout.
The Aces were so concerned about Hayes being able to get to the rim that they tried to keep a help defender in the paint while she was planning her move, but they got caught camping there for three seconds and Kayla Thornton made the resulting technical free throw. Burton committed an offensive foul and it was reviewed for a potential upgrade that did not happen. Las Vegas was able to tie the game on consecutive three-pointers and took the lead after a Golden State timeout.
Gabby Williams made key plays late again with a jumper followed by an assist to Burton for a three-pointer that got the lead back. The Valkyries won a jumpball and were quickly awarded a timeout to keep the ball. They missed the chance to make it a two-possession game, but opted to foul again to prevent a game-tying three-pointer. The Aces made their free throws both times while they fouled the Valkyries to extend the game with Thornton and Burton making both shots each time. With time running down, Las Vegas intentionally missed their second free throw and it played out as they hoped with an offensive rebound, but Golden State got the defensive stand at the end and the 83-81 win.
Player of the Game
The award goes to Tiffany Hayes for this game after her timely scoring runs in both halves. Her first seven points came in under two minutes of game time spanning the first two quarters and then five more points in just over a minute stretched the lead out to its largest point in the first half. She had another seven straight points for the team in a short stretch in the third quarter, right before the team had its largest lead of the game. She returned for the closing lineup as the Valkyries continued to have a gameplan of generating the most favorable perimeter defensive matchups as possible to try to attack the basket. Her bench scoring continues to be key for the team as the rotation tightens.
The Verdict
For most of the game, this was going as well as could be expected against a tough opponent in this situation. Las Vegas did find new ways to challenge the Valkyries though and nearly had a big comeback win. The victory means that Golden State is one win away from advancing, but they now know that the Aces have more strategies to try with their season on the line and it will be tough to clinch this series on the road. The Valkyries do have the confidence of being able to close out a game and defeat this opponent though and will also have new plans to get the win that they need.
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