The Golden State Valkyries faced the Las Vegas Aces on Saturday to finish up a road trip. After a poor second half performance in their meeting on Sunday, they fell behind again early in the game. The Valkyries were able to fight back from the deficit this time taking a lead in the fourth quarter. Golden State had a few opportunities to score on key possessions as the defense continued to make stands, but they could not hold off the defending champions enough times, losing 84-79.
The Lineup
There was no change to the starting lineup for the Valkyries as everyone was healthy and available, leaving the developmental players left inactive again. Instead of making changes to the rotation to combat tough matchups, Golden State decided to shorten it instead with only nine players seeing time on the floor. Las Vegas did get Jewell Loyd back to give them ten available players, although only eight of them saw the floor.
First Quarter
Gabby Williams opened the scoring with a steal and fast break layup, but Las Vegas answered and then hit a three-pointer after both teams had some misses. Williams tied the score to end the Valkyries drought as defense on both ends continued to make life difficult with Cecilia Zandalasini getting the next tying basket with a patient drive to set up her shot. The Aces got a two-possession lead before a Williams found Kiah Stokes for an open layup on the way to the media timeout.
Las Vegas ended up making four consecutive free throws as the Valkyries went to their bench with Tiffany Hayes finally ending another scoring drought with a layup in a favorable defensive matchup following a Golden State timeout. A’ja Wilson completed a near-perfect quarter, outscoring the Valkyries by herself. Janelle Salaun did make a jumpshot on their final possession to leave them trailing 20-13.
Second Quarter
Both teams had misses early, but Las Vegas stretched their lead to double digits with a three-pointer. After a tough shooting start for the team from beyond the arc, Kayla Thornton knocked down two on consecutive possessions to lead and force an early Aces timeout. The stoppage cooled off the Valkyries as the Aces scored next before a pair of Thornton free throws. With the starters returning, Las Vegas went on an 8-0 run before Golden State answered their two three-pointers with makes by Veronica Burton and Janelle Salaun.
There was another stoppage when Salaun drew a foul, but it was not upgraded after the replay review. Gabby Williams drew a foul on Stephanie Talbot and made a free throw, intercepting a pass from her on the next possession to score a fast break layup. Talbot responded against her former team though with a three-pointer from the corner. Salaun made it a one-possession game again with a three-pointer, which the Aces answered with a layup, but Williams made a mid-range jumper to leave the Valkyries trailing 38-35 at halftime.
Third Quarter
Cecilia Zandalasini made a layup to open the scoring in the half, but Las Vegas got to the free throw line to push the margin back to where it was. Gabby Williams was able to draw a touch foul on another jumpshot and converted the three-point play to tie the score. The Aces scored the next two baskets before Williams was able to drive in closer for a jumpshot again. Kiah Stokes was whistled for a foul and immediately called for the replay challenge, which Natalie Nakase initiated and won during the media timeout.
The Valkyries missed a chance to tie, but Williams did knock down a pair of free throws to get them closer. Tiffany Hayes drew a hard foul to get a chance at giving them the lead only to miss both free throws. Las Vegas kept extending the lead back even as Williams continued to find success creating shots for herself. Veronica Burton found some rhythm later in the quarter after a Golden State timeout, converting a three-point play and then making another shot after an Aces timeout. Kaila Charles made a three-pointer to cut the deficit back to a single point, but Las Vegas scored next and the teams traded free throws with Burton getting the point for the Valkyries to leave the score at 58-55 heading into the final quarter.
Fourth Quarter
Janelle Salaun scored on the first possession of the quarter and then Tiffany Hayes connected beyond the arc to give the Valkyries a lead to force an immediate Las Vegas timeout. The stoppage gave the officials to review Salaun’s shot and award an additional point. Kayla Thornton made a pair of free throws after grabbing an offensive rebound before the Aces tied the score again. Kaila Charles restored the lead with a tough shot as the next point went to Las Vegas after a defensive three-seconds violation. The possession finished with Jackie Young giving them the lead with a three-pointer and doing so again in response to a Gabby Williams layup.
Williams tied the score with a three-pointer and then Burton completed a three-point play after another Aces basket out of a well-executed inbounds play. Williams gave the Valkyries their biggest lead with an open three-pointer and they took a timeout after getting the ball back to try to extend it. Jackie Young got fouled beyond the arc on their next possession and made all three free throws. Both teams had misses, but Las Vegas scored in the final minute to take the lead. Burton immediately made a tough drive to get the layup only to see Young hit a contested three-pointer. She drew a foul that Las Vegas challenged and lost the replay review for, but missed the tying free throw. The Aces made all four of their free throws as the Valkyries missed their tying three-point attempt, losing 84-79.
Player of the Game
This award will go to Gabby Williams for her big scoring game, starting the game with their first two baskets. She got them closer before halftime as well as the Aces threatened to take big leads several times before the break. She had an even bigger second half, being the only player to score for the team in a nearly six-minute stretch of the third quarter with nine points. In the fourth quarter, she tied the game twice and then made it a two-possession game.
The Verdict
It was another good fight on the road against a team expected to be a contender, but it was also another loss. Dropping two games early in the Commissioner’s Cup means that qualifying for the championship is unlikely and now the team’s focus will mainly be on the regular season implications with more games against teams who figure to be competition in the middle of the standings all season long. There is no question that different players can step up offensively in each game, but the team still has to continue to figure out how to handle possessions late in close game.
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