The Golden State Valkyries continued the semifinals in Las Vegas on Friday, looking to close out the series with a sweep and head to the finals. The Aces were facing elimination and played like it early, but the Valkyries were able to keep them from putting the lead out of reach. The defense emerged in the second half and the Valkyries went on a run to take the lead. Las Vegas recovered and the game stayed close late, requiring overtime to decide. Golden State got timely baskets and great stops on defense and were able to prevail 87-77 to head home early to prepare for the championship series.
The Lineup
There was no surprise player news for the Valkyries as they started the same group again. The first half was the same ten-player rotation, but there was a lot of mixing and matching of groups, including a taller lineup with both forwards at the same time and some groupings that were not full smallball lineups. The rotation tightened again in the second half with only nine players again.
It was all hands on deck for Las Vegas with their season on the line as all players on their roster were available for this game with Jewell Loyd returning. After the experimentation of the last game, the Aces stuck with nine players for this game. They did make one change, bringing Kalani Brown into the starting lineup after getting some effective scoring from her in the last game.
First Quarter
Las Vegas scored on their first possession with the change in the starting lineup and then went to the post again for a three-point play. It was a cold start on offense early for the Valkyries, but Kayla Thornton got them on the board with a three-pointer. They missed a chance to take the lead in transition as Las Vegas scored next before Kiah Stokes was open for a layup after rolling to the basket. The Aces made two free throws after the media timeout.
Kaila Charles entered the game early and made a three-pointer from the corner as Las Vegas responded by finding their way to the paint again and then hit their first three-pointer to lead to a Valkyries timeout. Gabby Williams returned and made her first basket by driving in for an open layup, but Golden State gave up a three-point play at the other end. Williams found another driving lane as the Aces got back to the free throw line. It was Kaitlyn Chen’s turn to attack off of the dribble next and she earned a pair of free throws that she made. She pulled up in transition instead of playing for the last shot, leaving the Valkyries trailing 19-16.
Second Quarter
Cecilia Zandalasini opened the scoring in the quarter by finding a way to the rim for the layup and Las Vegas answered with a three-pointer. A jumpball win allowed Veronica Burton to race down the floor for the next layup, but the Valkyries committed a foul beyond the arc and the Aces made all three free throws. Las Vegas scored again, but Zandalasini responded with a three-pointer only for the Aces to match it. Janelle Salaun made one from nearly the same spot as Las Vegas scored again, but Kiah Stokes was left open cutting to the basket again.
The Aces called a timeout in the middle of a possession as it was about to develop, but they got a better outcome even though they could not convert the three-point play. Kaila Charles got to the free throw line after grabbing her own miss and made both shots. Las Vegas fed it into the post again for the next basket as Golden State missed a free throw from a Defensive 3-seconds violation. Charles backed down her defender to get into the paint, but the Aces were able to get a three-pointer. Kayla Thornton got a putback only for Las Vegas’s lead to grow with a three-point play. Thornton got the next layup too before another long-range Aces make left their lead at 45-36 at the break.
Third Quarter
Las Vegas got the first points of the half with a pair of free throws and Golden State eventually got their first basket from Kiah Stokes. Kayla Thornton was able to get a three-pointer from the wing to lead to an early Aces timeout. The defense continued to get stops and Tiffany Hayes turned from creator to shooter with a three-pointer, driving into the lane next for a layup to close the gap to one point.
Kaitlyn Chen got the Valkyries their first lead with a nifty layup and then she found Thornton on the fast break with the resulting foul leading to two free throws. Kiah Stokes made a three-pointer from the corner to keep the run going to 17-0 before the first Las Vegas field goal of the quarter. They made another one to lead to a timeout, but there was no further scoring, leaving the Golden State lead at 53-52.
Fourth Quarter
Las Vegas tied the score on the first possession with a free throw, but Tiffany Hayes got to the foul line and made both shots to restore the lead briefly. The Aces got the defensive matchup that they wanted to get a three-pointer and then they added a free throw. They scored again, but Gabby Williams was able to set up a baseline jumper before Las Vegas headed back to the foul line for another point and their continued success in the post led to a timeout.
Cecilia Zandalasini drew a foul beyond the arc and it ended up being reviewed, but not upgraded, as she made two of the free throws. The Aces got a three-point play next that was answered by another Williams jumper fading towards the baseline. Las Vegas got back to the foul line for two more points, but Burton drove in and responded. The Valkyries missed a chance to get closer and the Aces went to the post again as Burton made two free throws after a timeout.
Kiah Stokes made it a one-possession game after getting wide open in the paint again. Gabby Williams got the steal this time in the post and found Kayla Thornton for a fast break layup that tied the score and forced a timeout. The Valkyries got the stop and Burton took the initiative on the drive, completing the tough finish for the lead again. They did not score after getting another stop and Las Vegas was able to tie the score with a good inbounds play. Neither team scored on their final possession, so the game headed to overtime tied at 71.
Overtime
Tiffany Hayes scored the first points of the extra frame with a layup after the Valkyries got multiple offensive rebounds. The Aces missed a couple of chances to the tie the score and Gabby Williams was able to score next. Las Vegas did answer this time, but Hayes liked her matchup again and set up another basket off the dribble. Williams got to the foul line after another good stop and made both shots. She made a jumper from that spot after the Valkyries got the ball back courtesy of an offensive foul. Another defensive play left the Aces needing to foul to extend the game and Williams added two more free throws. Las Vegas did score, but Kayla Thornton was next with two free throws. The Aces got a steal and forced a turnover, but could not get closer with Thornton making two more free throws for the 87-77 final margin.
Player of the Game
The win required contributions from a number of players as there were several standout performances as this award will go to Kayla Thornton for her work in this game and over the course of the series. She had a key defensive role in this series, both in terms of going up against taller and stronger players in the post and being asked to start a number of possessions guarding the opposition point guard. There have been times this season where her minutes were reduced to get more offensive-minded players on the court, but the matchups in this series had the team relying on her for over 30 minutes in each game. She was a threat from beyond the arc as well, stretching the Las Vegas defense to open up driving lanes for the guards. The finals will put her in more traditional roles as she continues to provide versatility in a number of matchups.
The Verdict
The Valkyries knew that it would be tough to close out an opponent on the road again and this went to overtime again like the last time they were in this situation. The defense that fueled this team showed up again and they were able to prevail this time and avoid needing to extend the series again. With Atlanta sweeping New York earlier in the day, the finals matchup is set now and both teams will be looking to make history. Golden State will host the first two games of the best of seven series next Saturday and Monday.
Leave a Reply