By Morris Phillips

SAN FRANCISCO–For the Valkyries, this game started in an encouraging manner, and then, nothing went wrong. Pause.

Nothing went wrong.

Coming off a three-game losing streak, concluding with an 18-1 closing run that turned victory into defeat in Phoenix, the Valkyries hit the heights by blowing out the Aces, 95-68 at Chase Center on Saturday afternoon. The win in front of ABC’s national audience displayed that the expansion Valkyries have heft now, months, if not years, before anyone expected.

The Aces, just two seasons removed from their 2023 championship, and well-equipped with their core players, played sluggishly from the beginning. In concluding, their sloppy ball handling and lack of attention defensively, suggested a talented team, currently 4-3, that could ultimately go either way.

“It was a good old-fashioned ass-kicking, and there’s no other way to put it,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said. “This is one of the worst games I’ve ever seen the Aces play.”

The fourth consecutive sellout crowd, some who came to see A’ja Wilson for the first time, instead were treated to the Valkyries’ Veronica Burton and Kayla Thornton, who led a balanced output with 22 points. Burton was flawless, finishing with a career-best 12 assists and a plus/minus of +40 in 32 minutes on the floor.

“V found KT early. I thought KT started us off amazing. She was just super confident,” coach Natalie Nakase said. “She just walked right into her threes. She’s aggressive, attacking players.”

The Valkyries spent a section of the first quarter suffering from the same malaise that struck the Aces, but they took off in the second quarter with a 34-15 advantage on the scoreboard that was capped by Kate Martin’s successful long-distance heave before the buzzer.

The second half started the same way with consecutive baskets from Thornton and Monique Billings in transition that boosted the lead to 60-31. That was the biggest margin of 29, but the Valkyries won by 27 displaying the staying power of their effort.

“When we’re locked in, we’re connected offensively and defensively, this is what we’re capable of,” Nakase said.