Category: WNBA

Valkyries clipped Wings 86-76, and ended their winless streak, but lost WNBA All-Star Thornton

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Golden State Valkyries Kaitlyn Chen (2) defends against the Dallas Wings Paige Bueckers (5) at Chase Center in San Francisco on Fri July 25, 2025 (Bay Area News Group photo)

By Michael Roberson

SAN FRANCISCO– Despite losing their star player Kayla Thornton for the season, the Golden State Valkyries (11-12) sprinkled salt on the Dallas Wings (7-18) 86-76, while simultaneously ending their 3-game losing streak’

Earlier Friday morning, the shocking news came out that leading scorer and recent All-Star game (Indianapolis) participant, Kayla Thornton would miss the rest of the inaugural season for the fledgling Valkyries, with a  lower leg injury.  It put a figurative fog over the City by the Bay, where it is already known and nicknamed “Fog City.”  This depressing information came in the midst of a three-game losing streak and the midway point of the season.

The Valkyries came out with a determined will to win the WNBA Battle inside Chace Center.  Tiffany Hayes hit two 3-pointers to open the contest; before you knew it, the wounded team was up 6-0 on their opponents from the Lone Star State.  Unfortunately for the home team, the guests were not sympathetic or impressed by that initial push.  The rest of the quarter, the Wings went on a 21-4 run to take over quadrant number one, 21-10.

Golden State opened the second quarter on a 9-0 run, getting close to a tie or taking over the lead.  Dallas was able to hold off the expansion team, and maintain a six-point lead at recess, 36-30.  The only player on either squad to eclipse 10+ points, was Wings’ veteran star guard Arike Ogunbowale (11).  Surprisingly, high profile rookie Paige Bueckers only produced 5 points and 4 assists; however, there was a whole other second half of game time left in the contest.

In the second half, despite the Wings leading by as many as 12 points, the Valkyries made a dramatic comeback in the third quarter.  They outscored them by nine points, and actually took the lead back with less than a minute left in the period.  With 3/4 of the regulation time played, the Valkyries clutched a 3-point lead, 63-60.  Bueckers was still below double-figures, although her team was still within reach.

The final quarter would have the Valkyries extend their advantage to as much as 10 points, while Bueckers exemplified why she is the team’s leading scorer.  She more than doubled her points production in the fourth quarter alone.  Unfortunately for the Wings, that was not enough at the end of 40 minutes of action.  Golden State won by their largest gap of ten points, 86-76, and gave the city, region and league, a bit of a reprieve from the devastating report earlier in the day.

Five Valkyries scored at least 10 points.  The aforementioned Tiffany Hayes led the way with 17, while Janelle Salaun chipped in 16, Kaitlyn Chen (14), Temi Fagbenie (11) and Cecilia Zandalasini added ten.

Dallas presented four players with double Digits.  Beuckers (17), Ogunbowale (16), Aziaha James (13), and Stanford legend Haley Jones put up ten points in front of family and friends.

The Valkyries will next be in action, Sunday, July 27 in the Nutmeg State, to take on the Connecticut Sun, at 1 PM ET/10 AM PT on CBSSN.  The Wings will fly back home to host the Las Vegas Aces, on the same date, at 3 PM CT on ESPN3.

Aces Win Third In a Row Beating Atlanta 87-72

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The Las Vegas Fever Dana Evans (11) takes a jump shot against the Atlanta Dream’s defense and center Britney Griner (42) at the Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas on Tue Jul 22, 2025 (Las Vegas Aces X photo)

By Rich Perez

LAS VEGAS–The Las Vegas Aces won their third in a row with a win over the Atlanta Dream at Michelob ULTRA Arena 87-72 on Tuesday night. Taking a look how it all happened, in the first quarter the Atlanta Dream (13-10) took a 27-20 lead but that would turn out to be the only quarter they won in this game.

It was the second quarter that the Las Vegas Aces (12-11) really began to cook winning the quarter by a landslide 25-12 and giving them a 45-39 lead at the half. They needed to take that momentum into the third quarter and keep the pressure on the Dream.

The Aces barely outscored the Dream in the third quarter 22-20 but extended their lead to 67-59. It was the fourth quarter when the Aces drove the win home outscoring Atlanta 20-13. The Dream made things uncomfortable for the Aces in the final quarter when they got within six points 68-62 with 7:48 left in the game.

It was then that the Aces went on a seven point run and they never looked back. They had won the second, third and fourth quarters for an 87-72 win and a 12-11 season record. With this win they moved into sixth place in the standings.

The Las Vegas Aces had solid play in the second half and when it got close in the third quarter they finished it off in the fourth quarter for the win. The starting roster was amazing with A’Ja Wilson scoring 24 points and 12 rebounds, another double double.

Jackie Young finished with 14 points as did bench player Dana Evans. Nalyssa Smith also had double digits with 11 points. This was an impressive win for Las Vegas garnering their third win in a row.

The Aces were close to spotless at the line hitting 19 of 21 a 90% success rate. The Dream had 19 turnovers that the Aces turned into 24 points a real turning point in this game. The Aces had 13 turnovers but those turnovers only cost them five points. The largest lead in the game for Las Vegas was 17 points as they came away with a most impressive win.

The Dream’s Alyisha Gray also finished with 24 points and 8 rebounds. Jordan Canada had double digits with 12 points but they just did not have the fire power to get past the surging Aces especially in the final quarter.

Game notes: The Aces won their third straight game now with wins against the Dallas Wings, Golden State Valkyries and the Atlanta Dream, the Las Vegas Aces improve to 12-11. They took on the tough Atlanta Dream (13-10) are second in the Eastern Conference in the standings while the Aces are fourth place in the Western Conference. The Aces over the past few games have really turned their season around and continued on that path in this game. The win Tuesday night was not only their third win in a row but a move up in the standings.

The Aces will now head out on the road to take on the Indiana Fever in another tough matchup this coming Thursday night. While the Fever are favored in this matchup the way Las Vegas handled the Dream tonight all bets could be off. The Fever’s Caitlin Clark remains on the Injured List, has missed 11 games and the All Star game. There is no timetable for her return.

They certainly have the fire power to win their fourth game in a row. With their win Tuesday night this is the first time this season that the Aces has won three games in a row.

They have a lot of momentum going into this upcoming game in their corner. The game Thursday night can be see on Prime Video with tipoff scheduled for 4:00 PM PT.

Golden State Valkyries Game Recap: Valkyries lose a close one at Ballhalla to Mercury, 78-77

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DeWanna Bonner (14) and Alyssa Thomas (25) talk as they head up court in the first half as the Golden State Valkyries played the Phoenix Mercury at Chase Center in San Francisco on Monday, July 14, 2025. (Photo credits to Carlos Avila Gonzalez/ S.F. Chronicle)

By: Michael Villanueva

SAN FRANCISCO – The Golden State Valkyries returned to Ballhalla on Monday night to face the Phoenix Mercury in a Western Conference showdown. Phoenix came into the game on a two-game winning streak and an 8-2 record in their previous ten games, placing them firmly in second place in the standings. Meanwhile, the Valkyries returned to their home court following a tough four-game road trip in which they went 1-3, bringing their last 10 games to an equal 5-5. With Golden State now in fourth place out West, this game had big playoff matchup possibilities.

Mercury entered the night ranked fifth in the WNBA in offensive rating, with an efficient, high-scoring team led by Satou Sabally, who averages 19.1 points per game, and a mix of seasoned firepower and sharp perimeter shooting. Yet the Valkyries were more than ready for the challenge. Head coach Natalie Nakase, Golden State has developed its identity on defense, allowing the league’s lowest opponent field goal %. Nakase credits her players’ performance to being “eager” and “all-around position players” who contribute on both ends of the court. With also special congratulations to coach Nakase who won Coach of the Month for June from the WNBA. This is Nakase’s first WNBA Coach of the Month honor, who earns the award in just her second month as a first-year head coach.

Tiffany Hayes drove hard to the rim for a layup to start the game, and Golden State quickly took advantage. Yet Phoenix responded with a hot start, hitting four straight three-pointers to grab a 12-2 lead midway through the first. Mercury started quickly and aggressively, piling up four rebounds and four assists in the first few minutes.

After a much-needed timeout, the Valkyries began to settle in. Veronica Burton hit a three to keep the offense going, and Golden State began to find its groove. Hayes quickly energized the home crowd, scoring back-to-back three-pointers and taking a defensive charge to shift the momentum. She ended the quarter with 8 points (2-of-2) from beyond the arc and 2 rebounds, showing her aggressiveness on both ends.

Golden State’s ball movement began to weaken Phoenix’s defense, with drives and kick-outs leading to open perimeter shots. Late in the quarter, Kayla Thornton hit a three and drew a foul for a four-point play, giving the Valkyries their first lead.

After a hot start, the Mercury didn’t score again until the final 18 seconds of the quarter, which is testament to the Valkyries’ determination and defensive improvements.

Golden State led 20-16 at the end of the first, shooting 7-of-16 from the field and 5-of-8 from three. Their perseverance on loose balls and transition defense was critical, as they finished the quarter with more rebounds (10) and assists (7) than their opponents.

Golden State opened the second quarter with the first basket, this time from Monique Billings, who hit a midrange jumper after Veronica Burton’s drive-and-dish. The Valkyries’ offensive rhythm was built on tireless effort — frequent drives, second-chance looks, and quick passing.

Phoenix, however, began to find its groove behind DeWanna Bonner, who hit a three and followed it up with a transition layup for a quick five points. Both teams pushed the pace, turning defensive rebounds into fast-break opportunities. Golden State answered with their swift scores, but the Mercury’s ability to get to the free-throw line began to tilt the momentum.

By the 3:40 mark, Phoenix had taken the lead at 30–29 after back-to-back trips to the foul line. Golden State responded with a tough and-one finish by Burton, but continued to struggle on the other end, allowing Phoenix easy looks in transition without fouling.

Phoenix led 36-32 at halftime, thanks to trips to the free throw line. After going 1-of-3 from the line in the first half, the Mercury finished 7-of-10, taking advantage of the Valkyries’ fouls in the paint.

Golden State’s defense remained aggressive, but their offensive output dropped. After starting the game 7-of-16, they were only 11-of-37 (29.7%) after halftime. Tiffany Hayes remained the Valkyries’ leading scorer, with 9 points, while Monique Billings added energy and physicality with 6 rebounds.

Bonner led Phoenix with 8 points, and Alyssa Thomas was everywhere, contributing four points, five rebounds, and six assists to keep the attack going.

Salaün opened the third quarter for Golden State with a nice midrange jumper, kicking off the second half quickly. However, Mercury reacted quickly with back-to-back midrange makes of their own, quick-fire shot exchanges. Both teams began out aggressively, swapping buckets, with Veronica Burton and Alyssa Thomas showing as vital players for their respective teams.

The battle in the paint continued strong, with Monique Billings of Golden State and DeWanna Bonner of Phoenix both offering excellent rebounding, defensive presence, and timely contributions. Burton caught fire midway in the quarter, hitting back-to-back threes to pull the Valkyries within two points. Just seconds later, Billings hit three of her own, giving Golden State a 50-49 lead and throwing the Ballhalla crowd into chaos.

Although both teams continued to move the ball well and produce high-percentage looks, it was the defense that characterized the quarter. Each possession was challenged physically, and hard-earned.
Phoenix led 59-58 after the third quarter, holding on by a single point.

DeWanna continued her excellent performance, finishing the quarter with 16 points and 7 rebounds, while Veronica Burton led Golden State with 14 points and Billings added seven rebounds and ten points.

Golden State found more energy beyond the arc, increasing their shooting from 5-of-15 to 10-of-23, which helped them stay within striking distance. However, Phoenix’s foul trouble arose, as they started the fourth quarter with 15 personal fouls.

Golden State played with passion, hustle, and fought all night, but fell just short in a playoff-like game. The Valkyries finished the game 14-of-33 from three (42.4%), showing major improvement from deep, but Mercury outscored them in the areas that mattered most down the stretch: paint points, fast break opportunities, and clutch free throw attempts.

DeWanna Bonner and Alyssa Thomas were the game changers, combining for 39 points on 14-of-22 shooting and adding 17 rebounds and 13 assists in the victory. Bonner had a monstrous 22-point, 11-rebound double-double, while Thomas had 17 points and 11 assists, marking her 14th career 15-point, 10-assist game, the most in WNBA history. Their productivity and leadership down the stretch were critical in keeping Phoenix ahead during the game’s most important minutes.

Phoenix’s bench also scored 26 points, extending their winning streak to three games and keeping them in second place in the West. Veronica Burton led Golden State with 17 points, Tiffany Hayes added 15, while Monique Billings had 9 rebounds and 10 points. Salaün made a huge difference late, scoring 5 points in the final 10 seconds to keep Golden State alive.

However, after a tough and questionable foul on the Valkyries, Phoenix’s Thomas got sent to the free throw line and won the game for Phoenix by one point. Ballhalla hosted another sellout game making it the 11th sold out game.

The final score was 78-77, The Valkyries will look to bounce back from after two close game loses as they head north for a road matchup against the Seattle Storm on Wednesday evening at 12:00pm at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.

Aces Break 2-Game Losing Streak Beating a Feisty Golden State Squad In a Thriller 104-102

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Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) loses control of the ball after being fouled by Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton, left, during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Saturday, July 12, 2025, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)Steve Marcus/Associated Press

By Rich Perez

It was far from easy for the Las Vegas Aces (10-11) as they beat the Golden State Valkyries (10-10) in a thriller 104-102 breaking their two-game losing streak on Saturday. The Valkyries were on fire in the first half hitting nine three’s but fell short in the second half as the Aces really stepped up taking the lead for most of the third and fourth quarters.

A’Ja Wilson had 25 points in the first half along with 16 rebounds (another double double for her) and finished with 34 points. Jackie Young finished off this game hitting four free throws down the stretch, two of them in the final 6.5 seconds of play.

As this game got underway at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, the Aces took a slim lead after the first quarter of play leading 23-21. Despite being a new franchise, the Valkyries have had a great start to the season with a 11-10 record in sixth place in the Western Conference. The first quarter had been a hotly contested affair.

Golden State won the second quarter outscoring the Aces 25-22. At the half the Valkyries had a single point lead 46-45. The Ace’s Wilson had her highest scoring half with 25 points. Las Vegas would need more from Chelsea Gray and also from Jewell Loyd in the second half of play.

The Valkyries led for much of the first half but the Aces turned that all-around in the the quarter. They took as much as a seven point lead in the quarter and after three quarters led 76-72. Jewell Loyd got really hot in the second half and finished the first three quarters with 15 points. Las Vegas needed to extend their lead and put this game away putting an end to their losing streak.

At 7:09 in the fourth quarter, the Aces had established an 85-77 lead. Jackie Young was on a roll with 20 points. Wilson had another double double already with 13 rebounds to accompany her 28 points and she was far from finished.

Every time the Valkyries made a move in the final quarter, the Aces had the answer. Golden State was doing everything they could to put the stops on Wilson but it was not working. With five minutes left in the game, the Aces had a 87-81 lead.

There was still a lot of time on clock for either of these two teams to come away with a win. As the clock ticked away with under four minutes the Aces really clamped down on the Valkyries leading 90-81. The Valkyries had not had a three in the second half after hitting 9 in the first half but with three plus minutes left in the game they hit their tenth and it was a four point game 90-86 with Las Vegas hanging. This game was going down to the wire.

There were two play stoppages in the final minutes of the fourth quarter which really challenged both teams down the stretch. Both reviews favored the Aces. With 1:34 left on the clock the Valkyries not only scored but drew a foul and this game was tied at 94.

With under a minute left the Aces took back the lead at 98-94 in a wild finish. Las Vegas finished off this game with a couple of free throws from Jackie Young with 6.5 seconds left on the clock and the Aces had broken their losing streak; the final was 104-102.

The Las Vegas Aces found a way to finish this game but a lot of credit has to go to the Golden State Valkyries who fought tooth and nail throughout the entire game. The Aces had weathered the storm with Wilson scoring 34 points, finishing with yet another double double , Young with 30 points and Jewell Loyd with 15 points. The Aces were 10 of 10 from the line in the fourth quarter.

The Valkyries starting lineup had a great showing with every player scoring in double digits. Tiffany Hayes and Janelle Salaun finishing with 16 points apiece.

Game notes: The 2025 season has not started the way the Aces had envisioned. Last season they lost in the playoffs to the eventual winners in the semi-final round and going into 2025 they came in with high hopes that have not panned out.

Their starting roster has most of last years starters with the addition of Jewell Loyd. They have lost two games in a row and Saturday the Aces got back on track as they took on the new franchise, the Valkyries. Las Vegas is ninth in the standings, a position that they could not have imagined going into the season.

They missed Wilson for a few games who was on concussion protocol. Wilson also missed their last game with an injured right wrist in a loss to the Mystics and before that they dropped a game to the New York Liberty. The season is almost at the half-way mark and there is till a lot of time to move up in the standings and Saturday they got a great opportunity to end their losing skid.

Las Vegas will not take the court until next Wednesday when they hit the road taking on the Dallas Wings followed by the All-Star game next Saturday. Tipoff for this game is scheduled for 5:00 PM.

Tune in for the All-Star game next Saturday with tipoff scheduled for 5:30 PM on ABC. The Aces Wilson will be a starter on Team Clark chosen at pick # 5 and Jackie Young was selected for the second team picked at # 18. Las Vegas will be back in regular season action on Tuesday night taking on the Atlanta Dream.

Valkyries defeat Storm 84-57, Extend Sellout Streak to 10

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Veronica Burton of the Golden State Valkyries emotes after a call in the second half against the Seattle Storm at the Chase Center in San Francisco, CA on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Don Feria for Bay Area News Group)

By Michael Villanueva

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – The Golden State Valkyries are now (9-7) after a lights-out performance from the team in their matchup against the Seattle Storm making them (10-7) in their second matchup of the season. 

The Golden State Valkyries led the Seattle Storm 23–14 at the start after playing with intensity and consistency in the first quarter. In her pregame mentions, head coach Natalie Nakase highlighted the importance of execution and intensity, and her players delivered on both fronts.

On both ends of the court, Golden State’s effort was clear. They were able to get into a rhythm offensively because of their early 3-point shooting, going 3-of-7 from outside the arc. The Valkyries scored 12 points in the paint by dominating Seattle with smart off-ball movement and strong cuts to the rim, so it wasn’t simply perimeter play. It was challenging to control the attack because of their ability to combine aggressive inside plays with outside shooting.

Tiffany Hayes, one of the skilled guards, took the lead and confidently attacked the hoop. She contributed to the Valkyries’ early momentum with five points in the quarter, going one of three from the field and one of two from three-point range.

On the other hand, Seattle relied largely on Skylar Diggins, who kept up her hustling and leadership. She scored eight points on three of five shots, including a three-pointer, and had an assist and a rebound. Despite the early disadvantage, her tireless efforts played a significant role in keeping the Storm within reach for a while.

Golden State had a cold moment from beyond the arc, but they were still ahead 34-27 at the half. In the second quarter, the Valkyries were unable to score from beyond the arc after making three three-pointers in the first. Nevertheless, Tiffany Hayes finished the half with 11 points, continuing to lead the attack with aggressive play. Golden State also made the most of their transition, scoring 10 points on 4 of 5 shots.

With experienced guard Erica Wheeler making two three-pointers to help change the pace, Seattle started to create a small rhythm behind the arc. With seven turnovers each at the end of the half, both teams had trouble controlling the ball.

Golden State came out and dominated the game after halftime, scoring 31 points in the third quarter and coming out on an attack. The Valkyries increased their energy on both ends and demonstrated their dominance by extending their lead to 65–44 at the end of the quarter, a 21-point advantage. Turning and going defense to offense as the whole team thrives on the energy from the crowd in Ballhalla. 

A well-rounded team effort, especially from Veronica Burton and Tiffany Hayes, drove the charge. With 15 points, 5 assists, and 4 rebounds, Burton continued her consistent two-way presence. Hayes scored 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including 2 of 5 from three, after exploding in the third. The intensity and performance of the rest of the Valkyries were greatly enhanced by both players.

The Golden State team thrived by spacing the floor and distributing the ball effectively. With 34 points now gained from their selfless ball movement, their shooting rhythm came alive to start the second half. The Valkyries dominated the third quarter, making it a statement drive.

In this match, Golden State led the Seattle Storm 84-57 from start to finish, never falling behind. The Valkyries established the tone right away and didn’t let up thanks to their constant speeding transitions, strong defense, and skilled play on both ends of the court.

As the team’s top scorer, Tiffany Hayes scored 21 points on an effective 8-of-13 shooting effort, including 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. She started the attack early and maintained the intensity all through. Burton and Laeticia Amihere, who each scored 15 points, were just behind her. Amihere added a strong presence in the paint that Seattle found hard to handle, and she also controlled the glass with a team-high eight rebounds.

The Valkyries’ tenth consecutive sellout, the longest in the team’s history, made the evening at Chase Center even more memorable. The home audience embraced the team’s enthusiasm and vice versa. Golden State’s victory gives them more momentum going into their upcoming game in Minnesota.

This Saturday at 5:00 p.m., Golden State will travel to Minnesota to play the Lynx, continuing their two-game winning streak.

Valkyries reached for the Sky and won, 83-78; moved up above .500

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Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese looks to shoot the ball against Golden State Valkyries’ Monique Billings in the third quarter in San Francisco on Friday, June 27, 2025. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)

By Michael Roberson

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The Golden State Valkyries (8-7) have a winning record after 15 games of their inaugural season, by scaling the Chicago Sky (4-11), 83-78, on a beautiful Friday Night in the City by the Bay.

The Valkyries got the evening off to a good start on two converted free throws by Kayla Thornton. However, the Sky went on a 5-0 run to take the steam out of the ninth sellout crowd in the friendly confines of the Chase Center. Golden State also had their own 6-0 run, and led by as many as 5 points in the first 10-minute block.

The initial quarter had three lead changes and two ties. A competitive beginning of the contest that continued throughout the game. After the first segment of the W battle, both teams had a player leading the way with 9 points.

Kayla Thornton parlayed that scoring effort into a career high (29) campaign, while Kia Nurse made three bombs from beyond the arc to tally her point-production. The Sky led by two after the whistle, 22-20. The unintentional polarizing Angel Reese managed to get a flagrant foul late in the quarter, but did not ruin the rest of her game.

In the second quarter, Golden State managed to lead by as high as nine points, but it still was a back and forth entanglement. By the time the first half buzzer went off, the Valkyries held a five-point lead, 39-34.

At recess, both teams only had one player in the double-figures plateau. They would be the aforementioned Thornton (15) and Nurse (12), with four 3s to her credit.

In the third quarter, it was more of lead exchange and multiple ties. Golden State went up by five, and Chicago led by three. Reece reached 10 rebounds, but was still in single-digits (5) in her point production. After 75% of the game was over, the Valkyries led by two, 56-54. There were six lead changes and six ties at that stage of the game.

In the final 10-minute time block of regulation, Golden State pushed it to a nine-point advantage, while Chicago got up by four. However, late in the quarter, the Valkyries went on a devastating 12-0 run, which cemented the win. In the interim, Reese added 8 rebounds and 12 points to her total, reaching another of her frequent double-doubles.

After 40 minutes of WNBA play in the San Francisco Bay, the home team won by five, 83-78. The latest expansion team put themselves back in a winning way, by games and percentages.

Golden State presented four players with 10+ points in their eighth victory of their first season. Thornton led the way with 29 points and six rebounds. The other three contributors were. Tiffany Hayes (13), Kate Martin (11) and Kaitlin Chen (10).

Chicago was led by Ariel Atkins with 20 points, Nurse with 17 (5 – 3s) and Reese with her double double of 17 points and 18 rebounds.

The Valkyries are next in action Sunday, June 29, hosting the Seattle Storm at 5:30 PM PT, on KMAX/KPIX+. The Sky head down to Southern California to take on the Los Angeles Sparks, on the same date, at 3:00 PM CT and 1:00PM PT on ESPN.

Aces Fall To Surging Mystics 94-83; Win was third straight for Washington

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Washington Mystics guard Sonia Citron (22) takes a shot over the Las Vegas Aces center A’Ja Wilson (22) in first half WNBA action at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas on Thu Jun 26, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Rich Perez
LAS VEGAS–The Las Vegas Aces (7-8) lost to the Washington Mystics (8-8) 94-83. The Aces Jackie Young had 13 points in the opening quarter but did not score again in the game. A’Ja Wilson had the game high with 22 points.

On the other hand the Mystics had the hot hand from outside hitting ten shots from beyond the arc. They were unstoppable. Las Vegas went on a 9-0 run to start the fourth quarter but they had dug such a deep hole in the third quarter trailing by 22 points. They have now fallen below .500 again at Michelob ULTRA Arena on Thursday night.

The Mystics took as much as an eight point lead in the first quarter but the Aces battled back tying the game at 22 with under two minutes left in the first ten minutes of play. As the first quarter came to an end the Mystics had a 29-25 lead. The Aces Jackie Young had a terrific start scoring 13 points. She definitely had the hot hand in the opening quarter.

The second quarter saw Washington again take as much as a nine point lead. With five minutes left in the half the Aces cut the Washington lead more than in half trailing 32-36. The Mystics Sika Kone pushed out the Washington lead hitting a three with 4:27 left in the quarter. Every time the Aces challenged, the Mystics answered and at the half Washington had their largest lead of the game 53-44.

The Mystics Sonia Citron had the first half team high with 12 points. She was the only Mystic in double digits. The Aces A’Ja Wilson had 14 points and Young had 13 at the half. Las Vegas would have to contain the Mystic offense in the second half. They already had hit six shots from downtown and the Aces would be looking to shut that down.

The Mystics continued to push their lead out leading 59-44 two minutes into the third quarter. The Aces shooting percentage continued to dip and turnovers continued to hamper Las Vegas. The Aces had conceded 17 points on eight turnovers. With 7:33 left in the quarter Head Coach Becky Hammon called a time out before this game got completely out of hand.

Washington had built a 62-46 lead at 6:47. The Mystics were on fire from beyond the arc hitting 8 already in 2 1/2 quarters. The Mystics success from beyond the arc was the tipping point in this game. With two minutes left in the quarter Washington had built a 22-point lead 79-57. Going into the fourth quarter Washington had a 79-61 lead.

As the final quarter got underway Las Vegas was not finished going on a 9-0 run to start the fourth quarter. The Aces got as close as seven points but they could not overcome the outside shooting that the Mystics brought in this game. The Aces had dug too deep of a hole in the third quarter. In an 11 point loss for the Aces and the win in favor of Washington.

This coming Sunday the Aces will head out on the road for another very tough matchup with the third place Phoenix Mercury. Tipoff for that game is scheduled for 3:00 PM and can be viewed on NBA TV.

Late Rally Falls Short as Valkyries Drop Thriller to Liberty, 81–78

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New York Liberty’s Sabrina Ionescu is defended by Golden State Valkyrie’s Veronica Burton during the second quarter of a WNBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco, Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (Scott Strazzante/ San Francisco Chronicle)

By: Michael Villanueva

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.- The opening quarter of the Golden State Valkyries vs. New York Liberty game was hard-fought, with Breanna Stewart and Tiffany Hayes putting up the most impressive performances. With 12 points on 5 of 9 field goals, including 1 of 2 from beyond the arc, Stewart developed as an aggressive player for New York. Although she didn’t have much help from her teammates in the first stretch, her early rhythm kept the Liberty offensively going. Yet Kennedy Burke, who came off the bench, provided New York with much-needed energy by scoring 8 points on a flawless 3-for-3 shooting effort, including 2 of 2 from deep range

On the other hand, Hayes went 3-of-6 from the field and made 2-of-4 from beyond the arc to match Stewart’s effort with 12 of her own. Her choice of shots and ability to create space during transitions provided the Valkyries with a much-needed attacking lift. Hayes taking it to the rack is how the team’s effort got going. 

However, Hayes wasn’t the only one who had an effect. The defensive tone was set by her and Kayla Thornton, who put constant pressure that made New York appear tough and stopped their rhythm. The Liberty shot just 11 of 23 overall and a poor 4-of-13 from three-point range in the first quarter, as they struggled to keep up with Golden State’s tenacity and pace early in the game.

Even as Breanna Stewart started to establish her dominance, the Valkyries relied on their aggressive defense to break Liberty’s rhythm in the second quarter. Despite their difficulties from beyond the arc, Stewart kept New York within striking distance by scoring nine more points in the quarter, increasing her first-half total to 21 on 8 of 14 shooting.

Golden State responded with tough defense and well-balanced team play. Backcourt pressure from Kayla Thornton and Tiffany Hayes continued to push the Liberty into hurried shots and disrupted plays. Despite only shooting 15 of 37 from the field in the first half, the Valkyries made up for it with hustling plays and hard work on the glass, grabbing 19 rebounds and grabbing crucial second-chance shots.

However, by halftime, the Liberty were only 5 of 18 from three-point range and 18 of 46 from the field. Their interior presence kept them in the game, as they scored 26 of their first-half points in the paint despite their poor outside shooting. Even though their perimeter threats struggled to convert, they were able to effectively crash the lane due to their size and length across the lineup.

The Valkyries had a certain change of mind when they left halftime: defensive energy. In order to add more hustle and intensity to the perimeter, head coach Natalie Nakase started guard Kate Martin, and it paid off right away. With players continuously switching positions, getting hands in passing lanes, and running back in transition, Golden State’s defense was notably more active. Four steals during the quarter were the product of their effort, which created fast-break possibilities and held the Liberty attack.

Laeticia Amihere, Kayla Thornton, and Kate Martin all took advantage of those momentum plays, combining to make several crucial baskets that resulted from transition and second-effort hustling. The Valkyries played with a feeling of urgency that allowed them to momentarily recover control of the game, whether it was diving for loose balls or finishing through contact on the break.

However, New York’s Marine Johannès turned the tide just as Golden State appeared to take the lead. The shooter stunned the crowd by making three straight three-pointers in the third quarter, giving the Liberty a late-quarter lead. Johannès’ quick release and off-ball movement proved too much to contain during that stretch, reminding everyone that occasionally excellent offense wins over outstanding defense, even if the Valkyries’ defense had played strong defense the whole quarter.

With both teams exchanging big shots and changes in momentum, the fourth quarter was a back-and-forth contest. In the last period, Golden State Kate Martin made three critical three-pointers to get the Valkyries within striking distance, continuing her second-half surge. Martin finished with a career-high 21 points, going 4-of-10 from beyond the arc and showing composure in crucial situations after only scoring 7 points in the first three quarters.

Her late actions, however, were unable to lift the Valkyries to a higher level.

Kennedy Burke, who stepped up when it mattered most, responded for New York with a consistent scoring effort. Burke finished with 20 points, shooting 6-of-14 from the field and 4-of-9 from three, after scoring 11 points early in the game. Her poise and well-timed buckets allowed the Liberty to withstand the Valkyries’ charge. Also, Sabrina Ionescu converted seven free throws in the final two minutes and made a key steal with 26 seconds left, even though she was shut down by Valkyrie’s defense going 1-11 on the floor, and 1-7 shooting threes. Lastly, Breanna Stewart also finished with a double-double, 23 points and 10 rebounds.

Golden State had late-game opportunities, but the 81-78 defeat was sealed by a few missed shots and New York’s dominance of the last possessions. After another tough and competitive performance, the loss puts the Valkyries at 0-3 in the season series against the Liberty.

The Valkyries will look to bounce back quickly as they return to action on Friday night when they host the Chicago Sky at 7 p.m. Still searching for consistency and a breakthrough win in close matchups, Golden State will aim to turn lessons from this hard-fought loss into momentum heading into the weekend.

Aces Put An End To Losing Streak Beating Indiana Fever 89-81

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Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young (0) celebrates a successful play during WNBA game against Indiana Fever on Sunday June 22 2025 in Las Vegas. Kalin Sipes – The Sporting Tribune

By Rich Perez

The Las Vegas Aces put an end to their three-game losing streak beating the Indiana Fever 89-81 Sunday. They trailed for three quarters but powered through the fourth quarter. After being shut down in the first half, A’Ja Wilson scored 20 points in the second half and finishing with 24 points. It was an amazing comeback as the Aces begin to chip away at the standings now tied for seventh place. This was the Aces 16th straight win over the Fever.

Game recap: The Aces got an early 6-2 lead but the Fever responded taking as much as a five point lead. The two teams fought hard for the rest of the quarter and after the first ten minutes of play, the Fever had a one-point lead 21-20 in a hotly contested game.

Chelsea Gray hit a buzzer beater for two points to end the quarter. The Fever’s Aliyah Boston had already shot for ten points and the Aces would need to contain her going into the second quarter. A’Ja Wilson had a slow start only hitting a single basket but had three rebounds. The Fever were doing a great job shutting her down. Gray had the high for Las Vegas with five points.

In the early minutes of the second quarter the Fever extended their lead to 26-22. The Aces answered with a Dana Evans shot from downtown to tie up the game 28-28 at 6:19. Caitlin Clark had scored only two points but she had eight assists connecting with Aliyah Boston numerous times.

The Fever were making life pretty miserable for A’Ja Wilson keeping her pretty locked down. Indiana went on a run extending their lead to 37-28 prompting Las Vegas head coach Becky Hammon to call a timeout before the game got out of hand.

A’Ja Wilson finally got her second basket of the game but Clark came right back shooting over the defense for her first three of the game and the Fever had taken a 40-30 lead. The Aces were struggling from the floor shooting for only 36% while the Fever were hot shooting at 54%.

Las Vegas continued to struggle on the floor trailing at the half 36-42. They would have a lot of work to do in the second half. They needed to find a way to disrupt the Clark-Boston connection which was a huge part of the Fever’s lead.

The Fever’s Aliyah Boston had the game high at the half with 18 points. The Aces struggles on the floor resulted in not a single player in double digits at halftime. The Fever had held Wilson to 1-12 field goals.

The last time the Fever had beaten the Aces was back in 2019. If the first half was any indication, Las Vegas was going to have to step up big time in the second half. It was not a huge point deficit by any means but they had to find a way to shut down Boston and start hitting those floor shots that they had been missing in the first half.

The Aces continued to trail in the third quarter, struggling from the floor, missing open shots while the Fever’s Aliyah Boston continued to dominate. With 4:09 left in the quarter Boston had hit 22 points.

The Aces continued to trail by six points throughout most of the third quarter. With 2.22 left on the clock, the Aces pulled to within four points but the Fever countered with a two point play and going into the fourth quarter the Fever were holding onto a 61-58 lead.

The final quarter got underway with the Aces pulling to within a single point 60-61. Las Vegas took the lead 63-61 for the first time since the first quarter when Aaliyah Nye hit a three. Nye had 11 points off the bench and Wilson, Chelsea Gray, Jewell Loyd and Jackie Young had all reached double digits.

With 7:58 left in the game the Aces were clinging to a 65-63 lead and desperately needing stops. Las Vegas got a couple of stops and made good on them pushing their lead out to 69-63 going on a 15-2 run with 6:16 left on the clock.

The Fever gobbled up the Las Vegas lead and with five minutes left in the game it was all tied up at 69. A crucial coaches challenge was won by the Aces and with under two minutes left in the game Las Vegas had a 83-75 lead.

A’Ja Wilson had hit 16 points in the second half making good on her claim at the half that she would “just keep on shooting.” With under a minute Las Vegas had established an 84-79 lead and this game was going down to the wire.

A second challenge in as many minutes was also won by the Aces and Jackie Young hit a couple of free throws giving Las Vegas an 86-81 lead with 40 ticks left on the clock. The final was 89-81.

If a team can stay close and close out the fourth quarter chances are pretty good that they will come away with a win and is exactly what Las Vegas pulled off. They had put a stop to their losing streak, and now had 6-7 season record.

Indiana’s Aliyah Boston had the game high with 26 points and 10 rebounds along with a great showing by Kelsey Mitchell with 20 and Clark finishing with 19 points and 11 assists.

The Aces really bounced back in this game finishing off the Fever in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. After a rough start, A’Ja Wilson finished with 24 points and seven rebounds. Jackie Young had 19 points and also had seven rebounds. Chelsea Gray and Jewell Loyd had a great finish; Gray with 18 points and Loyd with ten. Aaliyah Nye had 11 points off the bench.

Game notes: Sunday afternoon the Aces played another home game at Michelob ULTRA Arena taking on the Fever. The Aces came into the game after a loss to the Seattle Storm 90-83 after leading by ten points in the third quarter last Friday. That game was A’Ja Wilson’s first appearance on the court after being out on concussion protocol.

Wilson came back into this game sharp after her first game back last Friday night. Las Vegas faced Caitlan Clark but also the Clark- Aliyah Boston combination a dangerous duo. The Arena was packed with over 18,500 fans on hand for the game with the Ace ending their three game losing streak.

Las Vegas will back on the court at Michelob ULTRA Arena welcoming the Connecticut Sun next Wednesday night. Tipoff for that game is scheduled for 7:00 PM and fans can tune in for all the action on NBA TV.

A’Ja Wilson Returns But Aces Fall Short Losing To the Storm 90-83

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Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike (3) grabs a rebound against the Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) in the second half of WNBA action at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas on Fri Jun 20, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Rich Perez

LAS VEGAS–The Las Vegas Aces (5-7) welcomed A’Ja Wilson back on the court in a matchup with the Seattle Storm (8-5). The Aces dropped their third straight game this time to the Storm 90-83 at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas. The Aces came up just short in a real battle. Two missed free throws to end the game sealed the win for the Storm.

Wilson finished with a double double shooting 20 points with 14 rebounds. Jackie Young had a solid game with four rebounds and 22 points. It was just not enough to get past the surging Storm.

Game recap: As the players took the floor rousing applause arose when Wilson took the court. She was back just when the team really needed her. Her return could change the course of the rest of the season.

The Storm came out strong taking as much as a ten-point in the opening quarter but by the end of the first ten minutes of play the Aces had pulled to within two points trailing 23-21. Las Vegas briefly took the lead in the second quarter but Seattle fought back leading for most of the game.

With 38 seconds left in the half, the Aces had taken a 39-36 lead. Las Vegas had a great run in the final 30 seconds of the half taking a 45-38 lead. The Aces had taken control of this game and would need more of the same in the second half.

The Aces picked up where they left off in the second quarter taking a ten point lead two minutes into the third quarter 52-42. Just having Wilson on the floor show-cased the ball control and the flow of the game was slick.

The Aces were hitting the three’s and with only seven turnovers so far in the game they looked like the new and improved Aces. With under three minutes left in the quarter this game got uncomfortably close, the Storm trailing by only three points 61-58.

The Las Vegas lead had evaporated. With 36 seconds left in the third quarter the Storm made a push taking back the lead 64-63. The Aces had some untimely turnovers that seemed to disrupt their rhythm. After three quarters the Storm had taken a one-point lead 67-66.

The fourth quarter was a see-saw affair with the two teams trading leads. As the clock began to wind down Las Vegas had just over three minutes left in the game to overcome the Storm’s 86-81 lead in this game.

Every possession going forward would be critical. The Storm continued to extend their lead and time was not on the Aces side trailing 88-81. This was a photo finish, Las Vegas fighting to the end but coming up just short losing.

Game notes: The Aces took on the Storm in a Friday night matchup at Michelob ULTRA Arena. This season finds the Aces having to contend with something that we never saw coming. So far this season they have a season record below five hundred while last year they finished with a 27-13 record finishing in fourth place in the Western Conference and losing in the Semi-final to the eventual winner, the New York Liberty.

The Aces beat the Storm in the first round of last year’s playoff to advance to the semi-finals. This year they have been really struggling and it has been compounded with the loss of A’Ja Wilson who has been out for two games after suffering a head injury back on June 11 playing against the Los Angeles Sparks missing the entire fourth quarter.

It has not gone well for the Aces since then although they did pull out a victory against the Dallas Wings on June 13th. Wilson’s return date was previously determined to be June 17 but she did not play. Wilson returned on Friday night scoring the second highest points with 20.

She has led the team in almost every statistical category. It has not been a great start to the 2025 season but the good news is that there are more than 30 games left on the schedule and there is plenty of time to turn things around.

The loss set the Aces back six games out of first place the Aces are now in eighth place in the Western Conference. The Aces have a lot of work to do and they could start with capitalizing on second chance points and more ball protection in their next game on Sunday. In their last three games they have averaged 18 turnovers per game and cleaning that up would make all the difference.

Las Vegas will now go back to the drawing board in preparation for their game this coming Sunday with the Indiana Fever. Tipoff for this game is scheduled for12:00 PM and can be viewed on ESPN/ESPN+