Golden State Valkyries defeat Las Vegas Aces in WNBA semifinal opener

The Golden State Valkyries took a 1-0 lead in the WNBA semifinal best-of-five series against the defending champion Las Vegas Aces with a 71-60 victory at Chase Center. Gabby Williams led the Valkyries with 25 points, while Kiah Stokes provided a dominant defensive presence, recording 14 rebounds and three blocks to help neutralize A’ja Wilson, who finished with 24 points.

Golden State’s victory was driven by defensive intensity and rebounding dominance, outperforming the Aces 52-25 on the glass. The Valkyries held Las Vegas to just 60 points, their lowest scoring total of the season. The Aces struggled with shooting efficiency, finishing at 33.9%, and faced additional challenges after Jewell Loyd left the game in the third quarter due to a leg injury.

Following the loss, Aces coach Becky Hammon offered a blunt assessment, stating her team “played like ass” and noting that they failed to execute their rebounding and defensive game plan. The series moves to Game 2 on Wednesday in San Francisco.