Valkyries Beat Aces 83-81 to Take 2-0 Semifinal Lead

The Golden State Valkyries defeated the Las Vegas Aces 83-81 on Wednesday at Chase Center to take a 2-0 lead in their WNBA playoff semifinal series, with the win powered by late-game execution and a strong defensive effort.

According to the Valkyries, Golden State held a 17-point advantage in the game and survived a late Aces comeback after Las Vegas took its first lead with two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. The victory put the Valkyries one win away from reaching the 2026 WNBA Finals.

Tiffany Hayes led Golden State’s reserves with 21 points, while the bench group outscored Las Vegas 34-14, according to the team. Gabby Williams added 20 points, three 3-pointers, five rebounds and three assists, extending her streak of double-digit scoring games in the 2026 postseason to five.

The Valkyries defense repeatedly pressured Las Vegas ball handlers, including Chelsea Gray, by using multiple defenders in full-court coverage. Aces head coach Becky Hammon addressed the challenge before Game 2.

"Nobody likes to get picked up full-court," said Becky Hammon, Aces head coach.

Golden State’s defensive approach contributed to a slow start for Las Vegas, which scored 11 points in the opening quarter, its lowest-scoring postseason quarter since 2024, according to the Valkyries.

Veronica Burton highlighted Hayes’ impact after the veteran guard produced a team-leading scoring performance off the bench.

"Tip [Tiffany Hayes] is incredible," said Veronica Burton, Golden State Valkyries player.

Hayes scored 10 points in the second quarter on 4-for-5 shooting and continued creating plays on both ends of the court in the second half. The Valkyries also controlled the rebounding battle early, leading 18-10 on the boards in the first half.

Head coach Natalie Nakase pointed to Golden State’s ability to receive contributions from multiple players during the closing minutes. The Valkyries answered A'ja Wilson’s go-ahead basket with a Gabby Williams jumper and a Veronica Burton 3-pointer that made it 79-76 with 41.5 seconds left.

"We had multiple closers," said Natalie Nakase, Golden State Valkyries head coach. "It's so valuable when you have multiple people that can score any given night."

The final seconds featured free throws and a last defensive stand from Golden State. Las Vegas made five of six free-throw attempts late, while the Valkyries converted all four of their attempts before Kiah Stokes blocked the final shot with 0.3 seconds remaining.

Game 3 of the semifinal series is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 9 at Michelob ULTRA Arena, according to the Valkyries.