After an up-and-down start to the season for the Las Vegas Aces, reigning MVP A’ja Wilson leads the two-time WNBA champions into San Francisco on Saturday afternoon to face the expansion Golden State Valkyries.
The Aces (4-2) opened the 2025 WNBA season with a double-digit defeat to the New York Liberty and less than two weeks ago they absorbed a 20-point loss on the road to the Seattle Storm. But they have found their bearings by going 4-1 since May 20, including quick adjustments in a second game against the Storm in the span of a week.
On Sunday, the Aces recovered for a 75-70 win at Seattle, propelled by a team-high 19 points from Wilson to go along with seven rebounds, four blocks, three assists and three steals. Five players scored in double figures, with Jackie Young adding 12 points.
The Aces leaned into a standout defense, which held Seattle to 17 points or less in each of the first three quarters.
“That’s what we harped on all week long was just defense, defense, defense,” Wilson said. “That’s huge for us. We know that’s what’s going to get us flowing, so I was just happy at the fact that we really actually transitioned it over from practice.”
The Valkyries (2-5) have cooled off from an impressive start when the expansion club won two of its first three games. That has turned into a four-game losing streak, with an 86-77 setback to the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday their latest setback.
Golden State had a 76-58 lead with 4:04 remaining, but the Mercury outscored the Valkyries 18-1 to end the game. Veronica Burton scored 16 points for the Valkyries and Temi Fagbenle added 12 points with 11 rebounds.
Golden State head coach Natalie Nakase said the team’s downfall was not just with the closing minutes.
“I asked them you know, ‘Where is our energy from the jump?'” Nakase said. “It was the first time, to be super transparent, I’ve never seen that. We didn’t throw any punches at the beginning. We were reacting, we were waiting. I got to figure out what I can do to make sure their buttons are ready to go from the jump. So yeah, it’s on me. I gotta figure that out.”
–Field Level Media
