No. 2 Golden State is on the brink of WNBA history, as the second-year franchise held off No. 3 Las Vegas 83-81 in last night’s Aces vs Valkyries clash to take a 2-0 playoffs lead — moving within one win of its first trip to the finals.
The Valkyries built a 17-point lead by the third quarter, leaning on a swarming perimeter defense that left the Aces scrambling.
Las Vegas stormed back to grab its first lead since Game 1, before Gabby Williams buried a go-ahead jumper and fed Veronica Burton for a dagger 3-pointer to seal it.
The result underscored the WNBA playoffs series’ emphasis on depth over star power, as Golden State met four-time MVP A’ja Wilson with its tested rotation.
Aces coach Becky Hammon emptied her bench in search of answers, deploying Kalani Brown, Justine Pissott, and two-time champion Dana Evans.
“If we lose, we go home,” Hammon said of her squad’s approach to Game 3. “We know we’re capable of stringing three in a row... No reverse psychology, no nothing. Just go out and get it done.”
The best-of-five series moves to Las Vegas tomorrow, as the Aces host the Valkyries at 9:30 PM ET (NBC Sports).
