Story by Alan Snel Photos by Hugh Byrne
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — The Las Vegas Aces may have the best player in the world — five-time A’ja Wilson.
But the Golden State Valkyries had the better team. The Valkyries knocked off the defending WNBA champions in a three-game sweep, with an overtime win in Las Vegas Friday clinching Golden State’s berth in the W’s final against the Atlanta Dream.
The Aces’ try at a repeat is over. Golden State outscored the Aces, 16-6, in an 87-77 OT win at Michelob Ultra Arena Friday.
A’ja Wilson won her fifth MVP trophy. But the hardware could not beat a well-balanced Valkyries squad, which spread the scoring across its roster while Las Vegas relied primarily on three scorers — guards Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray, along with the top-scoring Wilson. Wilson led the WNBA in scoring.
It was also bittersweet for Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase, who is a former Aces assistant coach hired by Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon.
LVSportsBiz.com asked Nakase after the game about Hammon’s impact on her life.
“She hired me. She invited me to the W,” Nakase said. Both Nakase and Hammon had worked as assistant coaches in the NBA.
Hammon said her team just did not play good enough defense to beat a tough Golden State team and that “you have to be firing on all cylinders.”
She praised the Golden State squad: “They played great team ball.”
Kayla Thornton led the Valkyries in scoring tonight with 18 points, while Williams added another 16.
Then, two former Aces players on Golden State also chipped in 11 points each — Kiah Stokes and off-the-bench specialist Tiffany Hayes.
The Aces led at halftime, 45-36.
But Golden State ripped off 17 straight points in the third quarter to take a lead before the Aces and Valkyries dueled in the final quarter that ended with an overtime.
Wilson has won three WNBA titles and knows the standard: “Every year is championship or best.”
Wilson led the Aces in scoring with 21 points, with guard Jackie Young scoring 18 and Gray adding 17.
Gray praised Golden State for its impressive roster of players who contribute.
“They come in waves,” she said after the game.
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