A Decisive Block Secures Victory at Chase Center
SAN FRANCISCO (Azat TV) – The second-year Golden State Valkyries moved within one win of reaching the WNBA Finals after defeating the Las Vegas Aces 83-81 on Wednesday night at Chase Center. With 5.9 seconds remaining and the Valkyries holding a narrow lead, Las Vegas guard Chelsea Gray received the rebound following an intentional missed free throw by teammate Jackie Young and maneuvered toward the basket. Former Aces player Kiah Stokes blocked Gray’s shot, preserving the victory and giving Golden State a 2-0 lead in the semifinal series.
The dramatic finish punctuated a frantic fourth-quarter comeback by the visiting Aces, who dropped 50 points in the second half. Las Vegas leaned on four-time MVP A’ja Wilson, who scored 18 of her 24 points after halftime. Despite the offensive surge, the reigning champions fell short and now face elimination as the series shifts to Southern Nevada for Game 3 on Friday.
Adjustments and Rebounding Battle Define the Series
Las Vegas head coach Becky Hammon noted that past accolades offer no competitive advantage in the postseason. “All the experience, all the records, all the championships, they don’t get to carry over,” Hammon said, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. “You have to do the work every time you step on the court.”
To spark the second-half comeback, Hammon deployed a two-big lineup pairing the 6-foot-4 Wilson with 6-foot-7 reserve Kalani Brown. Brown contributed nine points and eight rebounds in over 23 minutes of play, helping force Golden State centers Stokes and Gueye into early foul trouble in the third quarter. While the Aces improved their rebounding performance—narrowly trailing 29-25 after being dominated 52-25 in Game 1—Hammon maintained that their effort on the boards remains “better, but not good enough.”
Stakes and Historical Context Ahead of Game 3
The Aces enter Game 3 facing an unfamiliar deficit after reaching the WNBA semifinals in each of the past eight seasons, during which they compiled a 211-81 regular-season record. Wilson led the league this season with 26.2 points per game and topped the WNBA in win shares at 9.4. Forward Stephanie Talbot noted that the team discovered a more aggressive approach in the second half that yielded higher-percentage looks and transition opportunities.
With the series moving to Nevada, the Aces must string together three consecutive victories to advance. Hammon expressed confidence in her squad’s resilience, stating that the group believes it is capable of mounting a full series comeback.