The Golden State Valkyries took a commanding lead in their best-of-five semifinal series by defeating the Las Vegas Aces 71-60 in Game 1. This victory highlighted their advantage in rebounding and defense.
A’ja Wilson, the reigning WNBA MVP, scored 24 points but only managed to collect four rebounds. Golden State controlled the boards, limiting the Aces’ shooting to 33.7%.
Gabby Williams stood out with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists. This performance was crucial for the Valkyries’ success in the game.
Aces head coach Becky Hammon expressed disappointment with her team’s performance, citing rebounding as the main issue. She stated, “I could end this whole thing right now. Don’t ask me about the game. It’s rebounding that was it.” Las Vegas was significantly outrebounded, with Golden State securing 52 rebounds to Las Vegas’s 25.
Kiah Stokes contributed 14 rebounds, and Kayla Thornton added 11 for the Valkyries. The Aces had tied with the Indiana Fever for seventh in rebounding during the season, while the Valkyries ranked slightly lower.
Despite the loss, Hammon noted a positive aspect. “Good news is we played like [expletive] and only lost by 10. So dissect that however you want,” she remarked. She remains hopeful as they prepare for the next game.
Game 2 of the series is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 9:30 p.m. ET, where Las Vegas will seek to recover from this setback.