Valkyries Take the Lead 71-60 | Semifinal Game 1 vs. Las Vegas Aces | October 4, 2026

The Golden State Valkyries showed no signs of fatigue just 36 hours after eliminating Dallas, beating the Las Vegas Aces 71 60 to take a 1 0 lead in their best of five semifinal series. Golden State's calling card was the glass, dominating the boards with a staggering 52 25 rebounding advantage over the defending champions.

Gabby Williams led the way with 25 points, while Kaitlyn Chen added 11 off the bench, including the clinching layup that stretched the lead to 71 58 with two minutes remaining. The Valkyries took control for good on Chen's running layup with 6:56 left that pushed the lead to 64 53, prompting a timeout from Las Vegas. The Aces cut into the deficit at times down the stretch, but clutch buckets from Kayla Thornton, Williams, and Chen kept Golden State in control throughout.

A'ja Wilson led the Aces with 24 points on high volume shooting, going 8 of 21 from the field. Vegas guard Jewell Loyd left the game with a left leg injury in the third quarter and did not return, a tough blow for a Las Vegas team now facing a quick turnaround in a tightening series.

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Golden State Valkyries | WNBA | Game Recap | Gabby Williams, Kaitlyn Chen | Las Vegas Aces | 2026