The host Las Vegas Aces came to play tonight, leading for much of the third game of the WNBA Semifinals. But it wasn’t enough to stop the Golden State Valkyries, whose depth ultimately finished off the defending champions, 87-77.
The Valkyries finished the game on a 26-11 run that began midway through the fourth quarter.
Golden State will head to the WNBA finals against the Atlanta Dream, which also swept its series against the New York Liberty. Game 1 will be held at Chase Center on Oct. 17.
The Valkyries’ shots were not falling early in the game at Michelob ULTRA arena in Las Vegas. But as we’ve seen with this team before, the Valkyries created second chance opportunities with aggressive rebounding and scrappiness.
Then a 17-0 run in the third quarter brought the Valkyries back into the game.
Still, Vegas held onto the lead late into the fourth quarter until a Gabby Williams steal off A’ja Wilson with less than two minutes to go tied up the game. The teams went back and forth until the Aces’ Chelsea Gray’s potential game-winning jumper rattled around and out at the buzzer.
The game went into overtime with the score knotted at 71.
A couple of offensive rebounds, points from Gabby Williams and a block by Kiah Stokes were the difference makers for Golden State in the extra period.
The Valkyries went on to win by 10 points.
Golden State had been fueled by the energy of Ballhalla in the first two games. Tonight the Valkyries were supported by a rowdy section of violet and the good luck charm that is Too $hort, Gabby Williams’ favorite childhood rapper whose presence at Ballhalla has become essential.
One of the big surprises of the night was the point production from Stokes, a rebounding machine who had yet to score in the series. Tonight, however, she delivered double-digit points on top of her team-high eight rebounds and clutch blocks.
The Valkyries have home court advantage going into the finals. For now, they celebrate.
