Valkyries end road trip with lopsided loss to A’ja Wilson-led Aces

The Las Vegas Aces dominated the Golden State Valkyries 101-77 in a WNBA game at Michelob ULTRA Arena, bouncing back from a 53-point loss to the Minnesota Lynx the previous day. Despite the Valkyries winning their last three road games through tenacity and execution, they were overwhelmed by the Aces' superior performance from start to finish.

The Aces excelled offensively, making 18-of-40 three-point shots and totaling 50 bench points, while their defense held the Valkyries to just 34.2% shooting from the field. Key contributors included Aces star A'ja Wilson, who recorded a double-double with 14 points, 14 rebounds, four steals, and a block, and Jewell Loyd, who came off the bench to score 27 points, including 7-of-11 from three-point range.

For the Valkyries, Iliana Rupert led the team with 17 points, while Carla Leite and Laeticia Amihere each added 14 points. Coach Natalie Nakase criticized her team's flat start, crediting the Aces for their hot shooting, effective ball movement, and spacing, which allowed them to exploit opportunities like feeding Loyd for key plays.

The Valkyries were severely shorthanded, suiting up only nine players for the third consecutive game due to injuries, including absences for Tiffany Hayes, Cecilia Zandalasini, Kayla Thornton, and Monique Billings. This loss concluded their five-game road trip with a 3-2 record.