Valkyries stun Aces behind offensive explosion, snap four-game losing streak

Nathan Canilao, The Mercury News on Jun 7, 2025

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SAN FRANCISCO — In their first game on national television, the Golden State Valkyries showed out.

They routed the Las Vegas Aces, 95-68, on Saturday in a game broadcast by ABC, to snap their four-game losing streak.

The expansion Bay Area team had its best offensive showing all season in front of a fourth consecutive sellout crowd of 18,064 as they shot 47.9% from the field and 35.7% from the 3-point line.

“It’s a credit to the players,” Valkyries coach Natalie Nakase said. “When the ball goes up and we’re in kill mode, we know what we’re capable of. So, that’s kind of what you saw tonight.”

Forward Kayla Thornton led the way, scoring a career-high 22 points and grabbing 11 rebounds. Monique Billings came off the bench to contribute 14 points and 11 rebounds. Cecilia Zandalasini added 18 points and Kate Martin had 12.

Starting point guard Veronica Burton scored 14 points and dished out 12 assists to record her first career double-double. Burton was three rebounds shy of her first career triple-double and set a new WNBA record for plus-minus rating as she was a +40 when she was on the floor.

“I think that was Veronica being open-minded and being open to learning,” Nakase said. “And then her teammates just trusting her and being able to organize the offense in that type of way.”

Golden State held Las Vegas star A’ja Wilson to a team-high 17 points on 5-of-13 shooting. She had a game-high five turnovers. Hayward-born guard Chelsea Gray had 16 points.

While the Valkyries shut down Wilson for most of the game, she elected to not give the Valkyries much credit following the loss.

“I’m not saying this to be an (expletive), but they were just hitting shots … and it didn’t help that our defense was not great,” Wilson said. “It was non-existent.”

Saturday’s win came two days after the Valkyries crumbled in the fourth quarter in a loss to the Phoenix Mercury.

“I didn’t start this game the way I did in Phoenix and that kind of showed,” Thornton said. “I told my team to just (focus on) the next play. I think that kind of helped us. That’s what we didn’t do in the Phoenix game.”

After taking a two-point lead after the first quarter, Golden State exploded in the second.

Powered by a balanced scoring attack, the Valkyries shot 10 for 16 from the field in the period to take a 21-point lead into halftime — their largest advantage through the first two quarters this season. Martin ended the quarter with a deep buzzer-beating 3-pointer that jolted the fans inside Chase Center.

Thornton had 14 first-half points.

She had a scary moment late in the second quarter when she collided with Wilson while trying to take a charge. The Valkyries tended to Thornton for a few minutes before she was able to get to her feet on her own accord.

The Valkyries’ momentum continued in the third quarter as they made their first six shots after halftime. At one point in the third, Golden State led by as many as 29 as they shut down the Aces’ high-powered offense.

The Valkyries pushed the pace on a much bigger Las Vegas team, outscoring the Aces 22-6 in fast-break points. Golden State also took advantage inside as it totaled 38 points in the paint to Las Vegas’ 26.

“That was a goal of ours, to attack the paint,” Burton said. “When we get into the paint, things open up on the outside as well. I think we controlled the pace. In transition, even on makes, get the ball up quick and look to get downhill. That was a big thing for us.”

Golden State cruised in the fourth quarter as Las Vegas emptied its bench halfway through the period.

The Aces shot 35.5% from the floor and 24% from the field while committing 13 turnovers.

Aces coach Becky Hammon said she was disappointed in her team’s effort.

“Effort has to come from your heart. The schemes, the discipline, the habits that’s your head. And right now, we not only have a heart issue, but we have a ‘it’s letting us affect our head’ issue,” Hammon said. “I’m not going to coach effort. It’s just one thing I can’t deal with. You know you’re in charge of your effort. I guess I’m in charge of your playing time, so that’s the one way I can affect it.”

The Valkyries’ Commissioner’s Cup record improved to 1-2 . The Commissioner’s Cup is an in-season competition in which the top teams in each conference with the best cup records play each other in a championship game with a $500,000 prize on the line.

The Valkyries will hit the road again when they play the Los Angeles Sparks at Crypto.com Arena on Monday.