The Las Vegas Aces (9-11) are aiming to avoid their third consecutive loss against the Golden State Valkyries (10-9) at Michelob Ultra Arena. The Aces recently suffered a narrow 68-70 defeat, getting outscored 12-2 in the final 3:16 of the game against Washington. Good news for the Aces: they will get their 3x MVP back, A’ja Wilson, after she suffered a wrist injury against New York that ultimately kept her out of the game against the Mystics. Currently, Vegas sits fifth in the Western Conference, just a couple of games behind the Golden State Valkyries.
Golden State arrives in Vegas after a strong 80-61 victory over the Indiana Fever, snapping their two-game losing streak. The expansion franchise seems to have found its rhythm recently, particularly on the defensive end, where they rank second in the league in defensive rating (97.3). The Valkyries effectively contained star player Caitlin Clark, limiting her to just 10 points in her return from a groin injury. This will be the Valkyries’ first-ever game in Vegas, and it also marks a special occasion for Natalie Nakase, former assistant head coach of the Aces, and guard Kate Martin, who will play against their former team at Michelob Ultra Arena.
The last meeting between these two teams took place in early June, where Golden State dominated the Aces with a final score of 95-68 at their home court.
Here is the full game with recap:
