The Las Vegas Aces responded emphatically to a historic defeat, tying a franchise record with 18 three-pointers in a commanding 101-77 victory over the Golden State Valkyries on Sunday.
The win provided a powerful turnaround for the Aces, who took the court just 25 hours after a 111-58 loss to the league-leading Minnesota Lynx—the worst home defeat in WNBA history. The victory also snapped the expansion Valkyries’ three-game road winning streak.
Las Vegas (15-14) established its dominance early, building a 50-25 lead by halftime. The team’s bench was a crucial factor, outscoring Golden State’s reserves 25-2 in the first half alone.
A balanced scoring attack was led by Jackie Young with 20 points. A’ja Wilson secured a double-double with 14 points and 14 rebounds, while Chelsea Gray added 11 points. The game’s intensity spiked late in the second quarter when Golden State’s Janelle Salaun was ejected after being assessed a Flagrant 2 foul for an off-ball infraction. Following the ensuing free throws, a buzzer-beating shot from Kirstan Bell sealed the 25-point halftime lead.
For the Valkyries (14-14), Ilana Rupert had a team-high 17 points and eight rebounds. Carla Leite and Laeticia Amihere each scored 14 points, and Kaila Charles contributed 13.
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