Valkyries Take Down the Champs: Golden State Makes Its Semifinal Statement
The Golden State Valkyries spent the regular season trying to figure out the Las Vegas Aces.
It took one playoff game to find the answer.
Golden State defeated the defending WNBA champions 71-60 Sunday at Chase Center, taking a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five semifinals and delivering perhaps the strongest statement yet in the franchise's remarkable rise.
Las Vegas entered the series with history, championship experience and A'ja Wilson.
Golden State entered with home-court advantage and something to prove.
Game 1 belonged to the Valkyries.
Three Regular-Season Losses Didn't Matter
Las Vegas had every reason to feel confident entering the series.
The Aces swept all three regular-season meetings against Golden State, winning 91-81, 84-79 and 92-73.
They had also won three of the previous four WNBA championships and entered their eighth consecutive semifinal appearance.
Golden State couldn't match that postseason résumé.
It didn't need to.
The Valkyries controlled Game 1 by playing the style of basketball that carried them this far: defense, effort and relentless work on the glass.
Golden State outrebounded Las Vegas 52-25.
That wasn't a small advantage.
That was domination.
The Valkyries grabbed 17 offensive rebounds, repeatedly creating additional possessions and refusing to allow the Aces to dictate the game.
The regular season belonged to Las Vegas.
The first postseason meeting belonged decisively to Golden State.
Gabby Williams Sets the Tone
Gabby Williams continues to rise with the moment.
Williams finished with 25 points and 11 rebounds, providing Golden State with exactly the type of star performance it needed against a championship-tested opponent.
She wasn't alone.
Kiah Stokes and Kayla Thornton each grabbed 11 rebounds as Golden State overwhelmed Las Vegas on the boards.
The Valkyries didn't need to outgun the Aces.
They needed to make every possession difficult.
They did.
Golden State's defense entered the series as one of its greatest strengths. Against a Las Vegas team built around Wilson, Chelsea Gray and Jackie Young, the question was whether that defense could survive against championship-level talent.
Game 1 provided an answer.
A'ja Gets Hers, But Golden State Stops Everyone Else
Stopping A'ja Wilson completely isn't realistic.
The four-time MVP still finished with 24 points.
But Golden State didn't need to erase Wilson.
It needed to prevent Las Vegas from becoming the complete offensive machine that has powered multiple championship runs.
The Valkyries held the Aces to just 60 points.
Wilson scored.
Chelsea Gray contributed 16.
But Las Vegas never generated enough consistent offense around them to overcome Golden State's physicality and rebounding advantage.
The Aces' problems grew in the third quarter when Jewell Loyd suffered a left-leg injury and was unable to return.
Her status now becomes another storyline to monitor entering Game 2.
Golden State Isn't Supposed to Be Here This Quickly
That's what makes this story different.
The Valkyries are only in their second WNBA season.
Last year, they were an expansion franchise trying to establish an identity.
Now they're the No. 2 seed, they've won their first playoff series and they're three victories away from reaching the WNBA Finals.
And their head coach knows exactly what championship basketball in Las Vegas looks like.
Natalie Nakase previously served as an assistant on Becky Hammon's Aces staff, helping Las Vegas win two championships before taking over Golden State.
Kiah Stokes knows that organization too, having been part of all three recent Las Vegas championship runs.
Golden State isn't approaching this series blindly.
Game 1 certainly didn't look like it.
The Champs Have Been Warned
Nobody should declare this series over.
That would be foolish.
Las Vegas has too much experience, too much talent and the best player in basketball to believe one loss will break the defending champions.
But Golden State accomplished something important Sunday.
The Valkyries proved the regular season doesn't control what happens next.
Las Vegas went 3-0 against Golden State before the playoffs.
Now it's 0-1 when the games matter most.
And the way Golden State won should command Las Vegas' attention.
The Valkyries didn't survive a shootout.
They imposed themselves physically.
They dominated the glass.
They defended.
They made the defending champions uncomfortable.
And when Game 1 was over, the scoreboard read:
Golden State 71.
Las Vegas 60.
The Valkyries wanted to know whether their defense could stand up against A'ja Wilson and the defending champions.
They have their first answer.
Now the champs have to respond.
