Game 1 of the WNBA Playoff Semifinals was a brutal one for the Las Vegas Aces. The game ended with a 71-60 loss, and the crowd at Chase Center made it known that Ballhalla was for the Golden State Valkyries.
This playoff run has been a true test for the Aces. In the first round, they fell to the Indiana Fever in a 99-89 loss on the road. The Aces struggled with shooting overall, going 42% from the field and 32% from the 3-point arc. They were out-rebounded on the offensive end and struggled to make assists and pass the ball.
Once they got home, they cleaned up their game and took the series.
On Sunday, the Valkyries’ defense did what they were supposed to do. They managed to hold Wilson to under 30 points and only four rebounds. Wilson went 8-for-21 from field goal range, 8-for-11 from the free-throw line, and managed a steal.
The defense also held Jackie Young to 11 points. Young went 4-for-15 from field goal range and 3-for-7 from the 3-point line. She led the team in assists with five, had four rebounds, and ended the game with two turnovers in total. Young averaged 18.9 points this season, along with 4.4 rebounds and 6.6 assists.
The Aces struggled in almost every category, but had the most trouble rebounding. That’s been a signature of this Golden State defense.
The Valkyries pulled down 27 more rebounds than the Aces, finishing with 52 to the Aces’ 25. For the Valkyries, 35 of those rebounds came on the defensive end.
The Aces, on the other hand, only had two offensive rebounds in Game 1. Brianna Turner led the Aces with seven rebounds, including one on offense. Kalani Brown had the other offensive rebound.
“I mean, it’s very evident that rebounding was the issue,” Chelsea Gray told reporters after the game. “I mean, it’s hard to recover when teams get 17 o-boards and 20 second-chance points. I mean, the game was in the margins and the hustle plays, and they beat us every single time in that category.”
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The Aces also struggled with injuries in Game 1. In the previous series, they were without Dana Evans, who’s been out most of the season with a leg injury. Before Game 3 against the Fever, starting forward Stephanie Talbot was ruled out with a leg injury, as well.
Jewell Loyd started in her place, but exited in the third quarter with a leg injury, joining Talbot and Evans. As of now, she is currently listed as doubtful on the injury report. Talbot and Evans are currently listed as questionable.
However, the injuries weren’t the problem in this matchup, at least according to head coach Becky Hammon.
“I think that was one of our more atrocious games of the season,” Hammon told reporters in the post-game press conference. “I think we shot ourselves in the foot and got out-hustled.”
Despite going 3-0 against them in the regular season, defeating the Valkyries is no easy feat. Janelle Salaün is the unanimous 2026 Sixth Player of the Year. Gabby Williams was third in voting for the 2025 Defensive Player of the Year. Kiah Stokes is a reigning WNBA Champion. This roster is also coming off a historic first-round series where they won their first playoff game and first series.
Especially in Ballhalla, they’ve become the team to beat.
“Her length, her ability to score on all three levels more efficiently this year, and her shooting from the 3-point line,” Gray told reporters after the game, when asked about the challenges Williams presents and how she’s evolved over the course of this season. “I don’t know if the stats back it up or percentage, but her ability to make it off the dribble as well. So when she gets ahead of steam, she’s tough.”
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Going into Game 2, rebounding and effort will be the number one requirements for the Aces. With two players potentially returning, there’s a chance some starters will get more rest. They’ve won at the Chase Center before, and look to do it again.
However, according to Hammon, there was some good news from this game.
“Good news is that we played like ass and only lost by 10,” Hammon told reporters after the game in the press conference. “Dissect that however you want.”
Game 3 of the WNBA Playoff semifinals tips off on Peacock at 6:30 p.m. PST.
