The Golden State Valkyries punched their ticket to the WNBA semifinals, a legitimate shot at cracking the Finals finally within reach. But listen, standing in their way? Only the reigning champion Las Vegas Aces and their four-time MVP A’ja Wilson, a team that absolutely owned the Valkyries in the regular season with a straight-up dominant 3-0 sweep.
The Regular Season Beatdown Golden State Can’t Forget
Let’s not sugarcoat it. Las Vegas didn’t just win their regular season matchups against Golden State, they pretty much ran a clinic. Back on May 31, Wilson went off for 28 points and 15 boards, completely negating the Valkyries’ 16 made threes in a 91-81 Aces win. Think that was rough? Just over a week later, on June 6, the teams went blow-for-blow until Jackie Young hit a cold-blooded game-winning step-back three with only 24 seconds left, snatching an 84-79 victory for Vegas. And then, the final regular season meeting on June 21? A 92-73 trampling. The Valkyries’ shot-making disappeared, and the Aces’ scorers just went to town in the paint and beyond the arc. It was a blowout, plain and simple.
Now, it’s been months since those matchups, and you know the Valkyries haven’t been sitting still. They’ve grown way more into their defensive identity and solidified their rotations. It’s a whole different squad, right? But that 3-0 sweep? That kind of history doesn’t just evaporate.
Defense vs. The Triple Threat: Can Valkyries’ Best D Stop Aces’ No. 2 Offense?
Here’s where it gets wild. The Valkyries, the highest seed left in the playoffs, are rocking the league’s best defense. Period. Meanwhile, the Aces feature the No. 2 offense in the W. This is a classic offense versus defense showdown, but the Aces aren’t just one star. They’ve got a three-speared attack: A’ja Wilson, Jackie Young, and Chelsea Gray. Wilson, who averaged a ridiculous 25 points in those three games against Golden State and led the league with 26.2 points per game, is a force. Her size, finesse, and tough shot-making are a nightmare.
But don’t sleep on Jackie Young. She’s been a problem for everyone this year, not just Golden State. She averaged 18.9 points per game (10th best in the regular season) on 48.8% shooting, and against the Valkyries, that number jumped to 23.7 points per game on a scorching 59.1% from the field! Plus, she’s a legit playmaker, dishing out 6.8 assists per game. And Gray? She can beat her defender and carry the offense herself too. Remember how Golden State’s Gabby Williams and Veronica Burton clamped down Paige Bueckers in the first round against Dallas? That worked, but the Aces are a different beast. Wilson, Gray, and Young dropped a combined 77 of their team’s 94 points in Game 3 against Indiana. You can’t just shut down one. Maybe center Kiah Stokes, a three-time champ with the Aces, could be a key. If the Valkyries mix up how they guard Wilson, Stokes’ presence could allow Golden State to keep equal attention on Young and Gray, stopping the Aces from just dictating the defense.
This series kicks off Sunday at 1 p.m. at Chase Center. Can Golden State’s revamped defense finally crack the code against the defending champs, or will the Aces’ offensive firepower prove too much, just like in the regular season? This is it, folks. Time to see what the Valkyries are really made of.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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